USF announced today that linebackers Nigel Harris and Tashon Whitehurst would be suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season due to a violation of team rules in the spring. Harris, the likely starter at weakside linebacker, was indefinitely suspended toward the end of spring practice, but this is the first we've heard of any violations from Whitehurst.
These are not small losses. Harris had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2014 with 77 tackles, 10.5 TFL and a remarkable six forced fumbles, and emerged as a defensive leader in the offseason. Whitehurst had by far the best season of his career in 2014, with 49 tackles, 5 TFL and a pair of sacks.