Chattanooga senior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield will miss the first four games of the 2017 season, including a Sept. 9 date at LSU in the Tigers' home opener, due to an NCAA academic issue.
Bennifield, a team captain, was a second-team All-Southern Conference choice last season when he threw for 2,622 yards and 26 touchdowns (tied for second most in school history) and ran for 377 yards and six more TDs.
He'll be replaced by sophomore Nick Tiano, a three-star recruit that started his career at Mississippi State. He threw one pass for the Bulldogs and completed it for a five-yard gain.