Middle Tennessee State University found no wrongdoing by coach Rick Stockstill and the athletic staff after a former offensive lineman made claims of player abuse and altered drug tests.

Mike Williams, who played from 2008-11, alleged he was physically assaulted by former offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens in 2008. He also alleged Stockstill and the football staff fixed drug tests so he and other players could pass them.

In a statement on Oct. 12, the university and Stockstill denied the allegations.

The internal review — obtained through an open records request by USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee — investigated five allegations.

Allegation one: Incident of physical assault between a former athlete and former offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens.

Allegation two: Drug test "fixing" of athletes.

Allegation three: Extra benefits and/or monetary payments made to athletes during recruiting trips and the recruitment period.

Allegation four: Retaliation against a former athlete involving Pro Day activities and preparations.

Allegation five: Incident of attempted physical assault of a former athlete by former defensive line coach John Palermo.

The allegations were presented by Travis Hamilton, who is identified in the 16-page report as a local businessman who also runs a sports blog/website, to assistant athletic director of compliance Daryl Simpson and compliance coordinator Lynn Morgan.

Hamilton met with Simpson and Morgan on Aug. 24 and presented a recording of a conversation that Williams recorded during a 2015 meeting with Stockstill.

The report says that Hamilton played excerpts of a longer conversation between Williams and Stockstill.

Williams was asked to provide the full copy of the tape, but declined to do.

The first two allegations in the report were brought up by the recording, the third and fourth by Hamilton and one by Williams over the course of his interview.

A total of 17 people, including nine former players as well a former graduate assistant, were interviewed either in person or over the phone from Aug. 26 to Sept. 11.

Stockstill, former strength and conditioning coach Jason Spray, Stephens, Palmero and Hamilton were among those who were interviewed.

Allegations of a fight between Mike Williams and Jimmy Ray Stephens

In the first part of the recording Hamilton played, Williams alleged that during a team drill in 2008 that Stephens physically assaulted him.

During his interview, Williams said he Stephens screamed at each other and that Stephens charged at him like a "raging bull." Williams said he and Stephens started punching and choking each other before being separated by 10-15 people.

Stockstill said in his interview he saw the aftermath of the incident and discussed it with Stephens and Williams. He considered firing Stephens because he did not de-escalate the situation as he would have liked.

Stockstill determined that a verbal reprimand of Stephens was appropriate.

Williams said in his interview that Stockstill spoke with the team after practice. Stephens had a meeting with the offensive line group afterward and said, "It's all about respect. If I had to do it again, I would do it the same way."

Stephens was questioned about the incident and said, "I don't recall any student hitting me."

Stephens said they got into a shouting match and players separated the two, but nothing physical ever occurred.

Stephens declined comment when reached for comment by USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee.

Only one former player, identified as "Former Student Athlete 7," stated he watched the entire incident. He said Stephens yelled a correction to Williams. Williams responded with an expletive. The two started walking toward each other and Williams threw a punch and Stephens did not throw any punches.

Seven other former players interviewed said they recalled only seeing part of the incident and described it as just a verbal altercation and not physical.

The report states Williams was asked to provide the names of any witnesses he believed might support his version of the events. Williams initially agreed, but later informed Simpson he would not identify any witnesses.

Allegations of drug-test fixing to keep players on the team

During a second part of the recording Hamilton played, Williams alleged Stockstill and members of the team would fix drug tests for players to pass.

In interviews, Stockstill denied helping any players pass drug tests.

Williams said in his interview he failed multiple drug tests during his career but was never disciplined and that the procedure with a first failed drug test was a warning and either counseling or therapy.

Williams said he would go to Stockstill ahead of time and let him know he was about to fail a drug test and that Stockstill told him to go ahead and take the tests.

Director of Sports Medicine Drew Shea was the athletic trainer assigned to the football team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. During his interview Shea was asked if he was aware of any coach or staff member fixing a drug-test result.

Shea said, "That's not possible; it's outsourced."

Shea and athletic director Chris Massaro recalled Williams failing one test. Massaro said he met with Williams in his office to discuss the failed test.

Extra benefits and Pro Day

During Hamilton's meeting with Simpson and Morgan, he indicated that several former athletes told him Stockstill had made payments to prospects during recruiting trips.

Hamilton did not provide names of former players who made the allegation.

The coaches and former athletes interviewed said they were unaware of any staff member giving out extra benefits or monetary payments.

Williams explained in his interview he was told "second-hand" about Stockstill giving a former player money.

Hamilton also said during the August meeting that a former player complained he was denied the opportunity to participate in Pro Day.

During his interview, Williams said Spray refused to train him for Pro Day workouts. Spray was interviewed and said once he was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach in 2012, Stockstill wanted Spray to focus on the team rather than individuals.

Multiple people interviewed stated they saw Williams at multiple Pro Day activities and one said he recalled seeing Williams at least two to three times during Pro Day activities.

Williams said he participated in Pro Day in two separate years.

Altercation with John Palermo

During his interview, Williams brought up an altercation with Palermo. In a drill between offensive and defensive linemen, Williams said he was cheering on his teammates and standing on the sideline.

Williams said Palermo told him to move out of the way multiple times and Williams said he declined to do so. Williams stated Palermo "swung on me. ... Like he didn't connect, but he started swinging ferociously like, threw 30 punches."

Williams said Stockstill saw the end of the altercation, which is why he did not address it with him personally during their meeting in 2015.

During an interview, Palermo said he did not recall hitting or attempting to hit Williams or any other athlete. Others who were interviewed did not mention any altercation involving Williams or Palermo.

No other players interviewed mentioned a possible altercation between Palermo and Williams.

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@dnj.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.