Criminal charges against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Natrez Patrick have been reportedly dropped, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.
Patrick and teammate Jayson Stanley were arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges just hours after the Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Auburn in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2. The two players were stopped for speeding on Georgia Highway 316 when a loose leaf of marijuana was discovered in the passenger seat of Stanley's car where Patrick was sitting.
Stanley claimed ownership of the marijuana in a video released by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office and is seen pleading with officers not to charge Patrick in the incident. Patrick was facing dismissal from the school after his third marijuana-related arrest. He was also arrested for possession of marijuana in October and for the same charges in 2015 as well.
A DUI charge was also dropped against Stanley after he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana and speeding.
Patrick served a four-game suspension for his arrest in October and it's unclear if he'll face additional punishment by the school for his latest arrest after the charges were reportedly dropped. The No. 3 Bulldogs face the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners in a College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Patrick has recorded 35 tackles this season and he had three tackles against Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
