BATON ROUGE, LA — Moments before Georgia Southern’s season opener against No. 6 LSU, the program announced it would be without two of its most experienced players in punter Magill Bauerle and running back Wes Kennedy III.

Both players have been suspended after being deemed academically ineligible by the NCAA.

“Kennedy III is currently suspended for four games, pending appeal,” a statement from the program reads. “He lost his initial appeal for total reinstatement but still has other avenues to appeal to try and shorten the suspension.”

Bauerle has been suspended for two games and will be eligible for the Eagles’ trip to Minnesota on Sept. 14.

McClain Baxley, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu