Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said that as of Tuesday, four of the six Irish football players who were arrested in two separate incidents the weekend of Aug. 19 will be available to play in Sunday’s season opener at Texas.
Linebacker Te’von Coney, running back Dexter Williams, cornerback Ashton White and receiver Kevin Stepherson were formally charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana Monday in Fulton County, Ind. Coney and Stepherson pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday, while White’s and Williams’ attorneys filed motions to waive initial hearings.
Notre Dame’s office of standards could overrule Kelly, who said no timetable has been set for when — or if — that office would issue any punishment.
Safety Max Redfield was dismissed from the team Aug. 21 and Tuesday pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of possession of a handgun without a license and possession of marijuana.
“It was the handgun that was the game-changer,” Kelly said of the decision to dismiss Redfield from the team. “That changed the whole situation.”
When asked why the other four players charged with marijuana possession weren’t suspended, Kelly said he never has issued such punishment for a first offense for such allegations.
Kelly called the school’s drug-testing policy “very rigorous” and said the first offense for such behavior should be something from which to learn. He also said the four players arrested on the marijuana charges will be subject to random drug testing.
“There needs to be an educational component,” Kelly said, adding it won’t be punitive if the players learn from their mistake.
The five were arrested after a traffic stop late on the night of Aug. 19.
Cornerback Devin Butler remains indefinitely suspended pending two felony charges stemming from his arrest in a separate incident early the morning of Aug. 20 during which Butler was accused of resisting law enforcement and battery of an officer. He pleaded not guilty to both charges last week.
Butler broke his left foot for the second time in six months in June. He isn’t expected to be ready to play until October. Two women who said they witnessed Butler’s arrest disputed the police’s account.
Last week, Kelly said he was disappointed, embarrassed and “mad as hell” upon hearing of the arrests.
Who will start? Kelly declared nearly two weeks ago that quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire both would play in the season opener. Who will take the first snap is unknown.
“Haven’t figured that out yet,” Kelly said.
He also said there isn’t a definitive plan for how he will use the two. Mostly it will depend on how the game unfolds.
“It will be more by feel,” Kelly said.
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