Four Georgia Tech players to miss bowl

Four Georgia Tech players will miss Monday night's Independence Bowl because of academic issues, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.

Starting safety Mario Edwards and starting wide receiver Stephen Hill along with reserve defensive lineman Robert Hall and reserve linebacker Anthony Barnes will be ineligible to play in the game against Air Force because they failed to meet Georgia Tech's academic requirements, the paper reported.

Hill is the leading receiver for the run-oriented Yellow Jackets (6-6) with 15 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Edwards is the team's third-leading tackler.

Georgia Tech was a three-point underdog against Air Force (8-4) before Thursday's news. The Yellow Jackets seemed to be in contention for a more attractive bowl game at midseason, but lost four of their last five games to finish at .500.