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Toledo suspends 2 starters, including MAC's leading rusher

Toledo running back Kareem Hunt (3) runs in for a touchdown during the first half of the GoDaddy Bowl NCAA college football game against Arkansas State in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Toledo running back Kareem Hunt (3) runs in for a touchdown during the first half of the GoDaddy Bowl NCAA college football game against Arkansas State in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

Toledo will be without two starters – running back Kareem Hunt and defensive end Allen Covington – in its first two games.

The program announced Monday morning that the two are suspended for violating team rules.

Hunt, a 6-foot, 225-pound junior, led the MAC in rushing in 2014. His 1,631 rushing yards were good for 10th-best in the nation and second-best for a single season in Toledo history. His 7.96 yards per carry was second in the country. He also added 16 rushing touchdowns and 12 catches for 68 yards.

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Covington, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior, has played in 30 games for the Rockets over the past three seasons. In 2014, he made 12 starts and registered 29 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. He also made six starts as a defensive tackle in 2013 and tallied 26 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

The two will miss Thursday’s home opener against Stony Brook and a Sept. 12 road matchup at Arkansas.

Toledo head coach Matt Campbell also announced Monday morning that Alabama transfer Phillip Ely will start at quarterback. Ely suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 last year, but did enough to beat out Logan Woodside for the starting role.

After Ely was injured, Woodside stepped into the starting lineup for the remainder of the 2014 campaign and threw for 2,272 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also had three rushing touchdowns.

The Rockets went 9-4 last season, including a 63-44 win over Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl.

For more Toledo news, visit TheRocketNation.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!