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(UWIRE) IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Twelve days following their arrests on separate drug charges, Hawkeye football players James Cleveland and Arvell Nelson have been dismissed from the team, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz announced Thursday.
"It's disappointing anytime one of our players doesn't complete his career with our team and go on to earn his degree from Iowa," Ferentz said in a release. "That being said, we wish both James and Arvell success in the future."
Cleveland and Nelson, both 19-year-old redshirt freshmen, were arrested at their Hillcrest dorm room on the morning of Feb. 23 by UI police.
Cleveland, who started 11 games to become the second-leading receiver for the Hawkeyes last season, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs and a tax-stamp violation -- a Class D felony.
Nelson, a backup quarterback who also worked out as a wide receiver last season, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.
While Ferentz said the program made staying out of trouble a "major point of emphasis" late last season, Cleveland and Nelson became the 13th and 14th Hawkeye football players to be cited or arrested by police since April 2007 -- totaling 26 criminal charges.
The news of Cleveland's dismissal comes as a major blow to a young Hawkeye receiving corps heading into 2008 spring camp.
(C) 2008 The Daily Iowan via U-WIRE