Utah safety Blechen suspended for 3 games

Utah will open the season without one of the top safeties in the Pac-12. Brian Blechen has been suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for a "violation of unspecified team rules." No specific reason for the disciplinary action was given by coach Kyle Whittingham.

Utah will open the season without one of the top safeties in the Pac-12, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Coach Kyle Whittingham announced Monday that safety Brian Blechen has been suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for a "violation of unspecified team rules." No specific reason for the disciplinary action was given by Whittingham

Blechen, an honorable mention all-Pac 12 player as a sophomore, must sit out the Aug. 30 opener against Northern Colorado as well as the Sept. 7 game at Utah State and the Sept. 15 game against BYU.

Junior Quade Chappuis, a former walk-on, is his likely replacement.

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