UAlbany suspends receiver Gontarek indefinitely

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Josh Gontarek of UAlbany, right, goes through practice drills at Bob Ford Field on Friday, August 7, 2015.

University at Albany sophomore wide receiver Josh Gontarek, the conference rookie of the year last season, has been suspended indefinitely from the football team after an on-campus arrest Monday.

University at Albany Police charged Gontarek with unlawful possession of marijuana and evidence tampering, the university revealed this afternoon.

“Josh Gontarek has been suspended indefinitely due to his arrest and alleged violation of NY State law and University at Albany athletic department and student conduct policies,” UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso said in a written statement.

Gontarek, a 5-foot-11, 170 pound criminal justice major from Mount Airy, Md., was the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year and a Jerry Rice Award finalist in 2014 after leading the Great Danes with 58 receptions for 687 yards and eight touchdowns.

This year, Gontarek is the second-leading receiver on the team with 16 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

“We will continue to monitor and respect the legal process and take further action as warranted,” UAlbany athletic director Mark Benson said.

Gontarek is the second UAlbany football player to be arrested in the past year.

Jordan Crockett, then a freshman backup wide receiver on the team from Fort Washington, Md., was suspended indefinitely after being accused of using the social media app Yik Yak to make a threat to blow up the school. Crockett was charged with second-degree falsely reporting an incident. It is a Class E felony in New York for anyone to issue a false bomb threat toward a school. He is on the active roster this season.