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Eagles suspend two players for finale
Hamilton, Walker won't make trip to Colorado State
11.15 gsu dakota walker
Georgia Southern defensive end Dakota Walker (52), here bringing down Furman’s Stephone LaFrance, and running back Mike Hamilton have been suspended for the regular-season finale against Colorado State. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

Georgia Southern’s thin roster took another hit Wednesday morning when coach Chris Hatcher announced the suspensions of junior running back Mike Hamilton and junior defensive end Dakota Walker.

The pair won’t make the trip to Fort Collins, Colo., for Saturday’s game 2 p.m. game at Colorado State. Walker is benched for violating unspecified team rules, while Hamilton is out because of unexcused class absences.

“I am very disappointed in the actions of Mike Hamilton and Dakota Walker,” Hatcher said in a statement released by the university. “As I have always said, being a member of the Georgia Southern football program is a privilege. I expect every student-athlete to uphold the rules and standards set forth, I expect them to ‘do right’.

“If they break the rules, they won’t play.”

Hamilton, the team’s third-leading rusher, has gained 350 yards and scored six touchdowns in nine games this year.

He joined the Eagles in January from Oklahoma State.

He was listed at No. 2 on the depth chart at running back behind senior Lamar Lewis. The Eagles lost freshman Zeke Rozier to a knee injury earlier this season.

Walker, who transferred from South Carolina in August, has 37 tackles in 10 games. Since moving from linebacker early this season, he’s helped provide much-needed pressure up front, recording a team-leading six tackles for loss.

Walker (6-foot-3, 237) was a starter at defensive end, having started the last three games at that spot and had started six games in all.

Sophomore Kerry Bonds (6-2, 212) was listed behind Walker on the depth chart.