Memphis Tigers DL Jared Gentry kicked off football team after marijuana arrest

Memphis defensive tackle Jared Gentry, expected to be a significant contributor in 2018, was dismissed from the football team Friday after his arrest on drug charges.

Gentry was arrested Wednesday on a charge of felony possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, deliver and sell, according to Shelby County court records.

Gentry, 20, was also charged with possessing drug paraphernalia and arraigned Friday morning in Shelby County criminal court. His bond was set at $3,000.

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A Memphis athletics department spokesperson said Gentry has been dismissed from the football team for a violation of team rules and suspended from campus while an investigation is conducted.

According to a police affidavit, officers received information alleging Gentry had drugs in his campus apartment at the Carpenter Student Housing complex.

Police then searched Gentry's room and discovered two mason jars, one of which had two individually wrapped bags containing 29.8 grams of marijuana. Officers also found two sets of small scales and multiple plastic bags.

Gentry's attorney, Taurus Bailey, did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the arrest.

Gentry, a junior from Opelika, Ala., started in the Tigers' opening game against Louisiana-Monroe but suffered a season-ending leg injury in the first half. As a sophomore in 2016, he appeared in 11 games and finished with 16 tackles.

"Jared Gentry has been dismissed from the University of Memphis football team for a violation of team rules," the Memphis athletics department wrote in a statement to The Commercial Appeal.

"Additionally, Gentry has been placed on interim suspension from campus for violations of the UofM Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities while this matter is reviewed by the Office of Student Accountability, Outreach and Support. No additional comments will be made while the investigation is ongoing."

Gentry is the third significant contributor on defense to be charged with a felony this school year. Shaun Rupert, who started the Tigers' first three games at safety, was arrested in September and charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

In October, defensive lineman Ernest Suttles was arrested and charged with rape. Both Rupert and Suttles were immediately dismissed from the team following their arrests.

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