Eight ’Canes will miss Terps game

Eight Miami football players were suspended Tuesday for at least one game in light of an NCAA investigation into players who received improper benefits from former Hurricanes booster Nevin Shapiro.

Among those who will miss Miami's season-opening matchup with the Terrapins at Byrd Stadium are several key starters, including quarterback Jacory Harris, linebacker Sean Spence and safety Ray Ray Armstrong.

The suspensions range from one to six games. Defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Adewale Ojomo, tight end Dyron Dye, defensive tackle Marcus Forston and wide receiver Travis Benjamin will also miss Monday's game.

The ruling comes two weeks after Yahoo Sports' scalding, in-depth investigation of the Hurricanes football program, which alleged that Shapiro, a convicted Ponzi scheme architect, provided benefits ranging from cars to hookers to dozens of current and former players.

"Of the eight football student-athletes, three received substantial benefits as prospective student-athletes from Shapiro and athletics personnel to entice them to enroll at the university, which are considered some of the most serious recruiting violations within the NCAA," the organization wrote in a release Tuesday.

Armstrong and Spence's suspensions are especially significant for a Miami defense opening its season against what could be a potent Terps passing attack led by quarterback Danny O'Brien. Armstrong had a team-best three interceptions last year en route to second-team All-ACC honors, while Spence was voted the Hurricanes' co-most valuable player in 2010.

"I've just told our guys what we have to focus on is Maryland and what we have to do in order to go out and perform to the best of our ability," Terps coach Randy Edsall said yesterday. "I mean, I know Miami is very talented and they've got a lot of very good players. Even though there's going to be some of those young men that aren't going to be coming with them as they make the trip north on Sunday to play Monday, those other young men who are going to step in have been very eager and very hungry to go in there and play."

Overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Miami are lesser disciplinary problems facing the Terps.

Edsall said yesterday that running back D.J. Adams and offensive lineman Cody Blue — each surprising omissions from Edsall's two-deep released Monday — would not play against Miami due to a violation of team rules.

"D.J. won't be playing in the game against Miami, he and Cody Blue. We had a team situation that took place," Edsall said. "Those two guys will not be available to play against Miami, and it's behind us, and once the Miami game is over, then we move forward."

While Blue appeared in only three games last year, Adams' absence leaves the Terps thin at running back.

As as a bruising short-yardage back last season, he finished with a team-high 11 touchdowns.

His suspension leaves freshmen Jeremiah Wilson and Justus Pickett behind feature back Davin Meggett in the depth chart.