Anita Wadhwani

awadhwani@tennessean.com

Starting University of Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd of Hendersonville was arrested this month for underage drinking, according to university police.

Hurd, 18, and Hunter Rivait, who is listed as a student in a university student directory, were arrested by citation on Dec. 3 after police spotted a car with its lights on in a university dorm parking garage. Police found an unconscious male inside.

The initial University of Tennessee police report does not identify the unconscious male, who was later transported to a hospital.

The case was referred to Knox County officials for prosecution, a University of Tennessee weekly crime log noted.

Rivait was charged with underage consumption of alcoholic beverages, a misdemeanor. His age is unknown. He appeared in a Knox County court on Wednesday to formally be read his charges. Rivait did not enter a plea.

Hurd is scheduled to be booked and arraigned on the same charges on Jan. 20, according to a Knox County database of criminal cases reviewed Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for the football team refused to comment on whether Hurd, a freshman, faces internal discipline over the incident.

The University of Tennessee police report at the time of the citation noted that the incident involved underage drinking, confiscated items, an alcohol incident and a sick person. A subsequent initial incident report noted that the case was referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

The report also noted a weapon was involved. University police on Wednesday identified it as an airsoft gun. A full report of the incident will not be released until the case is closed or adjudicated, according to a spokesman for the University of Tennessee Police Department.

Hurd, who attended Beech High School, rushed for 777 yards this season, making him the team's leading rusher.

Grand jury recesses without hearing rape allegations against two UT football players

A Knox County grand jury recessed for the year on Wednesday without reviewing rape allegations against two University of Tennessee football players, according to Sean McDermott, an assistant district attorney for Knox County.

Vols linebacker A.J. Johnson, a senior, and defensive back Michael Williams, a sophomore, were named as suspects in the alleged rape of a 19-year-old female University of Tennessee student athlete on Nov. 16. Williams was named as suspect in a separate sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman visiting from out of state. The out-of-state woman declined to press charges.

Last Friday, Knoxville police turned over the results of their investigation to the Knox County District Attorney's office.

The case remains under review, said McDermott.

"Once a case is turned over to our office for review, ethical rules prohibit us from commenting further," McDermott said.

Both players were suspended indefinitely from all football activities. Neither player has been charged or arrested.

The grand jury will reconvene in January. A district attorney may choose to present evidence to a grand jury first, or choose to prosecute or dismiss charges without involving the grand jury.

Reporter Matt Slovin contributed to this report. Reach Anita Wadhwani at 615-259-8092 or on Twitter @AnitaWadhwani.