With the suspension of Washington State starting strong safety Deone Bucannon for the first half of the Coungars' game at UNLV on Friday, Sept. 14, former Ferndale standout Casey Locker should see more playing time.

The Pacific-12 Conference suspended Bucannon for a late hit on Eastern Washington receiver Greg Herd last week, that resulted in Herd suffereing a concussion.

"In order to appropriately protect our student-athletes, it is imperative that we monitor and, when needed, act in situations where a blow to the head of a defenseless player was flagrant and/or unwarranted, especially in situations where the hit occurred well after the play was over," Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

WSU defensive coordinator Mike Breske said Locker, former starting free safety Tyree Toomer and stating free safety Taylor Taliulu would handle the safety duties for the Cougars during Bucannon's absence in the first half. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and to air on ESPN.