North Carolina Suspends Key Trio

North Carolina suspended wide receiver Adarius Bowman, linebacker Fred Sparkman and defensive tackle Isaiah Thomas indefinitely after they were cited for possession of marijuana by campus police, the school said Monday.

The three sophomores were cited late Sunday. Coach John Bunting said they wouldn’t play until he and Athletic Director Dick Baddour determine otherwise.

Their loss is a big blow for the Tar Heels (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who travel to No. 11 Utah this weekend.

Sparkman has started every game for the Tar Heels and has a team-high 61 tackles. Bowman is second on the team with 18 catches, and has a team-best 329 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas has played every game.

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Southern Mississippi quarterback Dustin Almond, who pulled his left hamstring scoring a dramatic touchdown last weekend against Houston, will sit out the 24th-ranked Golden Eagles’ game Saturday against Alabama.

Damion Carter, a sophomore who replaced Almond and threw the winning touchdown pass in overtime against the Cougars, will start against the Crimson Tide for the second year in a row.