Jermaine Whitehead is back practicing with the Auburn team. (John Reed-USA TODAY Sports)
Auburn reinstated safety Jermaine Whitehead on Tuesday after a monthlong suspension that apparently was the result of an argument with an assistant coach.
Whitehead had started 28 consecutive games before the altercation and the team disciplinary action.
Before the reported confrontation with an assistant, he had 12 tackles and two interceptions this season in two games at the start of the season.
“He practiced with the team on Sunday,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “He’s going to do everything he can to try to earn himself back on the field. I don’t know exactly how long that will take. I don’t have a timetable on it. But we’ll see how that goes and as far as his reinstatement and what he did and all that, that’s between me and him.”
Malzahn refused to expound on the suspension.
“Like I said, that’s between me and him with everything that went into that up to this point,” Malzahn said. “A lot of times seniors have a lot to do with decisions and stuff like that. So does the coaching staff. It was matter of fact.”
Josh Holsey replaced Whitehead at safety in the past four games. He said Whitehead was practicing with the scout team on Sunday.
“We just know he’s back, and we’re happy to have him back,” Holsey said.
“We all really miss Whitehead, his work ethic. It was good to see him back out there for the first time and see him get out there and run around a little bit with us.”
Auburn (5-1, 2-1 SEC) plays host to South Carolina on Saturday night.
