Houston leading receiver Dewayne Peace is academically ineligible and no longer part of the program, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com Monday night.

Peace had 54 receptions for 603 yards last season, but he also missed three games while serving a suspension for a team rules violation. Despite his stats from a year ago, Peace was not a first-team receiver this spring. Deontay Greenberry, Larry McDuffey, Xavier Maxwell and Daniel Spencer were all ahead of Peace on the depth chart, a testament to the talent and depth the Cougars have at this position.

More is on the way. Houston also added transfer Markeith Ambles, who began his career at USC and is scheduled to to join the team this summer. Losing Peace hurts on the surface, but the Cougars have should have enough talent to negate his loss.

Still, Houston does go into 2013 without its leading returning receiver and leading returning rusher as Charles Sims abruptly decided to leave the team two weeks ago with one year of eligibility remaining. Sims has earned his degree, and is eligible to transfer or enter the NFL supplemental draft.