Georgia sophomore receiver Riley Ridley has decided to enter a pretrial diversion program for his arrest last month on a misdemeanor marijuana- related charge.
Attorney David Crowe, who is representing Ridley, told the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday that the charge will be dismissed and expunged from the 20-year-old's record once he completes the program. Ridley was arrested March 11 and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Crowe told the paper Ridley must perform community service, pay a $200 fee for the program and go 12 months without another arrest. Ridley also has to report throughout the next year to a pretrial officer.
The university's athletic policy contains a one-game suspension for football players who are first-time violators of the school's drug and alcohol policy. Second-year Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart was asked during spring practice if Ridley would be suspended for the Sept. 2 opener against Appalachian State, but he did not give a definitive answer.
Ridley had 12 receptions for 238 yards and two touchdowns last season, posting a team-high 19.8 yards per catch. The younger brother of Alabama junior receiver Calvin Ridley did not practice much this spring due to a foot injury he suffered during practice before last December's Liberty Bowl against TCU.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6524.