LOS ANGELES » Southern California freshman running back Dillon Baxter was suspended for the season opener at Hawaii.

Trojans coach Lane Kiffin told reporters yesterday after practice that Baxter was suspended for violating team rules, but gave no details.

"I think this is an extremely strong message, a very severe punishment, for a player that may be our most potentially skilled player on our whole roster to miss his first game," Kiffin said.

Baxter will continue to practice with the team. He was one of the stars of spring practice for USC and was expected to have a significant role in the Trojans’ offense.

Boise State adds another weapon to receiving corps

Boise State’s two star wide receivers might have to make room for another.

While Titus Young is the speedster and Austin Pettis is the big-bodied possession target, redshirt freshman Geraldo Hiwat could be both – as evidenced by his impressive performance in practice.

Hiwat is both big (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) and fast (4.41-second 40-yard dash) – and his catches in camp have included a red-zone touchdown and a couple of deep balls.

"If we’ve got a threat with more than one guy," wide receivers coach Brent Pease said, "which Titus has been kind of the (deep) guy all the time, that’s going to help us out with our creativity on Saturdays."

Another Michigan defensive back leaving

Justin Turner, the top-ranked recruit in the 2009 state of Ohio class, asked for and was granted his scholarship release from Michigan, joining a parade of players to leave the Wolverine program.

Turner is the sixth defensive back to leave in the past year. Boubacar Cissoko was kicked off the team last season and is in jail. Donovan Warren left for the NFL after his junior year in 2009. Safety Brandon Smith transferred to Temple after last season. Adrian Witty, a 2009 signee, did not make it to campus because of an academic issue and signed with Cincinnati in February. And Demar Dorsey, the highest-rated recruit in Michigan’s 2010 class, was not admitted because of academics and is hoping to play at Louisville.