SALT LAKE CITY — Three Utah State University football players, including the team’s starting quarterback, have been charged with misdemeanor drug possession.
Jordan A. Love, 21, Sean Lewis Carter, 23, and Gerold Maurice Bright, 22, all of Logan, were each charged Tuesday in Logan Justice Court with marijuana possession, a class B misdemeanor.
Elani Rice, 20, of Logan, was also charged with marijuana possession and possession of alcohol by a minor, both class B misdemeanors. Rice is on the school’s track and field team.
The incident happened about 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Millennial Towers, 657 E. 1000 North in Logan, according to court records.
Logan Assistant Police Chief Jeff Simmons said police were called to the student residential housing building on a report of people smoking marijuana in a room. Officers could smell marijuana as soon as they entered the building, he said.
A total of seven people were found in the unit where officers suspected marijuana usage. The group initially declined being drug tested. Police then obtained search warrants and each of the seven occupants gave a urine sample, according to Simmons.
Five people tested positive for marijuana and were issued citations and then released, he said. Two people whose test results were negative were not charged. No additional marijuana was found in the room, the assistant chief said.
All three are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 30.
“We are aware that citations were issued. We have processes in place, both in student conduct and in athletics, and we’ll follow our procedures, as we do in all cases,” Utah State said in a statement.
Love, a junior, is a three-year starter at quarterback and is one of the most accomplished Aggie signal-callers in school history, ranking second in USU history in passing yards (8,283 yards) and attempts (1,086), third in touchdown passes (57), completions (659) and total offense (8,670 yards) and first in career 300-yard passing games (11). He’s also fourth in completion percentage (.607).
Last week, Love announced he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL draft.
Bright, a senior running back, leads the Aggies with 827 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this year while adding 207 receiving yards and another score. Carter is a junior college transfer who has one reception for 17 yards this season.
The Aggies play Kent State in the Frisco Bowl this Friday at 5:30 p.m. MST.