Wake Forest has suspended six players in advance of their game at Maryland, according to a Tweet from Wake Forest blog Blogger So Dear. Running back Deandre Martin, wide receiver Airyn Willis, guard Frank Souza, cornerback Merrill Noel, safety Daniel Mack and Linebacker Mike Olson will not play due to what the school is calling a violation of team rules.
These suspensions are expected to make a significant difference in Saturday's game, as all but Willis and Martin are starters. Martin, a freshman, is second on the team in rushing with 279 yards on 57 carries, including five touchdowns, in five games. The Winston-Salem Journal had a statement from Deacons head coach Jim Grobe, who said "I'm disappointed that some of our kids made poor decisions. These are good kids who just need to learn from their mistakes.''
All six players will be eligible to be reinstated by the Oct. 20 game at Virginia, which comes following a week off for the Deacons.
This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.