Arizona State Players Get One-Game Suspensions

Two Arizona State players, redshirt freshman quarterback Grady Benton and sophomore wide receiver Derrick Land, have been suspended from the Sun Devils’ season opener against Washington Sept. 5 at Tempe, Ariz.

Benton and Land pleaded no contest to the fraudulent use of a stolen credit card on July 24, and each received three years’ probation.

The two players were arrested July 1 for allegedly stealing a credit card from a female student and using it to charge $175 worth of merchandise at a Mesa, Ariz., shopping mall.

Store employees suspected the card was stolen and questioned Benton, who reportedly told them it belonged to a relative. Employees called police and the players fled, but they were arrested a few minutes later in a parking lot.

Coach Bruce Snyder said the two players also will be required to undergo a daily conditioning penalty for the first 10 days of training camp, beginning Wednesday.

Benton was expected to contend for the starting quarterback job this fall. Land caught one pass last season and was listed as the third-team wide receiver in spring practice.