Stephen Roberts Suspended by Auburn Following Arrest

Auburn safety Stephen Roberts was arrested in Alabama on the night of Aug. 24 and charged with two misdemeanors.

James Crepea of AL.com reported on Aug. 26 that Roberts was booked on charges of attempting to elude an officer and possessing a firearm without a license. He was released after posting bond.

The report also included a statement from an Auburn spokesperson, which read: "Coach [Gus] Malzahn is aware. He is gathering all the facts and will handle the situation appropriately."

Malzahn told reporters Tuesday that Roberts will be suspended for Auburn's season opener against Clemson on Sept. 3. Malzahn added the suspension will be week to week, and the team will see how Roberts responds to the ban.

According to the police report, Roberts had a handgun in his possession without a permit. The charges carry a potential punishment of up to one year in prison and a $6,000 fine.

Roberts, a junior, registered 26 tackles for the Tigers last season. He was expected to step into a more prominent role as a starting safety during the upcoming campaign.

In July, his former coach at Opelika High School, Brian Blackmon, talked about his progress at Auburn, per Tom Green of AL.com:

"

He's really focused in. You can tell there's been a lot of maturity and growth in him as a person the last year, two years. I'm a big believer that those types of things are things that show up on the field. He's always had the talent, but if he gets that part right, he's going to be a really good player at Auburn.

"

Tray Matthews, T.J. Davis and Markell Boston will battle for playing time in Roberts' absence.