Freshman LB Donte Starks Suspended Indefinitely. Team Rules

[LSUDad]

LSU Suspends Freshman Linebacker Donte Starks "Indefinitely" for Violation of Team Rules

 

Glen West

4 hours ago

LSU coach Ed Orgeron announced Saturday morning that freshman linebacker Donte Starks would be suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

Starks appeared in three games for the Tigers in his freshman season, leaving the door open for a redshirt year. A consensus four-star linebacker and No. 8 overall player in Louisiana in the 2019 class, Starks was seen as someone who would compete for one of the three open linebacker spots in 2020.

LSU lost outside linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson and Michael Divinity as well as inside linebackers Jacob Phillips and Patrick Queen to the NFL draft and will now find itself even thinner with the suspension of Starks.

Junior Damone Clark figures to take one of the inside linebacker spots after a 50 tackle season that included 3.5 sacks. Other linebackers that will battle for a starting spot include seniors Andre Anthony and Ray Thornton, junior Micah Baskerville and freshmen Phillip Webb, Antoine Sampah and Josh White.

Starks found himself in a precarious situation to start his LSU career as he didn't become academically eligible to play until after the season had already begun. The statement didn't say whether Starks' suspension was related to his previous academic issues.

The full statement released by LSU athletics can be found below:

"Freshman Donte Starks has been indefinitely suspended from the football team for violation of team rules, head coach Ed Orgeron announced on Saturday."

[Herb]

We seem to have an issue with LBs getting suspended indefinately. Divinity...now Starks.

It would not surprise me to see Pelini move Jocoby Stevens up to LB and rotate in some fresh meat at safety. The interplay and bosy types of the two positions always make for some intriguing "what ifs".

 

[LSUDad]

More...

 

LSU LB Donte Starks' suspension reportedly came day after gun arrest

Jake Rill | 2 hours ago

 

 

 

 

It appears the reason behind LSU’s indefinite suspension of linebacker Donte Starks is now known.

According to NOLA.com, Starks was arrested on Friday in Marrero, La., for illegally possessing a concealed handgun and attempting to run away from the police. The deputies were investigating a complaint of armed men selling drugs, which was why they stopped Starks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

00:14

05:01

 

 

 

 

 

00:06

 

 

 

However, Starks is not being accused of selling the narcotics, nor did the police find any during his arrest, per NOLA.com.

 

Starks was then suspended by LSU the day after the arrest.

A former 4-star recruit, Starks played in three games in his first season with the Tigers in 2019. He missed preseason camp due to being academically ineligible.

Since the suspension was announced, Starks has already taken to social media to apologize for the incident.

The Tigers have opportunity available in the linebacker corps moving forward, so Starks could be a part of that if he can return from this suspension and avoid further incidents.

[Hatchertiger]

In other news:

Quote

MONROE, La (KNOE 8 News) - District Attorney Jerry Jones confirms that the charges against Alabama athletes Cam Robinson and Laurence 'Hootie' Jones have been dropped.

Jerry Jones cited insufficient evidence in proving who was in possession of the gun and the drugs, thus, he is dropping the charges.

Jones says, "I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I'm doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years, working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning."

The University of Alabama says they have no further comment on the matter.

https://www.knoe.com/content/news/Charges-against-University-of-Alabama-football-players-dropped-383654561.html