EAST RUTHERFORD -- Darron Lee knows Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Better than most, Lee says. They played together at Ohio State, and were nearly inseparable on and off the field.

The Jets inside linebacker said he was shocked when he heard the NFL suspended Elliott six games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, stemming from a domestic violence accusation last July.

Lee simply doesn't believe Elliott is capable of assaulting a woman.

"No," Lee told NJ Advance Media on Saturday after the Jets' 7-3 preseason victory over the Tennessee Titans. "No, I don't. I know him. ... He's a good dude. He's a good guy."

Last summer, the NFL began investigating Elliott after his ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence. While police never charged Elliott, the league found enough evidence -- through examination of text messages, more than a dozen witness interviews, and consulting medical and legal experts -- to believe he violated the personal conduct policy.

The NFL found three incidents -- aided by photographic evidence -- for which it said "credible evidence" established Elliott "used physical force" and caused injuries to the his ex-girlfriend's face, shoulders, neck, arms, wrists, hands, knees and hips over the span of five days.

TMZ has published the photos it says the league examined. (You can view them here. They contain graphic content.)

Lee is not convinced.

"People are going to have their assumptions," Lee said, "and feel some type of way about however they feel, regardless of the information they have. That's my boy. I'm going to stick with him, with whatever he's going through. If he hears or reads this, I want him to know that I love him, I'm here for him, and I've got his back.

"People are always going to say some stuff. It's just how the game goes. He's my boy, regardless."

Jets receiver Jalin Marshall, who also played with Elliott in college, echoed that sentiment. (All three players entered the NFL last year.)

"When you hear one thing, you know people start making up all types of stuff," he said. "I'm dealing with a suspension [PED violation] myself. They say I did one thing, and other people say I did other things. You just kind of have to deal with the cards you're dealt and move forward. There's nowhere to go but up. Everything will eventually be all right."

Marshall has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL''s drig policy. In March, Marshall said he "inadvertently took medication without an exemption from the league on one occasion."

Elliott announced Friday he will appeal the suspension. In a statement, Elliott's representatives said they were "extremely disappointed" in the ruling. They said the NFL's investigation was "replete with factual inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions, and it 'cherry picks' so-called evidence to support its conclusion while ignoring other critical evidence."

If Elliott's six-game suspension stands, he would be eligible to return Oct. 29 against Washington. Lee is hopeful this will all work out in Elliott's favor.

"I'm praying for him," Lee said. "Praying for him every single day."

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.