A suspended University of Maine football player recently was ruled eligible to return to practice, according to university officials.
Junior running back Darian Davis-Ray, who was among three players suspended earlier this month for an alleged violation of the school’s student code of conduct, is now eligible to return, UMaine spokeswoman Margaret Nagle said Wednesday in an email.
The other two student-athletes, who remain suspended, are wide receiver and punt returner Micah Wright and defensive lineman Uchenna Egwuonwu.
The reason for the suspensions has not been made public. Nagle declined to comment further on the situation, as the university does not comment on student conduct proceedings, she said.
Davis-Ray had been suspended last year for violating the student code of conduct, and missed a game against Bryant University.
The native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, recorded 280 yards on 62 carries and a touchdown in eight games last fall, averaging 4.5 yards per rush. Davis-Ray also caught four passes for 75 yards last season.
Wright led the CAA in punt return average last year (11.1 yards) and was UMaine’s top receiver with 44 catches for 688 yards and seven touchdowns, earning first-team all CAA honors.
His seven touchdowns were good for second in the league while he averaged 76.4 receiving yards per game, ranking third in the CAA.
Wright also missed the first two games of last season for a violation of the student conduct code after he was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge in May 2016 as police dealt with a large party at an Orono apartment complex.
In a plea agreement with the Penobscot County District Attorney’s office in September 2016, that charge was dismissed and Wright admitted to a civil offense of illegally possession of alcohol, resulting in a $300 fine.
Egwuonwu, a junior from Union, New Jersey, tallied 40 tackles for the Black Bears last season, including 3.5 for loss and a sack.
UMaine, which was 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the CAA in 2016, opens its season on Aug. 31 at rival University of New Hampshire.
