Seven more Alcorn players arrested, bringing total to 18
The fallout from an on-campus brawl last week continued to hit Alcorn State Thursday.
Seven more Alcorn State football players were charged with misdemeanors in connection with a fight that broke out on campus last week, bringing the total number of players arrested to 18.
The seven players arrested Thursday include: freshman wide receiver True Gibson, junior defensive end Ramonte Bell, junior wide receiver Marquis Warford, running back Arron Baker, defensive lineman Sterling Shippy, junior defensive lineman Randall Tucker. Claiborne County sheriff Frank Davis also identified Cornelle Gilmore as a member of the football team, although Gilmore is not listed on the school’s football roster on the web site.
Warford and Baker were both All-SWAC selections last season.
The players arrested Wednesday were sophomore defensive back Lei’shaun Ealey, sophomore defensive back Deago Sama, freshman defensive back Taurence Wilson, freshman defensive back Javen Morrison, junior defensive back Daniel Franklin, sophomore linebacker Terry Whittington, sophomore linebacker Trae Ferrell, freshman defensive lineman Kwanzi Jackson, sophomore defensive back Quintin Smith, junior defensive end Michael Brooks and junior defensive back Jalen Thomas.
RELATED: 11 Alcorn players arrested in connection with fight
The charges against the players range from malicious mischief to simple assault.
The fight, which started in the school cafeteria, was captured on several cell phone cameras and widely circulated last week.
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Alcorn football coach Fred McNair did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday evening.
ESPN published the following statement from the university Thursday morning: "Maintaining a safe and secure campus community is the institution's top priority," Alcorn State said in a statement. "Campus police investigate all instances of student misconduct thoroughly and appropriate disciplinary actions are implemented in accordance with Alcorn's student code of conduct."
No other students have been charged in relation to the incident.
None of the four junior college transfers who signed with Alcorn State earlier this year have been charged, but one of their fellow signees apparently isn't going to make it to campus at all.
Freshman Cleveland Ford, arguably coach Fred McNair's highest rated signee from the 2017 class, posted on Twitter that he will opt out of his letter of intent and play at a junior college next season.
The Braves are coming off a 5-6 season in which they won the SWAC East title and competed for the league championship for a second year in a row.
Contact Tyler Cleveland at 601-961-7371 or tcleveland@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter .