Texas Tech football coach Matt Wells said four players, including three full- or part-time starters, are suspended from the team and their futures with the program uncertain.

The four are cornerback DaMarcus Fields, defensive tackle Joseph Wallace, running back Da'Leon Ward and wide receiver Corey Fulcher.

Wells made the announcement after the team's Tuesday morning practice, the first since the university's spring break last week, but Wells said the suspensions were not related to anything that happened on spring break. He said the cause of the suspensions is, "Just some internal reasons we're going to get straight.

"They could be back soon. They could be back in a while or could never be back. We'll see," Wells said. "We've got to get some things cleaned up off the field and we'll get it done."

Asked if the disciplinary action stemmed from the four players being involved in one incident or an accumulation of issues, Wells said the latter was more accurate.

"They're all unrelated," he said, "but they're related in the fact they're not doing the things we want them to do and they're not practicing right now."

Fields, a junior from Taylor, has started 23 games the past two years. He was credited with 38 tackles and 11 pass breakups last season, as well as two caused fumbles and 2 1/2 tackles for loss.

Wallace, a junior from Dallas Skyline, started seven games last season and got credit for 37 tackles and four tackles behind the line.

Ward, a junior from Dallas Skyline, played in 18 games during the 2016 and 2018 seasons, carrying 182 times for 769 yards and six touchdowns. He's been the team's primary running back for stretches, but former coach Kliff Kingsbury parked Ward for a redshirt season in 2017 to focus on his academics and maturity, and Ward was out or limited for six games last season with a groin injury.

Fulcher, a freshman from Richardson Lake Highlands, redshirted last season, his first in the program.

During his first three-plus months on the job, Wells has said more than once that he will set a standard and not make exceptions for anyone in the program. Video segments posted by Tech's in-house social-media department have shown Wells telling the team that.

Asked Tuesday if the disciplinary actions were an example, Wells said, "We're not going to lower the standard. There's a way to do things around here. It's an honor, it's a privilege to work and to play and to coach at Texas Tech. Nobody's entitled, and I'm not inferring that those guys are. I'm just saying that we're going to do things the right way around here, or we're not going to play or practice or coach."

The Red Raiders have 11 sessions of spring practice left.