Bo Scarbrough Suspended 4 Games: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Alabama freshman running back Bo Scarbrough has been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season because of an NCAA-imposed violation, head coach Nick Saban announced Thursday, according to ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough. 

The Associated Press' John Zenor reported the suspension was "related to amateurism." 

The Crimson Tide head coach failed to elaborate further on the nature of the suspension.       

It's been a rough few months for the 5-star recruit, per 247Sports, who tore his ACL during an early-April scrimmage. And while Scarbrough is working his way back onto the field, he won't be able to start toting the rock until an Oct. 3 showdown with Georgia at the earliest, if his knee is even cleared by then. 

As a result of the suspension, Scarbrough will miss showdowns against Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss and the University of Louisiana-Monroe. 

At his press conference Thursday, Saban also provided an update on the tailback's knee, noting the freshman can now practice "on a limited basis in a black shirt," according to the Tuscaloosa News' Cecil Hurt. 

Furthermore, AL.com's Michael Casagrande noted Scarbrough "is a little ahead of schedule in practice" but that he has not been cleared for contact yet.        

Matt Zenitz of Alabama Media Group added that Saban said the running back will "hopefully" be good to go by late September.  

The good news for the Crimson Tide is they should have stellar runners in Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake ready to roll when their 2015 season gets underway Sept. 5 against the Badgers. 

"Henry is poised for a big year as Alabama’s No. 1 back. Saban has praised Henry’s work ethic and improvement this offseason," Bleacher Report's Marc Torrence wrote. "According to AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, Henry—who is built like a linebacker at 6’3”, 242 pounds—ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and put 440 pounds on the bench press in spring testing."

With Henry and Drake comprising one of the nation's most imposing duos in the backfield, expect the Crimson Tide offense to open the season clicking on the ground despite Scarbrough's absence. And when he eventually returns, Alabama figures to have an embarrassment of riches for Saban to lean on.