Virginia Tech wide receiver Ike Whitaker's eventful career has taken yet another turn. Tech coach Frank Beamer has suspended Whitaker indefinitely because of violations of team policy, according to a press release yesterday. Beamer had no additional comment, according to the release.

Whitaker's suspension leaves the Hokies with a redshirt freshman and three true freshmen in the two-deep at receiver, though one of those freshmen, Xavier Boyce, is out with a left-knee injury that will require surgery.

Whitaker, a fourth-year junior, had played in three of five games this season. He caught three passes for 14 yards in the season opener against East Carolina. But by the season's third game, against Georgia Tech, true freshman Jarrett Boykin had passed Whitaker as the backup split end, behind redshirt freshman Danny Coale.

Beamer said then that Whitaker was demoted because he "didn't meet his responsibilities on a couple things -- meeting-wise, study hall-wise" and because Boykin had practiced well.

Whitaker is the second Tech receiver to be indefinitely suspended this season. Beamer suspended sophomore Zach Luckett in August after he was arrested for driving under the influence. He was convicted last week and sentenced to five days in jail. He remains indefinitely suspended from the team.

Whitaker, who is from Germantown, Md., moved from quarterback to receiver before last season, by which time he had already dealt with off-field issues. He was suspended for two weeks of spring practice in 2006 after being arrested for underage possession of alcohol and destruction of property. In December 2006, he missed the Chick-fil-A Bowl because he entered an in-patient alcohol rehabilitation facility.

He did not travel to last season's game at Clemson after taking that week's practices off while dealing with a personal issue, which he said was unrelated to alcohol. When he returned the next week, he said, "I'm here to stay." -- Darryl Slater