UA announces two suspensions, Green not to return

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama football players Darrington Sentimore and Keiwone Malone have been suspended indefinitely from the team, while already-suspended defensive back Robby Green will not return to UA this fall, UA coach Nick Saban announced Tuesday.

"Keiwone Malone and Darrington Sentimore have been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules and policy," said Saban.

The nature the rules violations for Malone and Sentimore are unclear. UA players are not made available to media in the summer until the Southeastern Conference Media Days event next month.

Sources told Tidesports.com last week that Sentimore was exploring transfer options that included the University of Miami following a team-related disciplinary issue. Saban's announcement marks the first time Sentimore has been publicly suspended since arriving at UA in 2009, but sources confirmed last Thursday that Sentimore has had disciplinary problems in the past, and that Green's career at UA was all but finished.

Miami was among the other schools that recruited Sentimore out of Destrehan High in Louisiana. He also made official visits to Arkansas and LSU before signing with the Crimson Tide in February of 2009, but it remains unclear which if any other schools he is considering for a transfer.

The 6-foot-3, 273-pound defensive end drew praise from Saban for his on-field improvements during spring drills. He has three years of eligibility remaining if he were to remain at Alabama and return to the team in good standing, but would lose one year of eligibility under NCAA transfer rules if he were to leave UA for another FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) institution.

Although he has yet to record a sack in his career, Sentimore is considered among UA's most promising pass rushers.

Green was suspended by the NCAA for the 2010 season, then again by the team prior to spring practice. Green made 33 tackles for the Crimson Tide during its national championship season in 2009, mostly as a situational player in UA's dime defense.

With only one year of eligibility remaining, Green's transfer options could be limited to non-FBS programs only.

If Malone returns from suspension, he would be a redshirt freshman this fall. The Memphis native did not play as a true freshman last year, but caught three passes for 53 yards in the annual A-Day scrimmage.