The news of the arrest of a UVA Football player, Solomon Beebe, last week, got me to undertake an exercise that turned out to be more work than I would have imagined: chronicling the high-profile arrests of guys from our football program over the years.
I figured I’d spend a few minutes, tops.
Turns out, this list is going to be long, and I’m certain as I put this to paper that more than a couple of y’all are going to write me to tell me about some rather obvious ones that I’ll have left out.
The list
- 1986: The reigning ACC Player of the Year, Barry Word, his backup at the tailback spot, Howard Petty Jr., and placekicker Kenny Stadlin were arrested in connection with a cocaine-distribution ring.
- 1995: Placekicker Rafael Garcia was arrested on a DUI charge.
- 1996: Adrian Burnim, the defensive back who made the famous last-second tackle to stop FSU tailback Warrick Dunn to seal the 33-28 upset in 1995, was convicted on petty larceny and assault charges.
- 1998: Defensive back Michael Greene, defensive tackle Ben Moore and defensive back T.J. Williams were arrested on charges relating to the use of a stolen credit card.
- 1999: Adrian Burnim and tailback Antoine Womack were charged with malicious wounding following a fight with former UVA students.
- 2000: Wideout Demetrius Dotson and former defensive back Duane Fisher were found guilty of marijuana possession.
- 2003: Offensive lineman Elton Brown and defensive back Almondo Curry were arrested on charges related to the assault of a UVA student.
- 2003: Star linebacker Ahmad Brooks was charged with possession of marijuana.
- 2004: The top returning receiver from 2003, Ottawa Anderson, was kicked off the team after being charged in an assault case.
- 2004: Top recruit Ahmad Bradshaw, who went on to a nine-year career in the NFL, was dismissed from the UVA Football team the summer of what would have been his freshman year after trying, and failing, to flee from police who had stopped him to investigate alleged underage alcohol possession – specifically involving a Long Island Iced Tea.
- 2004: Former ACC Player of the Year Matt Schaub, while in town visiting during a break in his rookie NFL season, was arrested on an assault charge related to an incident at The Corner.
- 2005: Defensive back Tony Franklin was charged with possession of marijuana.
- 2006: O linemen Zak Stair and Edwin Pinigis, defensive back Mike Brown and linebacker Vince Redd were arrested on charges stemming from a brawl involving UVA athletes that broke out at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house.
- 2006: Tailback Bryan Lescanec was arrested on charges of assault and battery.
- 2008: Linebacker J’Courtney Williams was charged with one count of credit card theft and one count of credit card fraud in connection with the theft of a University student’s wallet.
- 2008: Mike Brown was dismissed from the team after another criminal charge, following an arrest for an incident involving approximately $3,400 worth of stolen goods in the Central Grounds parking garage.
- 2008: Starting QB Peter Lalich was dismissed from the program following an unlawful alcoholic purchase and possession charge.
- 2009: Defensive backs Corey Mosley and Ausar Walcott were arrested related to an incident at a dance party held at the Student Activities Building.
- 2011: Ausar Walcott, defensive back Devin Wallace and offensive lineman Mike Price were arrested in connection with a brawl at a residence on the campus of JMU.
- 2013: Tailback recruit Taquan Mizzell was arrested on an underage alcohol possession charge during his official visit.
- 2016: Former player Aidan Howard filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was the victim of a hazing incident in which two players, wide receivers Doni Dowling and David Edridge, were named, along with two assistant coaches, Famika Anae and Marques Hagans.
- 2022: Former UVA defensive end Mike Green told reporters covering the 2025 NFL Combine that he left UVA during the 2022 season after being accused of sexual assault.
- 2022: Christopher Darnell Jones, who was very briefly a member of the UVA Football program as a walk-on in 2018, shot and killed three members of the team – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry – after a drama class field trip.
- 2025: Wideout Jahmal Edrine was indicted on a rape charge in February related to an incident alleged to have occurred on the eve of the 2025 season.
- 2026: Backup tailback Solomon Beebe was arrested on animal-cruelty charges.
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Chris Graham
