Pack RB; Vols WR pinched for early games … North Carolina State RB Shad Thornton and Tennessee WR/KR Pig Howard, both of whom are considered to be second-tier prospects for the 2016 draft, will miss early games this fall for internal disciplinary issues. Thornton, UNC’s leading rusher last season, will not play in the Wolfpack’s first two games against Troy and Eastern Kentucky for violating athletic department policy. It’s the second time Thornton will miss at least one game because of a suspension and the third time during his career he has been suspended. Thornton missed the 2013 opener after a misdemeanor assault of a female arrest in June 2013. He received deferred prosecution in that case, which involved a dispute with his then-girlfriend at the campus library. He was also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession in December 2013, but he did not miss any game time after the charge was dropped. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s Howard, who led the Vols with 54 receptions in 2014, will be suspended for team’s season opener against Bowling Green for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
