Top two Rice defenders to miss A&M game

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Rice will be without its top two defensive players in Saturday's season opener against No. 7 Texas A&M.

Coach David Bailiff announced Monday that cornerback Phillip Gaines is suspended one game for an undisclosed violation of team rules, and linebacker Cameron Nwosu is out with a knee injury that sidelined him all of preseason camp.

"We have high expectations, especially of our captains," Bailiff said of Gaines. "We're going to get it behind us and makes sure he helps us win the next 11."

Gaines, the Conference USA preseason defensive player of the year, was second nationally with 18 pass breakups last season. Nwosu was second on the team with 92 tackles.

twitter: @Joseph_Duarte



