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Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (83) fights off a tackle attempt by TCU safety Denzel Johnson on Sept. 10 in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle has been suspended from Thursday night's Belk Bowl against Virginia Tech following a bizarre incident in the days leading up to the game.

Sprinkle, a senior, has been accused of shoplifting, according to a report by SECCountry.com. Sprinkle allegedly took or attempted to take more than the $450 allotment during a Belk sponsored player shopping spree in Charlotte, according to the report.

"Jeremy's suspension has been known by our staff and players for several days so we've had a chance to prepare our game plan accordingly," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said in a statement released by the team. "Throughout his career and this season as a graduate student-athlete, Jeremy has displayed numerous times the qualities we want to represent our program.

"We have standards within our family that must be upheld on a daily basis and unfortunately he failed to do that in the last week. Jeremy's suspension isn't drug, alcohol or violence related but one that will cause him to miss his final game as a Razorback."

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Sprinkle has 33 receptions for 380 yards and four touchdowns this season, his first as a starter. He has been selected to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl Jan. 28 in Mobile.

The Belk Bowl kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.