Two Penn State football players -- including last year's starting tight end -- may miss the first three or four games of the season after being cited for underage drinking earlier this month, Joe Paterno said today.

Speaking at his first weekly press conference of the 2007 season, Paterno told reporters that Andrew Quarless, a sophomore tight end, and Willie Harriott, a sophomore cornerback, would not play in the season opener and may miss the first three or four games.

"Quarless and Harriott did something that really bothered me, in the sense that they were out after hours when we're in camp," Paterno said.

The two players were cited shortly before 3 a.m. on Aug. 17 in the area around Nittany Apartments building 12. University police said they were responding to an unrelated call about suspicious activity in the area when they found the two players and determined they had been drinking.

A female student was with the two players and was also cited.

The players continue to practice with the team, Paterno said, but "they're not gonna play for awhile."

See Wednesday's Daily Collegian for the full story and more coverage of Paterno's press conference.