The MSU football team will be without the services of two capable wide receivers and a bruising fullback for the upcoming season.

Wide receivers Shawn Foster and Marcus Waters were declared academically ineligible to play this year and fullback Bradshaw Littlejohn has been dismissed from the squad for violating team rules, sports information director John Lewandowski said.

Both Foster, a senior, and Waters, a sophomore, are still enrolled at MSU. They will be allowed to practice with the team, but can’t play in any games this season. Calls to the football offices were not returned Wednesday evening.

Foster was converted from running back to wide receiver a year ago and scored one touchdown last season. Foster also helped return kickoffs and punts for the Spartans. He had no known prior academic problems while at MSU.

This isn’t the first time Waters has had grade troubles, though - he sat out his freshman season. He caught 17 passes for 269 yards last season, and, at 6-foot-4, he was slated to be a big target for MSU quarterbacks this year.

Littlejohn, a sophomore, played in 10 games last season and made four tackles in limited action at linebacker. He was moved to fullback this spring.

MSU kicks off the 2001 season against Central Michigan on Sept. 8 at home.