The Chattanooga Times Free Press is reporting that the Chattanooga football team has lost eight defensive players to academic deficiencies for the 2005 season, including former University of Tennessee safety Brandon Johnson.

Johnson enrolled at Chattanooga in January and had one year of eligibility remaining. He was dismissed from UT in November following reckless endangerment charges involving a handgun a month earlier.

Also ineligible are cornerback Brian Staley, a transfer from Mississippi State, Brandon Ridgeway, a starter at linebacker last year, Jazz Johnson, a part-time starter at linebacker, cornerbacks Isaiah Gay and Desmond Mosby, safety Denis Gordon and defensive lineman Garrett Williams.

Last year, Chattanooga lost eight players to academic ineligibility - seven on defense.

In other college football news:

• The NCAA denied South Carolina quarterback Mike Rathe's request to reconsider his application for a sixth year of eligibility. Rathe said he plans to appeal.

• Former Georgia tailback Michael Cooper has decided to play his final two seasons at South Carolina State. Cooper was Georgia's leading rusher in 2003 but played sparingly last year.

• Georgia redshirt freshman linebacker Josh Johnson will transfer to Georgia Military College next fall. Georgia coach Mark Richt said Johnson is in good academic standing but "has fallen short of our expectations in some areas related to discipline."