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Greg Ostendorf, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Stephen Roberts suspended for season opener following arrest

College Football, Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn coach Gus Malzahn announced Tuesday that junior defensive back Stephen Roberts will be suspended for the season opener against Clemson.

Roberts was arrested last week on misdemeanor charges of attempting to elude law enforcement and carrying a pistol without a permit. According to the police report, he was a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop and attempted to flee from the officer.

As for his return, Malzahn said it's going to be "week-to-week."

Roberts played in all 13 games for Auburn last year and finished with 26 tackles and three passes broken up. He emerged as a starter late in the season, starting the team's last four games, and he's expected to play a major role in the secondary this fall.

When asked whether Auburn has a firearm policy for players, Malzahn said, "We don't want them. We don't want our players with them."

Roberts was the fifth Auburn player to be arrested this offseason. The other four -- Carlton Davis, Byron Cowart, Jeremiah Dinson and Ryan Davis -- were arrested on second-degree misdemeanor marijuana possession charges in May.

Unlike Roberts, all four previously suspended players will be eligible to play against Clemson with Carlton and Ryan Davis both listed on the first-team depth chart.

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