Iowa starting wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette was arrested by Iowa City Police early Sunday morning for operating a vehicle while under the influence and has been suspended for the team’s game Saturday against Michigan State.
“I was disappointed to learn that Ihmir Smith-Marsette made a number of dangerous and potentially harmful decisions early this morning. First and foremost, I am thankful no one was hurt,” Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement Sunday.
Ferentz added that Smith-Marsette’s “availability for future games will be determined as he goes through the University of Iowa Student Athlete Code of Conduct process, which includes counseling and other department protocols.”
Smith-Marsette was seen driving a white 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 70 mph in a 30 mph zone at 1:27 a.m. Sunday morning. When Smith-Marsette was stopped by an officer at Riverside drive and Myrtle near Iowa’s campus, the report says he had bloodshot eyes, impaired speech and smelled of alcohol.
Smith-Marsette admitted he had been drinking and showed what the report calls “measurable impairment” in a field sobriety test. When administered a breath test, Smith-Marsette registered a 0.130 percent blood alcohol content level.
He was arrested and booked at Iowa City jail and has since been released. The jail confirmed an unknown person took responsibility for Smith-Marsette to allow his release. Under COVID-19 protocols, the jail released him to the person taking responsibility without his first initial hearing.
Smith-Marsette is a senior receiver for Iowa, who had 722 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season for the Hawkeyes, along with 108 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
