WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue running back Joey Harris was ruled academically ineligible for his senior season.

Harris, the Boilermakers' leading rusher with more than 1,100 yards last season, needed to average a B in three summer school classes to remain eligible, Purdue sports information director Tom Schott said Thursday.

Sophomore Brandon Jones, who rushed for nearly 700 yards last year, will likely replace Harris.

"We just heard the news last night, so I think that not everybody is over the initial disappointment," Jones said.

"Obviously, we'd love to have Joey back this year, but things didn't happen that way. We just have to get over it and move on.''

Harris did not attend the team's media day event Thursday.

Four Hurricanes miss practice

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Tailback Jarret Payton was one of four Miami Hurricanes to miss Thursday's practice after he was hit in the head during Wednesday's scrimmage.

The injury does not appear to be major, but coach Larry Coker said he expects Payton to miss a couple of days of practice.

"He took a pretty good shot to the head." Coker said.

Safety Sean Taylor also missed practice after injuring his knee while trying to recover a fumble in Wednesday's practice. Tests performed on the knee Thursday showed no structural damage. Taylor was replaced by Marcus Maxey.

Wide receiver Jason Geathers, who is expected to fill the void left by departed NFL first round pick Andre Johnson, missed practice again with a nagging hamstring injury. He had returned to practice on Monday but re-injured the hamstring the same day.

Geathers had an MRI on Wednesday but results are not yet available. Coaches do not expect him to play in the season opener on Aug. 28 at Louisiana Tech.

"I think he did take a step back," Coker said.

Defensive end Vince Wilfork missed practice with hamstring injury, but is expected to recover.

Florida State's Johnson acquitted

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A jury of six women deliberated less than 30 minutes before finding Florida State defensive lineman Travis Johnson innocent of a rape charge.

Johnson could have faced up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted on the second degree felony.

The victim, also a Florida State student, acknowledged that she had sex with Johnson previously but said another occasion, on Feb. 6, was against her will.

The complaint also said Johnson held the woman inside his apartment against her will. Johnson said the sex was consensual.

He was charged in April and booked at the Leon County before being released on $10,000 bail.

Johnson, 21, played in all of Florida State's games in 2002 and was expected to contend for a starting role this season. He made 50 tackles last season, including 10 for losses.

Although Florida State has a policy that keeps players from competing while they face an unresolved felony, Johnson has continued to practice with the Seminoles. The 280-pound junior missed most of spring practice following shoulder surgery.

Virginia receiver breaks leg, out for year

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia wide receiver Michael McGrew broke his leg in practice and will miss the 2003 season.

McGrew, who injured Tuesday, had 27 catches for 428 yards and two touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-2 senior He was scheduled have surgery on the leg Thursday.

With the loss of McGrew, Virginia's most experienced wideouts are junior Ottowa Anderson and senior Ryan Sawyer, who combined for 28 receptions for 379 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Pitt receiver injures hamstring

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who set several freshman school receiving records last season, injured a hamstring during practice.

Fitzgerald hurt his left leg during a blocking assignment midway through the three-hour workout. He spent the remainder of practice in the trainer's tent with his leg propped up and trainers applying ice to it.

"I think we'll have to wait until we get it evaluated by the doctors," coach Walt Harris said. "Any time your top player gets hurt, hopefully, it's not very serious. But we don't have any idea yet how serious it is."

Fitzgerald caught 69 passes for 1,005 yards last season, breaking Antonio Bryant's freshman record of 51 catches for 844 yards. Fitzgerald also became the first Big East freshman to have 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver also had 12 touchdowns, breaking Dwight Collins' freshman school record of 10 in 1980.