The roller coaster career of Dylan Sumner-Gardner at Boise State is on a downward trajectory yet again.
Tuesday, Boise announced that Sumner-Gardner (pictured, No. 29) has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season. According to the school’s release, the suspension stems from the defensive back “failing to meet NCAA football academic eligibility requirements.”
Sumner-Gardner will kiss games against Louisiana-Lafayette, Washington State, Oregon State and Utah State. Provided the current timeline holds, Sumner-Gardner would be eligible to return for the New Mexico game Oct. 7.
After playing in 13 games as a true freshman, Sumner-Gardner started the first four games last year before going down with a season-ending ankle injury. In November he was arrested on a misdemeanor drug charge, then didn’t travel to BSU’s Poinsettia Bowl win over Northern Illinois in late December because of what was described as an unspecified violation of team rules. His status for the upcoming season has been a question mark throughout the offseason.
Sumner-Gardner, a four-star 2014 prospect who was the Broncos’ highest-rated recruit in that class, had been a projected starter at safety; with the junior sidelined, Cameron Hartsfield is listed as the starter instead.