ATLANTA \u2014 Texas A&M’s appearance at SEC Media Days in the College Football Hall of Fame was interrupted before it started. <\/p>\n
Texas A&M receiver Ainias Smith was arrested in the early hours Wednesday by A&M police on charges of driving while intoxicated, unlawful carrying of a weapon and possessing fewer than two ounces of marijuana, according to the Brazos County justice website. <\/p>\n
Smith, a team leader who was supposed to be one of three players to attend the media days Thursday along with coach Jimbo Fisher, was released Wednesday after posting bonds totaling $8,000. <\/p>\n
He was subsequently suspended Wednesday from the football program per athletics department policy, and will not attend media days. A possible replacement was being discussed later Wednesday, according to a school spokesman, and A&M’s representatives are expected to fly in from College Station on Thursday morning. <\/p>\n
Smith was pulled over for speeding shortly after 2 am Wednesday on University Drive near the Northgate bar district and arrested for DWI after failing a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause statement. A search of his vehicle then turned up a \u201crolled joint of marijuana\u201d and a handgun with a \u201cfull magazine and a round chambered\u201d in the center console, according to the police report. <\/p>\n
An officer then interviewed Smith at the Brazos County Jail, where he’d been taken for the DWI arrest, and he denied owning the handgun or the marijuana, according to the report. A passenger who was released also denied owning the gun or marijuana, according to the probable cause statement. <\/p>\n
Smith, whom reporters had come to rely on for insight last season win or lose, was supposed to appear at the final of the four media days Thursday in Atlanta along with Fisher and teammates Demani Richardson and Layden Robinson. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith was pulled over at 2 am Wednesday near the Northgate bar district in College Station, according to police records.<\/p>\n <\/span>Brazos County Jail<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Smith, a 5-foot 10, 185-pound senior from Dulles High School, has more than 1,300 yards receiving over the past three seasons, and has played a role as the Aggies’ Mr. Everything in receiving, rushing and on special teams. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In smoothly stepping into a running back role when needed, Smith has rushed for 373 yards in the past three seasons, in averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He’s the younger brother of former NFL defensive back Maurice Smith, who played for Alabama and Georgia in college and primarily for the Miami Dolphins spanning a four-year NFL career from 2017-2020. <\/p>\n Ainias Smith’s arrest was disappointing for A&M fans, considering he’s developed into a team leader for the Aggies entering Fisher’s fifth season, and reporters counted on the stand-up playmaker to speak for the team following both wins and losses. <\/p>\n \u201cAinias makes it (look) really easy,\u201d fellow A&M receiver Jalen Preston once said of Smith’s devotion to football. \u201cHe’s always in his playbook and always studying, and he always knows the next step of the defense. He makes crazy plays I’ve never seen before. <\/p>\n \u201cHe also has a giant heart, and I love playing with him.\u201d <\/p>\n