West Texas A&M University's athletic director confirmed Monday the university has launched an investigation into the school's football program after allegations surfaced that another player's parents took a Spanish test for one of the team's star players.

Sophomore Jose Azarte Jr., who was a backup placekicker on the Buffs football team until Oct. 13, said he informed WT officials and the NCAA two weeks ago that he completed homework and assignments for Anthony Johnson, a starting wide receiver.

Johnson did not play in WT's football game Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville and could not be reached for comment Monday about Azarte Jr.'s claims.

Azarte Jr. said a member of the WT coaching staff asked him to be a "team player" and help teammate Anthony Johnson pass the class last June.

Azarte Jr. gave Amarillo Globe-News screenshots of his Spanish-speaking parents, Diana and Jose Azarte Sr., logged in on the VISTAS Supersite on June 15 under Johnson's login.

Azarte Jr. said Johnson was in the same room at his parents' home in Canyon on the day of the test but never took the exam. Azarte Jr. said Johnson spent the entire time on his phone.

Azarte Jr. showed the Globe-News a text message on his phone from a contact he personally labeled "Coach Hinton."

The text message on Azarte Jr.'s phone, time-stamped 8:48 a.m. June 16 from "Coach Hinton" read: "Thanks for letting me know this. I apologize for the effort on his part. I didn't mean to put it on you like that at all. I appreciate you being a good teammate and a good person. Have a great time at your (church) camp!"

Joel Hinton is the wide receivers / special teams coordinator for the Buffs. Phone calls on Monday to Hinton were not returned.

After the Oct. 11 Midwestern State-WT game in Canyon, Azarte Jr. had not seen the playing field for the Buffs in 2014, kicking behind sophomore Connor Hollabaugh.

Azarte Jr. said he thought he won the kicking competition in the spring and had been promised playing time in a May 30 text message from "Coach Hinton" if he would help Johnson in the classroom.

The text message, time-stamped 3:07 p.m. May 30 said: "I told AJ to call you. The more touchdowns that guy scores the more you get to kick!"

Azarte Jr. said Hinton called one day during the spring asking to have his lawn mowed. Azarte Jr. and his dad run a landscaping business.

"But I think all Coach Hinton wanted to do was talk to me in person," Azarte Jr. said. "Because there was no grass to be mowed. It was all leaves in the backyard, so my dad and I picked those up. As we're leaving, Coach Hinton reminded me if AJ scores I kick points."

Azarte Jr. and his parents met briefly with West Texas A&M head coach Mike Nesbitt on Oct. 12. Azarte Jr. wanted his release letter from the WT football program.

In a taped conversation played for the Globe-News, Azarte Jr. asked Nesbitt for his release and reminded him he had won the kicking competition.

Nesbitt said to Azarte Jr. that he had not won the kicking competition, he couldn't give him his release that day and the subject would be discussed with Athletic Director Michael McBroom the next day.

Azarte Jr. and his parents met Oct. 13 with McBroom and another WT official who took notes.

In the meeting, Azarte Jr. said, McBroom would not give him a release letter to play for any team he wanted in the country, including other Lone Star Conference schools.

"I said, 'OK, if you aren't going to give me a release letter, then I'm going to have to take the next step,'" Azarte Jr. said he told McBroom. "There is academic fraud against the coaches. They forced me to take a test ... Coach Nesbitt and Coach Hinton."

Nesbitt would not comment on the investigation after a WT news conference Monday.

Azarte Jr. said he reported to the NCAA on Oct. 14 and 15 that his parents had taken a test for Johnson to help him pass a class and sent the NCAA documents of when the test was taken and text messages from a WT coach concerning the situation.

A second meeting was arranged Oct. 20 and attended by McBroom, Azarte Jr., Azarte Jr.'s parents, WT faculty athletic representative David Rausch, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Paul Sweetgall, Associate Athletic Director Senior Woman Services Stephanie Sumpter and an interpreter fluent in Spanish.

The Globe-News watched a video of the interview taken by Azarte Jr.'s parents with the permission of WT officials.

In the nearly hourlong meeting, McBroom asked why Azarte Jr. hadn't provided information or given WT officials the name of the player in question at the meeting the week before. Azarte Jr. expressed concern that the information would not be used properly and wanted more witnesses.

During the meeting, Azarte Jr. said WT coaches pressured him to take the test for Johnson. He told the group his parents took the test and now all he wanted was his release.

Azarte Jr. also wanted to know why - since he first reported the allegation Oct. 13 - Johnson was allowed to play in the Texas A&M-Commerce game Oct. 18.

McBroom said he had tried to get in touch with Azarte Jr. on Oct. 14, 16 and 17 but was unable to reach him. McBroom said the day after learning of the allegations in the Oct. 13 meeting he contacted "Dave Rausch and the president (J. Patrick O'Brien), and we started to look into (it) from our side. ... When you make a statement that I've known about this all week and didn't do a thing about it and let a player play is 100 percent false."

Sweetgall asked Azarte Jr. whether he was aware of any other WT teammates or athletes receiving help with their assignments. Azarte Jr. answered no.

In the final moments of the meeting McBroom said to Azarte Jr., "I have to move to another topic. It's another potential NCAA violation we have to look into. You know what question I'm going to ask. Has anyone from Texas A&M-Commerce or Don contacted you?"

McBroom fired former head football coach Don Carthel three weeks before the 2013 season opener, citing NCAA rules violations related to the purchase of Texas Rangers baseball tickets for two student-athletes. Carthel is now an unpaid assistant at A&M-Commerce alongside his son, head coach Colby Carthel.

Azarte Jr. answered no.

The Globe-News contacted the NCAA on Monday and asked whether Azarte Jr. had reported a violation to the NCAA. The spokesman said, "We never release that kind of information. Contact your university."

McBroom said Monday, "I can confirm an investigation into an alleged academic issue potentially involving two football student athletes. The process is ongoing, and I will have no other comment at this time."

Nesbitt said after the game the decision to not play Johnson was his own decision. Nesbitt was asked whether Johnson was held out due to an injury and he replied, "No comment."

Nesbitt would not comment on the investigation after a WT news conference Monday.

A phone call and voice mail Monday to Andrew Reynolds, WT assistant professor of Spanish, were not returned.

Rausch, citing federal law, said he could not legally comment on a WT student.

Azarte Jr. said he quit the WT football team shortly after the Oct. 13 meeting. He said he isn't sure whether he will pursue a kicking career at another college.