Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey has been suspended from the university for the spring and summer, a Tech spokesman said Tuesday, eliminating one of Patrick Mahomes II’s successor candidates for at least the next several months.

Tech spokesman Chris Cook said Duffey’s suspension was imposed by the university rather than the football program, but declined to detail reasons for the action.

"There is protected information that I can’t share at this time," Cook said.

Asked Duffey’s future as a Tech student and Tech athlete, Cook said, "That, I couldn’t tell you. I can tell you he is suspended only for those two semesters. He is eligible to return in the fall."

Duffey was a high-profile member of the Red Raiders’ 2016 signing class after leading his Mansfield Lake Ridge team to a 15-1 record and state runner-up finish in 2015. The Associated Press Sports Editors named Duffey first-team all-state and the Class 5A player of the year.

He enrolled at Tech last January, spending two semesters with the team, but the Red Raiders redshirted him this season.

The confirmation of Duffey’s suspension came on the same day Mahomes publicly declared for the NFL draft, leaving a void at quarterback.

Mahomes’ backup, senior Nic Shimonek, figured to be Mahomes’ successor regardless, but the pool has been thinned. Even if Duffey returns in the fall, he’ll have missed valuable months of team activities and development time in which other QBs have taken part.

Tyler Junior College quarterback McLane Carter is coming into the program at mid-term, and Tech has a commitment from Cibolo Steele quarterback Xavier Martin to be part of the February class. Other quarterbacks on the team with eligibility remaining are walk-0ns Payne Sullins, who’ll be a junior next season, and Roosevelt graduate Colt Garrett, who’ll be a redshirt freshman.