IOWA CITY (AP) - Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz has indefinitely suspended two University of Iowa football players who were arrested early Saturday morning on drug charges.

James Lee Cleveland, 19, faces up to seven years in prison for drug tax stamp violation and two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs, both serious misdemeanors.

Arvell Nelson, 19, was arrested for possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor carrying a maximum of one year in prison.

Both players, who live on campus at Hillcrest Hall, were released from the Johnson County Jail on their own recognizance Saturday morning.

In a statement released on Sunday, Ferentz said he was disappointed with the players, who were both expected to contribute this fall.

"It's especially disheartening since we made it such a major point of emphasis with our players since the end of last season," Ferentz said about their behavior. "Both players will be suspended, indefinitely, until I have a chance to examine all the facts involved in the case."

Ferentz, Iowa's assistant coaches and Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta left Saturday on the annual Hawkeye cruise and won't return until next week.

Ferentz's statement was released by Iowa's sports information department.

According to police reports, Iowa public safety officers found marijuana in plain view on top of Nelson's desk at 2:41 a.m. Saturday morning. Nelson admitted the marijuana was his, according to the complaint.

At 3:01 a.m., Cleveland consented to a search of his room, according to the complaint.

Police founds 21 units of oxycodone and 24 doses of carisoprodol in his desk.

Cleveland admitted the pills were his, according to the complaint.

Oxycodone usually is prescribed for pain relief, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxer.

The public safety officials were not available on Saturday to discuss the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Cleveland is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound red-shirt freshman wide receiver from Baytown, Texas. He finished second on the team in catches in 2007, with 36 for 464 yards. He started 11 games last year and was named to the all-Big Ten freshman team.

Nelson, a 6-4 backup quarterback from Cleveland, played sparingly at quarterback and wide receiver last year. A red-shirt freshman, he was expected to challenge for the starting quarterback position this spring.