Minnesota Golden Gophers suspend 10 players following sex assault investigation

The University of Minnesota suspended 10 football players indefinitely, meaning they could miss the team's matchup against Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.

Among the suspended are starting defensive backs KiAnte Hardin and Antoine Winfield Jr. plus defensive backs Ray Buford Jr., Dior Johnson and Antonio Shenault; running backs Carlton Djam and Kobe McCrary; quarterbacks Seth Green and Mark Williams; and defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson.

Minnesota announced the suspensions Tuesday night but declined to explain the reasons, referencing "privacy restrictions."

Lee Hutton, an attorney representing some of the players, told the Star Tribune that the suspensions are related to the September suspensions of four players during a sexual-assault investigation. Ray Buford Sr., father of one of the suspended players, gave the same explanation to the Pioneer Press.

Hutton told KMSP-TV on Tuesday, "I'm (angered) by the decision. Tomorrow, I will be filing an appeal on behalf of all the Gophers players involved, including the five new ones. In addition, we may also seek judicial intervention to stay the University's punishment until a judicial decision is made on the merits."

Buford, Hardin, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson were suspended for three games while police investigated a sex assault complaint by a female student following the alleged Sept. 2 incident, which she said happened at an apartment in the early morning hours following the team's season-opening victory over Oregon State. They were reinstated after prosecutors decided against pressing charges.

Those four, plus Djam, missed another game Oct. 29 after the woman, who works for the Gophers' gameday operations, filed restraining orders. The restraining orders were dismissed, allowing them to play, after a Nov. 2 settlement that still required the players to stay 20 feet away from the woman.

The suspensions announced Tuesday come after a school investigation. The five other players were suspended because they were in the apartment where the alleged assault occurred, the Star Tribune reported.

Minnesota faces Washington State on Dec. 27 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Coach Tracy Claeys will be in San Diego on Wednesday for a pre-bowl news conference.