Southern Miss suspends Craft for first two games

~ The Central graduate faces felony vandalism charges.

Southern Miss football player Mitch Craft was suspended for the first two games of the 2006 football season, according to a report Sunday in the Hattiesburg American newspaper.

Craft, a 2004 Central graduate, is heading into his sophomore season at Southern Miss. He was listed at No. 1 on the team's depth chart at middle linebacker according to the university's 2006 Preseason Football Guide.

He will miss games at Florida on Sept. 2 and against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 9.

Craft was arrested earlier this month with two other men and faces felony vandalism charges for allegedly damaging a windshield and an apartment's door and window.

He redshirted at Southern Miss for the 2004 season and last year played four games and made one tackle.

He was a starter in the Black and Gold game this spring and made 4 1/2 tackles, including one sack.

Bower told the Hattiesburg American, "Two-game suspension, that's all I'll say."