Jalen Saunders and Cortez Johnson were arrested after a traffic stop

Dec 3, 2012 12:55 GMT  ·  By
Jalen Saunders and Cortez Johnson were arrested for marijuana possession after a traffic stop
   Jalen Saunders and Cortez Johnson were arrested for marijuana possession after a traffic stop

Jalen Saunders and Cortez Johnson of the Oklahoma Sooners are facing charges on possession of a controlled substance, reports say.

According to The Oklahoman, wide receiver Saunders and cornerback Johnson were caught at a traffic stop, in Saunders's vehicle. Johnson was driving the car at 2 a.m., in Lindsey and Oakhurst in Norman, when the pair got pulled over.

Cleveland County Sheriff's documents show that marijuana was found in their possession, at 2:34 a.m. Charges were filed against the 20-year-old players on Sunday, December 2.

The football players for the University of Oklahoma were released from Cleveland County jail between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. the same day, according to CBS Sports.

Sooners’ fans publication, the Crimson And Cream Machine, writes that Saunders was only eligible to play starting this year. Controversy arose as he was originally dubbed ineligible to play; however, he was granted permission after appealing the NCAA decision.

He is a star wide receiver for the team that beat TCU on Saturday, 24 to 17, but stands to be suspended for the rest of the year if the drug abuse charges pan out. He transferred from Fresno State as a junior, with impressive results.

During his first two seasons playing college football, he ranked high at Fresno as well. In 2011, he put in 1,000 yards, scoring 12 touchdown catches. His average was 21.3 yards per catch.

A report by Los Angeles Times puts him as third on his team, with 53 receptions, 766 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 14.5 yards-per-reception average also puts him on top among the Sooners.

A suspension is not on the line for Johnson, who just transferred this year and is scheduled to start playing in 2013. He previously played with the Arizona Wildcats, in 2011.