Player at Auburn Learns Family Is OK

Auburn freshman defensive end Alonzo Horton, who spent days believing his 6- and 8-year-old brothers had been killed in Hurricane Katrina and not knowing his father’s whereabouts, has discovered that all are alive and staying in Houston.

Horton, a New Orleans native, said he learned Sunday night that his family members were alive after calling a cousin to tell them of the boys’ deaths.

“He said, ‘Man, that didn’t happen because your daddy’s right here with me.’ I was like, ‘What?’ ” Horton said Monday.

“I heard their voice and the phone died out, so I knew that they were OK.”

Horton said another cousin had told him his brothers had died after taking refuge in the gymnasium of a New Orleans high school. Horton had said Saturday that his father remained unaccounted for.

“I just can’t wait to see them,” Horton said of his brothers and father. “I can’t wait to talk to them again.”

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Arizona will be without both its defensive ends as it plays host to the No. 12-ranked Purdue Saturday. Arizona lost Copeland Bryan to a foot injury at Utah on Sept. 2 and lost Marcus Smith, who had 41 tackles last season, to an ankle injury in Arizona’s 31-12 victory over Northern Arizona last Saturday. Smith could be sidelined for the season.

The Wildcats will start redshirt freshman Johnathan Turner and freshman Michael Shelton.

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Defensive end Garrett McIntyre is expected sit out No. 23 Fresno State’s game at Oregon on Saturday because of a sprained left ankle.