Although no charges have yet been filed by Penn State campus police, Lt. Bill Moerschbacher has said the department is investigating a loud party Tuesday night at the Nittany Apartments complex at which a "small amount" of marijuana was seized, after issuance of a search warrant.

The apartment is shared by Penn State players A.J. Wallace, Andrew Quarless, Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma. Wallace is a junior nickel back and kick returner, Quarless a junior tight end, Evans a junior defensive end and Koroma a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle.

Moerschbacher said that, upon completion of the campus police investigation, charges are likely to be filed.

Police said they detected the smell of burning marijuan upon arriving at the apartment at 10:19 p.m. Residents refused a consent search, so District Judge Carmine Prestia authorized a search warrant, which was executed at 10:59 p.m. At that time, the marijuana was seized, police said.

Wallace and Quarless were inside the apartment, along with a number of party guests, but Evans and Koroma were not present, police said.

This latest incident follows a July 27 "Outside the Lines" report on ESPN that revealed that since 2002, 46 Penn State players have faced 163 criminal charges. Twenty-seven of those players have been convicted or have pleaded guilty to a combined 45 counts.

Any disciplinary action against the players residing in the apartment could have an impact on the field, particularly if it involved Evans, a preseason All-America who registered 12 1/2 sacks last season, or Koroma, both of whom are starters. Defensive tackles Chris Baker and Philip Taylor were dismissed by coach Joe Paterno before the season; another, Devon Still, is out for the season after breaking his left ankle during practice on Aug. 16.

Asked for his reaction to another incident that could cast the Penn State program in a negative light, starting quarterback Daryll Clark said he would withhold comment until he had more information.

"All I know is police were out at someone's apartment," he said yesterday. "I really don't know why. I have to look into it to see what's going on right now." *