Four members of the Auburn football team—defensive end Byron Cowart, defensive back Carlton Davis, wideout Ryan Davis and defensive back Jeremiah Dinson, all of whom are sophomores—were arrested Saturday night on charges of second-degree marijuana possession, per Tom Green of the Opelika-Auburn News.
“I am aware of the situation, and we will handle this matter appropriately,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement.
Citing Alabama Code, Green reported the arrested players could be fined up to $6,000 and sentenced to a maximum of one year in jail.
All four saw the field in their freshman season. Carlton Davis was the top performer, registering 56 total tackles and leading the Tigers with three interceptions. Dinson and Cowart had 15 and six total tackles, respectively. Ryan Davis carried the ball twice for 20 yards in two games.
The quartet helped form a 2015 recruiting class that sat eighth nationally in 247Sports’ composite rankings. Here’s where each player ranked individually, per 247Sports:
| Player | Positional Rank | Overall Rank |
| Byron Cowart, SDE | No. 1 | No. 3 |
| Ryan Davis, WR | No. 24 | No. 188 |
| Carlton Davis, CB | No. 33 | No. 340 |
| Jeremiah Dinson, CB | No. 105 | No. 1,205 |
Source: 247Sports
Much will be expected of Cowart in particular next year. Bleacher Report’s Barrett Sallee believes he is in line to have a big season:
At 6’3″, 277 pounds, Cowart has the size to be a force against the run, but also the speed to be either a force off the edge or someone who drops down inside in obvious pass-rushing situations to get more speed on the field.
He finished last year with just six tackles playing more of a backup role under former coordinator Will Muschamp, but should elevate to the top of the depth chart as a sophomore and reach the potential that made him a 5-star prospect 13 months ago.
In June 2014, police in Abbeville, Alabama, arrested then-Auburn cornerback Jonathon Mincy on second-degree marijuana possession. Malzahn kept him out of the starting lineup for the Tigers’ 2014 season opener, but Mincy did play in the game. A similar punishment could be in store for the four players arrested over the weekend.
Auburn opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3 at home against the Clemson Tigers.