Ad Disclosure
The indefinite suspension for Auburn senior free safety Jermaine Whitehead is over.
Whitehead, who was suspended following the win at Kansas State due to a verbal altercation with a coach, spent four weeks apart from the program.
AL.com’s Joel A. Erickson reports that it’s unclear whether or not Whitehead will see playing time this week against South Carolina.
Head coach Gus Malzahn said Tuesday Whitehead will have to earn his way back on the field.
“He practiced with the team on Sunday,” Malzahn told reporters, “and he’s got to do everything he can to earn himself back on the field.”
Whitehead got off to the best start of his career through the Tigers’ first two games, recording 12 total tackles and two interceptions. However, Whitehead was gone for a month and Josh Holsey has stepped in nicely as his replacement.
Malzahn put no timetable on how long it will take before Whitehead returns to the field.
“I don’t know exactly how long that’ll take,” Malzahn said. “I don’t have a timetable on it, but we’ll see how that goes. As far as his reinstatement, what he did and all that, that’s between me and him.”
Whitehead’s return does not mean he’s automatically back with the first-team defense. According to media reports, he’s worked with the scout team.
The Auburn secondary hasn’t missed a beat, but Whitehead’s return leaves some decisions to be made for Malzahn and defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.
“A lot of times, seniors have a lot to do with decisions, so does the coaching staff,” Malzahn said.
After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.
