13 North Carolina football players suspended for sale of team-issued shoes

Paul Myerberg | USA TODAY

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Thirteen North Carolina football players will be suspended for at least one game and as many as four games during this coming season as the program deals with the fallout of secondary NCAA violations regarding the sale of team-issued shoes.

“I am certainly upset by our players’ actions and how their choices reflect on them, our program, and the university,” UNC coach Larry Fedora said in a statement. “These young men knew the rules and are being held responsible for the poor choices they have made.”

Nine of the 13 suspended players will miss four games, the most notable being sophomore quarterback Chazz Surratt, the team leader last season in passing yards, yards per attempt and completion percentage. Surratt has been entrenched in a competition for the starting job with junior Nathan Elliott.

Another pair, defensive backs Tre Shaw and Greg Ross, will miss two games, and quarterback Jack Davidson and offensive lineman Jonah Melton will each miss one game.

13 North Carolina football players will miss games during the 2018 season. #ABC11 #UNC pic.twitter.com/3DGy8jeQFG — Bridget Condon (@BridgetABC11) August 6, 2018

Because multiple players share the same position, the NCAA approved UNC’s request to stagger a few suspensions “to protect the health and safety of the students,” according to a university release.

Defensive end Malik Carney will sit out matchups against East Carolina, No. 23 Central Florida, Pittsburgh and No. 17 Virginia Tech, for example, while fellow defensive end Tomon Fox will miss games against No. 8 Miami (Fla.), Syracuse, Virginia and Georgia Tech. Carney is a preseason All-ACC contender, and Fox, a sophomore, is viewed as one of the league's top young talents on the defensive line.

“We are disappointed," athletics director Bubba Cunningham said. “We always will strive to get better."

Fresh off a highly disappointing 2017, UNC opens the 2018 season on Sept. 1 with a road game against California.