Gene Chizik said Thursday night that any new developments in the lawsuit against running back Eric Smith will be dealt with “the right way.”

Decari Jenkins, an Auburn University student, is suing Smith, 19, for compensatory and punitive damages after Smith allegedly assaulted Jenkins, 22, in the parking lot of the Lexington Hotel in Auburn on Aug. 21.

The lawsuit also alleges two unnamed AU football players were involved in the incident.

“I’m not at liberty to talk about those types of issues,” Chizik said. “We’ve done everything that we needed to do when the whole thing arose three months ago. I’m not aware of any official anything that has happened right now.

“I know there is stuff out there. I can assure that we will deal, again, with everything the proper way if that does occur. There hasn’t been anything that I’m aware of right now that has happened. Again, when it’s our time, and we have to deal with that, we’ll address it in the right way.”

Smith was suspended from the team for 2 1/2 weeks after the August incident, missing the first game of the season against Louisiana Tech.

Since, Smith has played in every game, rushing for 99 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, while catching 17 passes for 225 yards.

LB Evans next in line
Jonathan Evans might get the first start of his career next Friday against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

The true freshman filled in for starting linebacker Eltoro Freeman last week in the Tigers’ loss to Georgia, after Freeman went out with a concussion in the third quarter.

Evans finished with four tackles in a quarter-and-a-half of play.

Now, Evans has a chance to pad those stats if Freeman, who hasn’t practiced since the injury, can’t go against Alabama.

“Again, Toro is going to be a day-by-day situation,” Chizik said Thursday night. “We don’t really know when that will be. But if Jonathan has to be the guy, he had to be the guy in the second half of the Georgia game.”

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof likes what he’s seen so far from Evans during the bye-week practices.

“He’s getting better every day,” Roof said. “He’s done a good job. He’s gotten better at making more plays, more active. That’s what we expect him to do, that’s what’s got to happen.

And the experience he received last weekend will go along way, says Roof.

“Oh yeah, it’s critical,” the defensive coordinator said. “There’s only one first time and that was his first time really being in there when the game was still in the (balance). I thought he did a good job for the first time. He didn’t panic. I’m sure internally things were moving pretty fast, but I thought he did some nice things and I look forward to more and more nice things as time goes forward.”

Both Chizik and Roof wouldn’t discuss who might be after Evans on the depth chart, if Freeman can’t play.

Chizik did say, however, that he didn’t see Adam Herring (heel), who has started four games this season, being available.

“At this point, I don’t see that being an option,” Chizik said, “but I’m not ruling that out, either.

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