This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • For the second time in two weeks, Brigham Young University has suspended a high-profile football player.
The school announced Friday afternoon that senior receiver Cody Hoffman, on the verge of becoming the most prolific pass-catcher in BYU history, will not play in Friday night's 7 p.m. game against Middle Tennessee State at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The suspension for a violation of team rules is for one game only.
Hoffman is the second BYU football player to miss a game, or more, this season for running afoul of team rules.
Senior linebacker Spencer Hadley was suspended five games for breaking the school's honor code (and team rules) on Sept. 16 and later acknowledged to a Sports Illustrated reporter that he partied and drank alcohol at Las Vegas clubs on multiple occasions the past few months.
Coincidentally, both Hadley and Hoffman wear No. 2 on their jersey.
The nature of Hoffman's violation was not known.
Hoffman, from Crescent City, Calif., has been in the program five years, having redshirted his first year in Provo after being recruited out of the small Northern California town.
He has caught 213 passes for 2,889 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career, and needs just nine receptions, 367 receiving yards and three touchdowns to become BYU's all-time record holder in each of those three categories.
Hoffman missed the season-opener against Virginia with a hamstring strain, but has caught 10 passes for 171 yards this season. Against Utah last week, Hoffman caught eight passes for 108 yards, marking the 34th straight time in his career that he has caught at least one pass in a game.
Hoffman toyed with the idea of turning professional last winter, but returned for his senior year along with fellow preseason All-American Kyle Van Noy because he wanted to get his degree, in geography, and hone some of his football skills, including his speed and route-running ability.
He is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list for top receiver in the country honors and has had 15 100-yard receiving games in his career.
Twitter: @drewjay