Jermaine Whitehead suspended

Auburn safety Jermaine Whitehead will not play in the fifth-ranked Tigers' game Thursday at No. 20Kansas Statebecause of a violation of team rules, according to multiple reports.

Whitehead, who did not travel with his teammates to Manhattan, Kansas, was suspended for being disrespectful to a coach, sources told ESPN.

A senior and three-year starter at Auburn, Whitehead has 12 tackles this season and recorded an interception in each of the first two games, becoming the first Tigers player since Jerraud Powers in 2007 to have interceptions in back-to-back games.

As a junior, he finished with 65 tackles and two interceptions.

Whitehead has played in 42 games and made 30 starts while at Auburn.

With Whitehead out, junior defensive back Joshua Holsey is expected to start in his place against the Wildcats (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET). Holsey started six games for the Tigers last year before a torn ACL cut his season short.

ESPN.com's Chris Low and The Associated Press contributed to this report.