Nevada DT Yates to miss UNLV game; 3rd suspension in 3 years

RENO (AP) — Nevada will be without one of its top defensive lineman against intrastate rival UNLV on Saturday while senior tackle Rykeem Yates serves his third suspension in three years.

The Mountain West Conference announced Tuesday that Yates will be sidelined because he speared an opponent with his helmet during last week’s game at Buffalo.

The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder from Fresno, California gets a half-game suspension for “targeting and initiating forcible contact” with the crown of the helmet, and another half-game suspension for poor sportsmanship because he’s a repeat offender.

Yates was ejected from last year’s UNLV game for committing a flagrant foul. Rebels offensive lineman Brett Boyko said at the time that Yates tried to break his arm with a “UFC arm-bar” hold.