HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University football's leading rusher from last season and a starting cornerback have been suspended following arrests by Cabell County authorities early Saturday morning.

Tailback Darius Marshall, 20, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He was incarcerated at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning on $20,000 bond. Defensive back DeQuan Bembry, 20, also was held at Western Regional Jail on a pre-trial felony charge.

Marshall, as a sophomore, ran for 1,177 yards and scored five touchdowns in 2008. He also caught 16 passes for 98 yards and averaged 26.3 yards on 30 kickoff returns. Bembry ranked third on the team last season with 80 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, and intercepted a pass as a redshirt freshman.

"I am very disappointed in DeQuan and Darius' decision-making," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "DeQuan and Darius have been suspended from the team. Other action will be determined once the legal system has taken its course."

Snyder's squad is deep both at tailback and cornerback, but Saturday's suspensions unquestionably are substantial. Darius Marshall, coming off a career-best season, continued to improve during the offseason, excelling during occasional spring practice work.

Sophomore Terrell Edwards, sidelined for spring drills' final two weeks with a shoulder injury, is included in a group of running backs including redshirt freshmen Martin Ward and Jordan Taylor.

Bembry arguably is the most talented of the Thundering Herd's cornerbacks, and also factors as a punt returner. T.J. Drakeford and D.J. Wingate are the program's most prominent cornerbacks beyond Bembry, who like Darius Marshall, stood out during spring practice.

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Marshall University tailback Darius Marshall, 20, and defensive back DeQuan Starling, 20, were arrested early Saturday.

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