Memphis defensive end Earnest Suttles has reportedly been arrested and charged with rape, according to the Memphis Police Department.
The Memphis PD relayed on Twitter that at 3:15 AM early Saturday morning, police responded to what was deemed as an assault on the 3800 block of Douglass. A male suspect was taken into custody, and the department soon thereafter released the identity of that suspect: Suttles.
The news of Suttles' alleged crime came just before the Tigers kicked off on Saturday afternoon against No. 24 Navy. The school took immediate action while also releasing a statement, according to Mark Giannnotto of The Commerical Appeal.
Once police charged Suttles with rape Saturday, the University of Memphis announced that he had been dismissed from the football team for a violation of team rules in an off-campus incident. The school initially announced that Suttles had been suspended from the Tigers' football team.
The university's statement also said Suttles "has been removed from campus as this matter is reviewed by the Office of Student Accountability, Outreach and Support for violations of the UofM Student Code of Conduct."
Prior to news of his alleged crime, Suttles was listed as co-starter at defensive end for the Tigers against Navy. He had joined the team before the 2013 football season after being kicked off the Nebraska football team for getting into a fight with a teammate.
Suttles was a redshirt senior. His profile on the Memphis football page has already been deleted.
