Story highlights Marshall University running back Steward Butler faces two counts of battery

Butler was kicked off team after being accused of assaulting a same-sex couple in West Virginia

(CNN) Marshall University running back Steward Butler rushed for 765 yards on 87 carries with eight touchdowns his sophomore season. His 8.8 yards-per-carry average ranked third nationally.

On Wednesday, Butler was dismissed from the team after being arrested on accusations he assaulted a same-sex couple in Huntington, West Virginia, the home of Marshall.

The 23-year-old from Lakeland, Florida, was booked on two counts of battery. According to a Huntington, West Virginia, police report, Butler punched two men who exchanged a kiss on a downtown Huntington street on April 5.

The victims, Casey Williams and Zackery Johnson, told police Butler stepped out of a car after seeing the men kiss.

Butler "approached the two (men) shouting derogatory words" before punching each of the men in the face, the police report said. The victims captured part of the assault on camera and photographed the vehicle.

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