JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State running back Washaun Ealey has passed a privately administered drug test in the wake of his arrest by university police, his coach says, but it isn’t immediately known whether that will help him return to the field.

JSU coach Jack Crowe announced the test result on his Twitter account, writing that the issue “just got down to bad company.”

Ealey was charged Wednesday morning with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after university police responded to a noise complaint at the player’s apartment. Both charges are misdemeanors.

The senior back, on the Senior Bowl watch list, has been suspended for Saturday’s home opener against Chattanooga because of the arrest. JSU’s next game after Saturday is its Sept. 22 conference opener at Eastern Kentucky, the preseason favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“Right now, it’s a one-game suspension,” JSU athletics director Warren Koegel told The Star on Wednesday. “We still have to meet with some folks.”

Sources close to the situation said Crowe ordered the drug test, not administered by the university, for his own peace of mind and validation of what he was being told. Sources said Ealey denied the materials found by police belonged to him.

Ealey’s date in Jacksonville Municipal Court is Oct. 9.

Scheduling moves

Meanwhile, with the UTC series ending, the Gamecocks are in the market for games to fill out the 2013 schedule.

They locked in Auburn months ago, but still had three non-conference games to find.

Jacksonville University officials confirmed they’ll play a game at JSU, and there reportedly is a contract open for a single game with Georgia State in the Georgia Dome.

The Gamecocks are said to be seeking a sixth home game to complete the 12-game schedule.

Sports Writer Al Muskewitz: 256-235-3577. On Twitter @JSUSports_Star.