Maryland RB Wes Brown will be suspended to start the season

There might be a new sheriff in College Park, but the same rules apply.

Maryland running back Wes Brown was suspended indefinitely at the end of the 2015 season because of a violation of team rules. In case there was any doubt, that suspension will indeed carry over into 2016.

DJ Durkin announced on Wednesday that Brown will be suspended for the first three games of the season:

Per Durkin, Maryland RB Wes Brown is suspended for first 3 games. Carries over from violation of student athlete code of conduct last year.

— Roman Stubbs (@romanstubbs) August 10, 2016

That means Brown will miss all three non-conference games. Maryland actually has a bye in Week 4, so Brown’s first action won’t come until the Terps’ B1G opener on Oct. 1 when they host Purdue.

Brown figures to be more of a change-of-pace back when he returns. The 6-1, 210-pound senior rushed for 317 yards and three touchdowns last season. He’s the team’s leading returning rusher at the position, but Maryland does have depth.

The Terps added graduate transfer Trey Edmunds from Virginia Tech and Ty Johnson emerged in Brown’s absence at the end of last season. All three figure to be part of the rotation when Brown returns after the suspension.

It doesn’t sound like the suspension changed Brown’s outlook on 2016:

Durkin on RB Wes Brown: "He's been nothing but great since we've been here." Says Brown has taken on a leadership role, despite 3-game ban.

— Thomas Kendziora (@TKendziora37) August 10, 2016