University of Alabama starting free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has been indefinitely suspended for a violation of team rules, coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday night.

Saban said he would 't give a reason for the suspension.

"...Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, is suspended indefinitely for violating team rules and policies," Saban said following practice Wednesday. "And look guys, I'm going to be consistent. When guys get suspended, I never ever say what it's for. So I'm not going there, so don't ask me. It's the way it always happens. If they do right they wouldn't be getting suspended. I don't know how long this will be, so don't ask me that either. That's the only new news we have right now."

Clinton-Dix is the fourth Alabama player suspended this season, including Malcolm Faciane, Trey DePriest and Geno Smith, who was suspended one game for a driving under the influence arrest in August.

With Nick Perry being lost for the season to a shoulder injury, the starting role now falls to Landon Collins or Geno Smith.

"Landon Collins doesn't play the same position. We've been working him at that position," Saban said. "Nick Perry was really Ha Ha's backup. Nick Perry had shoulder surgery, so he would have been a guy who had experience who would have played there. But we've been working Landon and Geno Smith primarily. We moved Geno to safety way back in fall camp. Those are the two guys who will play that position in this game."

Clinton-Dix, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound junior who has played in 31 games and made 14 starts in his Alabama career, ranks second on the team with 24 tackles and two pass breakups this season. The Orlando, Fla. native made a crucial fourth-down stop in the first quarter of Alabama's 25-0 win over Ole Miss on Saturday.

Defensive lineman Jeoffrey Pagan said the team believes in the players that will fill the void.

"He's a great player and obviously he will be missed, but I'm confident in the guys we have behind him and the guys in the secondary to make adjustments," Pagan said. "I think we'll be all right."

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.