Zach Osterman

zach.osterman@indystar.com

BLOOMINGTON – Former Indiana defensive tackle Darius Latham, who decided to forgo his senior season in Bloomington and enter this spring's NFL draft, was arrested Tuesday night for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

His arrest was confirmed by IU Police Department Capt. Andy Stephenson.

According to an IUPD news release, "Former Indiana University football player Darius Latham was arrested early (Wednesday) morning for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated after police observed a vehicle traveling without its headlights activated near the intersection of East 10th Street and Indiana Avenue," on the western edge of IU's campus.

An officer conducted a preliminary breath test and field sobriety tests, which Latham failed, according to the release. The former Hoosier "was transported to the Indiana University Police Department, where he failed to provide a sufficient breath sample during a chemical test. As a result, a warrant was obtained for a sample of Latham’s blood, and Latham was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where the sample was obtained."

Latham was booked into the Monroe County Jail on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated – a class A misdemeanor – at approximately 5:40 a.m., according to the release.

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A highly touted recruit out of North Central High School, Latham flipped from Wisconsin to Indiana during his senior year.

He appeared in 35 games for the Hoosiers from 2013-15, tallying 18½ tackles for loss, and 7½ sacks. He was part of IU coach Kevin Wilson's well-regarded 2013 signing class, which also included Indianapolis-area standouts Antonio Allen (Ben Davis) and David Kenney (Pike), neither of whom are with the program anymore.

Latham's combination of size – his frame stretches to 6-5 – and agility make him an intriguing NFL prospect, and he was invited to this year's combine in Indianapolis. It's unclear where his draft stock stands at the moment. His combine profile on NFL.com labels him "more of a 'flash' prospect than consistent performer. While his run stopping is inconsistent at times, it appears to be correctable with more work."

"Latham's size and play traits might get him drafted beyond his production," the analysis reads, "if his work ethic and character check out."

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.