By Phil Neary
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA— It’s not a tear or a sprain, but rather a blister on his foot that has kept redshirt freshman DE Ryne Giddins, listed as a second-teamer, out of the last two practices, coach Skip Holtz said after practice Wednesday.

Giddins’ status for Saturday’s opener vs. Stony Brook was unclear as of Wednesday evening.

“It’s painful for him,” Holtz said. “We just have to see how he responds to antibiotics. It’s more of a weight-bearing deal. It’s not an ankle or a long-term ligament or a bone injury.”

After an injury-plagued 2009 season, Giddins, one of the most highly regarded recruits in program history, is expected to be a major factor on the defensive line this season. Seniors Craig Marshall and David Bedford are the listed starters, while Giddins, senior Patrick Hampton, junior Claude Davis and redshirt freshman Julius Forte are all in the mix for playing time.

Defensive ends coach Vernon Hargreaves said he’s pleased with the depth at defensive end.

“I feel pretty good about a guy coming out and the next guy that goes in,” he said. “Everybody can play as hard as they can possibly play knowing we can put another guy in and we won’t lose very much. That’s the idea.”

BULL BITS: Sophomore WR Victor Marc has been suspended for the first two games for an unspecified violation of team rules, Holtz said. ... Senior RB Mo Plancher, who has been limited in the last half of fall camp with a shoulder injury, is “good to go” for Saturday, according to Holtz. ... As decided by the seniors, the Bulls will wear white pants and white helmets for the opener.