Auburn running back Eric Smith has been ruled academically ineligible and will miss the Outback Bowl, head coach Gene Chizik said Friday.

The sophomore from Seffner, Fla., remains a member of the team, Chizik said. He was hopeful the running back would be back in January for offseason workouts.

Smith, who served a 2½ week team-imposed suspension earlier this season after being arrested and charged with third-degree assault, played in 11 games this year, starting seven at H-back. He ran for 99 yards and a touchdown this year and caught 18 passes for 226 yards and another score.

Chizik said the team has made provisions to replace Smith at the H-back position but declined to go into specifics. Running backs Mario Fannin and John Douglas and tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen are likely candidates to replace him.

Chizik said there were no other academic casualties on the roster.

Smith has had a rocky few months at Auburn. The 19-year-old was arrested in the early morning hours of Aug. 21 after police say they saw him knock a fellow student unconscious with a punch to the back of the head. He was eventually charged with third-degree assault.

Smith was granted youthful offender status in October, effectively sealing the case. If he meets certain requirements set by the court, charges can be dismissed.

A civil lawsuit filed against Smith by Decari Jenkins, the student who was allegedly struck, is still pending.