"Ex-Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Russell, who was accompanied in Alabama state court by his mother, declined to speak with reporters after being given a preliminary hearing date of Aug. 11.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft was arrested in Mobile on July 5 and was charged with possession of codeine syrup without a prescription. Russell was allegedly caught with a narcotic commonly referred to as "Purple Drank" or "Sizzurp," a concoction of codeine syrup mixed with soda and Jolly Ranchers candy.

Russell, one of the NFL's biggest draft busts who was released in May by the Raiders, was caught up in a two-month undercover narcotics investigation in Alabama.

Donald Briskman, Russell's attorney, is confident the one-time LSU star will be cleared of the charges."