Roberts suspended

AUBURN | Stephen Roberts is out for at least the first game.

The junior safety was suspended by Gus Malzahn following an arrest last week and will not play in Saturday’s season-opener against No. 2 Clemson.

"We will be playing without Stephen Roberts. Stephen's going to be suspended for htis game," Malzahn said. "It's going to be week to week. We'll see what happens. We'll see how he responds."

Senior Rudy Ford and junior Tray Matthews are listed as the starting safeties on Auburn’s official depth chart released Tuesday with junior Nick Ruffin and sophomore Markell Boston as the backups.

Ford was also listed as the starting nickel. Seniors Joshua Holsey or T.J. Davis could also figure into the safety or nickel positions against Clemson.

"Rudy's got experience doing both (safety and nickel)," Malzahn said. "I really don't want to say too much more about our plan but you could see him at both positions.

"We have a lot of guys that we can mix and match for different things."

Roberts was arrested last Wednesday for attempting to elude a police officer and possessing an unlicensed firearm.

Roberts started the final four games of last season finishing with 26 tackles and three pass breakups.