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Alabama linebacker Xzavier Dickson (47) works through drills with Alabama outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson during Alabama's Monday football practice, Monday, October 21, 2013, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)

-- Alabama linebacker

Xzavier Dickson

and running back

Alvin Kamara

are suspended for the Sugar Bowl.

In a brief statement, Alabama coach

Nick Saban

announced the suspensions after Thursday's practice. Saban, who will next speak with reporters Sunday, did not specify whether the players would practice over the next weeks.

Dickson saw the field regularly in all 12 games as a reserve behind

Denzel Devall

at Jack linebacker. The junior who started six games last season had 13 tackles, two of which went for a loss, and a sack.

Kamara, a four-star prospect from Norcross, Ga., never saw the field during his freshman season. He was hampered by a knee injury during the preseason and was mostly relegated to scout team duties throughout the season. Kamara missed a week of practice in November and was not on the sidelines for the Crimson Tide's victory over LSU because of "behavioral reasons."

Kamara was one of four running backs signed in Alabama's 2013 class. He was one of two, along with

Tyren Jones

, who did not play as a true freshman.

This is the second consecutive year in which Saban has suspended two players before a bowl game. Freshman linebackers

Dillon Lee

and

Ryan Anderson

were sent home from Miami three days before the BCS National Championship because of a curfew violation.

Since August, Saban has suspended eight players for various transgressions. Defensive end

LaMichael Fanning

is the only player who has yet to return from his punishment.