Bunting suspended the junior for violating team policy before the Wake Forest game on Saturday. Without Edwards, who ranks second on the team with 238 rushing yards, starting running back Ronnie McGill tied a career high with 29 carries in the 24-17 loss to Wake Forest.

McGill, who finished with 117 yards vs. Wake, could get a similar number of carries against the Irish, although Bunting said redshirt freshman fullback Bobby Rome, who has five catches for 60 yards this season but zero carries, has been taking reps at tailback in practice.

DEACONS TO TRY MOORE: With injuries taking a bite out of its running game, Wake Forest is turning to a wide receiver for help.

The 22nd-ranked Demon Deacons are giving Kenneth Moore snaps at running back as they prepare this week for Saturday's game against No. 16 Boston College, hoping the junior can be the latest fill-in after losing its top two options to injury.

Coach Jim Grobe said Tuesday that he probably won't decide on whether Moore starts at tailback for the Demon Deacons (7-1, 3-1 ACC) until Saturday. But he sounds pretty certain that Moore will take handoffs in the backfield against the Eagles (7-1, 3-1).

"He's going to play there I think unless he just hyperventilates this week," Grobe said. "We're running out. We can't get anybody else hurt."

CHARGES DROPPED: Prosecutors dropped charges against a man accused of killing Vanderbilt football star Kwane Doster, the Tampa state attorney's office said Tuesday.

Rodney "Roscoe" Roman was charged with first-degree murder in Doster's Dec. 26, 2004, shooting death. But Roman, 30, has said he was elsewhere when the 21-year-old running back was shot in the parking lot of a sandwich shop.

State Attorney Mark Ober said Doster's slaying is still being investigated. His office released no other information.

KINCHEN GIVEN WEEK OFF: Former NFL receiver Brian Kinchen will not work as an ESPNU commentator this week because of a comment he made during last Saturday's broadcast of the Northern Illinois-Iowa game.

Kinchen was explaining the need for receivers to make catches with their hands because they are "tender" and can "caress" the ball. He then paused and said, "that's kind of gay, but hey ..."

"The comments were inappropriate, and we apologize for them," said ESPN's vice president of public relations Josh Krulewitz.

Kinchen's future with ESPNU is under review, Krulewitz said.

WEBER STATE COACH SUSPENDED: Weber State football coach Ron McBride was suspended for a game after criticizing an official who worked the Wildcats' 24-18 loss to Montana State.

TUESDAY'S RESULT

SMU 22, UAB 9: Justin Willis threw for 148 yards and one touchdown and linebacker Tony Hawkins returned an interception for another score as host SMU (5-4, 3-2 C-USA) defeated UAB (3-6, 2-3).

The UAB loss left East Carolina alone in first place in the Conference USA's East Division with a 3-2 league record.