Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore may be called to testify today in a federal jury trial in Roanoke resulting from the discovery of crack cocaine in a car in which he and a friend were riding a year and a half ago.

Tony Majette of Christiansburg has been charged with possessing crack with intent to distribute it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford confirmed that Ore has been subpoenaed to testify in the case.

Ore was in the passenger seat of a silver Cadillac that Majette was driving on the evening of June 5, 2006, when police stopped the car along the 700 block of Blacksburg's Lee Street.

Tech associate head coach Billy Hite said Tuesday that he knows about Ore's expected court appearance. Ore could not be reached for comment about the trial, and Majette's attorney, federal public defender Larry Shelton, said it is his policy not to discuss active cases.

Blacksburg officer M.P. Czernicki thought the Cadillac's windows were tinted too darkly, according to court documents. He asked Majette for a license and learned Majette's license had been suspended and that Majette had a long string of violations. The officer arrested Majette for driving with a suspended license and took him to his patrol car, court papers said.

Ore called the car's owner, Nakeita Payne, and arranged for Payne to take Ore home to retrieve his license, then bring him back so he could drive the Cadillac away, court documents said.

While Ore was gone, Czernicki searched the car and found two bags of crack totaling about 23 grams, according to court filings. One bag was between the passenger seat and the door, and the other was behind the passenger seat.

If convicted, Majette faces federal sentence enhancements because in May 2006, just before he and Ore were stopped, he'd been convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court of possessing a controlled substance.

Bassford said authorities considered charging Ore, but decided not to because the evidence pointed to Majette.

In a telephone interview this week, Majette said he was introduced to Ore by former Tech basketball player Marquie Cook. Majette denied that the crack cocaine was his. He said he was charged by police after Ore made incriminating statements to police about him.

Ore, who came to Tech from Indian River High School in Chesapeake, was an All-ACC pick after his sophomore season in 2006. Ore got off to a slow start this season and said at midseason he would definitely return for his senior year. Hite said he expects Ore to return to school when classes begin Monday. Elisha Harris, the Indian River football coach and a friend close to Ore's family, said he has spoken with Ore about his desire to get his degree.

"That's what we talked about and he understood how valuable that would be," Harris said. "We talked about starting his internship because he's majoring in hotel management and were looking at some people who would help him do that and still be able to work out and train."

Ore was suspended for the first quarter of the Orange Bowl last week for being late to a practice.

"He did express that it was his fault," Harris said. "He was a little bit withdrawn. He didn't tell me why he was late to practice. I was just disappointed. There's no reason in the world with a bowl game coming for you not to be on time. I don't care about why. You only get so many opportunities."

Once Ore got in the game, he had one of his best performances of the season. He gained 116 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown in the 24-21 loss to Kansas. He also caught one pass for nine yards.

Ore finished the season with 992 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, but his per carry average was only 3.7 yards. In his first two seasons, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

"I talked to him and his mom, and my sense was that he was coming back," Harris said.

"I'm sure he could go to the NFL and have a degree of success, but he's not ready.

"He needs time to clean himself up, show people that he can be dependable and accountable. I've gotten letters from NFL teams asking about his character. I told him I've got one that I'm holding to see what he's going to do. He's got a gift, he's just got to continue to grow it."

Staff writers Randy King and Jeff Gilbert and Kyle Tucker of The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot contributed to this report.