It remains unclear what if any discipline two Georgia defensive starters will be facing following an incident over the weekend.
As reported Tuesday, campus police investigated the dorm room of linebacker Natrez Patrick for alleged marijuana use. Fellow linebacker Roquan Smith (pictured, No. 3) was present during the search and was described by police as a visitor.
No charges have been filed against either player. However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote, “Patrick admitted to keeping marijuana a hidden compartment built within a fake can of Arizona Strawberry Tea that was confiscated.” Additionally, "[o]ther discoveries identified from the search were a “green smoke buddy” used to masked the smell of marijuana when in use, tobacco gutted from Black N’ Mild cigars, several lighters and rolled up towels pushed up against door cracks.”
On Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference, Kirby Smart talked around the issue of whether either player could face disciplinary action on down the line.
“Right now, really all I can comment on is we’re continuing to gather information,” the first-year head coach said. “We’ll handle everything appropriately in due time. I don’t have a timeline on that right now.”
Both Patrick and Smith are sophomores and starting inside linebackers. Patrick is the Bulldogs’ leading tackler with 43, while Smith is No. 2 with 39.
Along with then-teammate Chauncey Rivers, Patrick was arrested back in early November for marijuana possession. A month later, Patrick was present but not charged when Rivers was again arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Patrick, the team’s third-leading tackler at the time, was suspended for UGA’s bowl game while Rivers was dismissed from the program this past May following his third weed arrest.