Junior defensive end Brandon Gilbeaux has been suspended by the school for academic issues and will not play this season, an athletic department official confirmed Saturday.

Sue Edson, assistant athletics director for communication, said Saturday afternoon Gilbeaux was officially dismissed from the university Friday. Edson confirmed Gilbeaux will miss the 2008 season, and his future with SU is currently unknown.

Edson said Gilbeaux has not been permanently expelled, however, and would not rule out the possibility of a potential comeback with the Orange.

Gilbeaux joins wide receiver Mike Williams as the second SU player suspended for academic reasons since the end of the spring semester. Edson said earlier in the week that Williams, the Orange’s leading receiver last year, was trying to enroll in summer classes at Onondaga County Community College in an attempt to at some point rejoin the team.

Gilbeaux was expected to be one of Syracuse’s top defensive contributors next season. The 6-foot-3, 271-pound defensive end started every game for SU last season, tallying 49 tackles, one sack and six tackles for losses.

jediamon@syr.edu