SPORTS

Nick Marshall, Jonathon Mincy to 'suffer the consequences' of marijuana charges

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall
  • Malzahn %27not ready%27 to say if Marshall will miss playing time

HOOVER -- Nick Marshall and Jonathon Mincy face uncertain penalties for their recent marijuana-related run-ins with law enforcement.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said his starting quarterback and cornerback will "suffer the consequences" for their actions that led to Marshall receiving a citation for possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on Friday and Mincy being arrested on the same charge last month.

The Tigers coach would not say what the punishment will be for Marshall, who was replaced as a member of Auburn's player contingent at SEC Media Days at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Monday by tight end C.J. Uzomah, including potentially the loss of playing time.

"I believe it's a reward and privilege to represent Auburn here at SEC Media Days," Malzahn said. "I believe he lost that right Friday. We have high expectations for our players, but specifically our quarterback being the face of our program.

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"Up until last Friday, Nick has been a model student, a model teammate, a model citizen but he made a mistake and he's going to have to suffer the consequences for that mistake. I'm not saying what that consequence is right now, but it will be addressed."

Police discovered "between six and eight grams" in a bag on the passenger visor of Marshall's Dodge Charger during a traffic stop for an illegal window tint in Reynolds, Georgia Friday afternoon, according to Reynolds Police Chief Lonnie Holder.

Marshall was cited but not arrested and faces fines totaling $1,100.

The Rochelle, Georgia native has not made any public comments since the incident, but apologized to the team along with Mincy.

"He's very regretful and he's embarrassed," Malzahn said of Marshall, "that he hurt his teammates, his family, his coaches, all of the above."

Malzahn implied Marshall is a first-time offender of the team rules regarding marijuana use, meaning he would not necessarily have to miss playing time, but it was not ruled out.

"I'm not ready to say anything right now," Malzahn said.

Holder said he and his fellow officer did not have reason to believe Marshall had been smoking, he denied doing so, and a field sobriety test was not performed.

"He was very respectful and apologetic," Holder said. "I just explained to him that a lot of kids look up to him and see him as a role model. I told him he's a role model if he wants to be or not and I was disappointed in him and I wasn't going to treat him no different than we treat anybody else. At that point he became teary-eyed."

Widely considered a Heisman Trophy candidate, Marshall passed for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 1,068 yards rushing and 12 scores last season.

Teammates have rallied to support their quarterback in the aftermath of his first reported misstep since arriving at Auburn roughly a year ago.

"I called him and asked him could I help him out," center Reese Dismukes said. "He's been nothing but a great piece of this fun journey we've been on the past year."

Defensive tackle Gabe Wright feels Marshall is "truly remorseful," and cited his voluntary work in the community as an example of his character.

"You don't get that out of a guy with a bad attitude," Wright said.

This recent display of poor judgment comes from a player who is already on his second chance, having been dismissed from Georgia in Feb. 2012 for being involved in the reported stealing from a teammate.

Still, fellow seniors are standing by Marshall.

"Our trust in him hasn't faltered at all," Uzomah said, "and our faith in him is as strong as it's been."