ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball has been ruled academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl.

Cornerback Kenny Scott also is academically ineligible, the school said Wednesday.

“You’re disappointed for the young men and you’re disappointed for the team,” coach Chan Gailey said. “Although this is a very, very bad ending to the careers of these two young men, we can’t forget the contributions they have made to the Georgia Tech program the last four years.”

Ball, a senior, passed for 1,820 yards this season while starting every game. He threw for 20 touchdowns and was intercepted 14 times, but was criticized for inconsistency, especially after Tech’s offense sputtered in a regular season-ending loss to Georgia and a loss to Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Scott was a three-year starter. This season, he had 50 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups.

Georgia Tech plays West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1. Gailey said he learned earlier in the day that Ball and Scott would be ineligible.

He said backup quarterback Taylor Bennett will start in the bowl game. Bennett completed 16 of 29 passes during the season, with two touchdowns and one interception.

Gailey said Bennett has not had much preparation so far and “would be busy.”

Jahi World-Daniels will start in place of Scott, Gailey said.

AP-ES-12-20-06 2017EST

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