The big, above-the-fold headline out of Auburn Thursday was the announcement of the Tigers' new starting quarterback, sophomore Kiehl Frazier, who assumes the role with high expectations and a mostly intact lineup around him. But he will have one less deep threat at his disposal: Per coach Gene Chizik, senior wide receiver DeAngelo Benton has been suspended indefinitely for the proverbial "violation of a team rule," likely ending his last chance to fulfill blue-chip expectations.

"We have standards and expectations that our football team is expected to uphold and when they do not abide by those, there are consequences," Chizik said in the statement. "As a result, I have suspended DeAngelo Benton." After Wednesday night's practice, he added: "As I've said before, there's expectations that we have, and if he fulfills our expectations of him then you'll see him back on the field. And if he doesn't, you won't."

On the field, Benton finally began to show glimpses of his potential last year, four years after graduating from Bastrop (La.) High as one of the most highly sought prospects in the country. After two failed attempts to enroll at LSU in 2007 and 2008, he finally landed at Auburn as part of Chizik's first signing class in 2009, and has spent the last three years struggling to break into the regular rotation at receiver. Last year, he played in every game, starting two due to a midseason injury to Emory Blake, and finished with seven receptions for 136 yards; two of those grabs in particular, a 41-yarder against Clemson and a 25-yard touchdown catch in double coverage against Florida, flashed his ability as the big, downfield target his recruiting hype suggested. After Blake's return to the lineup, though, Benton didn't bring in another pass in any of the last five games.

Meanwhile, off the field, he's been linked to two felonies in as many years. In April, he was one of several Auburn players who testified in the trial of former teammate Antonio Goodwin, one of four Tigers charged with armed robbery in March 2011, all of whom reportedly smoked synthetic marijuana – legal at the time – at Benton's house just prior to the alleged robbery. (Goodwin was convictedin April. The other three suspects are still awaiting trial.) Benton was not part of the robbery and has not been charged in that case; nor has tailback Michael Dyer, whose gun was reportedly used in the crime, and who subsequently left the team in January.

Last month, Benton's name surfaced in a hearing for Desmonte Leonard, who is accused of shooting and killing two former Auburn players, Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, and a third man, DeMario Pitts, outside an off-campus apartment complex in June. (Another Auburn player, Eric Mack, was wounded in the shooting along with two others.) According to a witness, the incident began with a "verbal disagreement" between the shooter and Benton, who allegedly pointed at Leonard and said "that boy is going to die tonight." Benton was then escorted from the scene by friends and teammates before the subsequent fight and fatal shooting. He was not charged.

It's not clear that the suspension is related to either incident, or a more recent, undisclosed infraction. Though Chizik left the door open for Benton's return to the fold, his checkered history suggests he has an uphill climb, and his middling status on the depth chart suggests he's not likely to see the field even he remains on the team. Barring an extremely improbable change of heart – of both sides – it appears we have another name to add to the SEC's very long list of cautionary tales.