Minnesota suspends 10 players indefinitely before Holiday Bowl

Published Dec. 14, 2016 8:57 a.m. ET

Chris Bahr

The Minnesota Golden Gophers announced Tuesday night that they have suspended 10 college football players indefinitely from all team activities.

The 10: defensive back Ray Buford, running back Carlton Djam, quarterback Seth Green, defensive back KiAnte Hardin, defensive back Dior Johnson, defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson, running back Kobe McCrary, defensive back Antonio Shenault, quarterback Mark Williams and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr.

An attorney who is representing some of the players told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the discipline is a result of a university investigation into an alleged incident at an apartment on Sept. 2 following the Gophers’ season-opening win over Oregon State.

In the week following that alleged incident, four players -- Buford, Hardin, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson -- were suspended, but they were reinstated after three games because no charges were pressed. The alleged victim in the incident filed restraining orders against the four suspended players and Djam, though the restraining orders were dismissed in a settlement on Nov. 2.

When announcing the suspensions Tuesday, the university didn’t share any details of its investigation, citing “privacy restrictions relating to student educational date.” However, the Star Tribune reports all 10 players were in the apartment the night of the alleged incident.

Minnesota will face the Washington State Cougars in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 and apparently will do so quite shorthanded.