Mountain West suspends UNR’s Yates for UNLV game

By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal

10 years ago

Sep 26, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack defensive lineman Rykeem Yates (55) sacks Buffalo Bulls quarterback Joe Licata (16) during the first half at University of Buffalo Stadium. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA Today Sports)

The Mountain West suspended UNR senior defensive tackle Rykeem Yates for Saturday’s 4 p.m. football game against UNLV in Reno.

Yates is being disciplined for targeting a Buffalo player in the Wolf Pack’s 24-21 victory on Saturday. Targeting draws a half-game suspension, but this was Yates’ second offense, so it became a full game.

He was the same player who injured UNLV offensive lineman Brett Boyko last season, affecting Boyko’s NFL Draft status. Boyko wound up going undrafted, but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent and is on their practice squad.

“The guy tried a UFC armbar on me,” Boyko said after the game. “He tried to break my arm. The cheapest play I’ve ever seen. Be a man and punch me in the face if you want to mess around. I couldn’t believe that.”

Yates has recorded 10 tackles this season, including two for loss and a sack. He also has broken up a pass.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65