2 Aggies kicked off team after drug arrests

Two Utah State University football players were kicked off the team after they were found using marijuana earlier this week.

Aggie head coach Brent Guy announced their dismissal Wednesday due to the fact they violated team policy.

Police on Monday arrested backup quarterback Jerod Walker, 19, and wide receiver Dionte Holloway, 21, after they admitted to smoking marijuana on campus, according to USU police Lt. Steve Milne. Residents at Richards Hall, an on-campus dormitory, called police when they smelled a strong odor coming from Holloway's room.

Milne said when they arrived at the dorm, Walker was just leaving and probably saw them. Before he could tip off Holloway inside, police knocked on the door and confronted him.

"He admitted to smoking marijuana and let us perform a search, during which we found a small amount of the drug inside," Milne said.

Officers then contacted Walker at his residence, and Milne said he still smelled strongly of marijuana. Walker admitted to police that he had been smoking marijuana with Holloway.

Milne said police expect to charge them both with a class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Such a crime is usually a class B misdemeanor, but Milne said Holloway's dorm room is less than 100 feet away from an elementary school, so the charges will be enhanced. The Cache County Attorney is expected to approve the charges today.

Walker is already appearing in court today on aggravated sexual assault charges filed in 1st District Court in Logan on Wednesday. He is accused of raping a 20-year-old USU coed, a first-degree felony.

Walker and Holloway were both entering their second year with the Aggies.

Walker, who has plans to major in business finance, hails from Jersey Village High School in Houston. He played in nine games last season, starting the final two contests. He completed 53-of-76 passes for 653 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing 96 times for 328 yards and another score.

A sophomore from Cerritos, Calif., Holloway transferred to USU from Fresno City Junior College and walked onto the team ahead of the 2005 campaign. He played in six games and caught 10 passes for 194 yards.

Police also arrested a third student at Richards Hall after they found alcohol in his room during the search of Holloway's apartment.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com