University of Kentucky defensive end Lloyd Tubman suspended after rape charge

A redshirt defensive lineman from Louisville has been suspended from the University of Kentucky football team pending sexual assault charges, Coach Mark Stoops confirmed Tuesday.

Fayette County jail spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Taylor said Lloyd Tubman was booked Tuesday afternoon on a charge of first-degree rape. He was being held on a $10,000 bond.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder from Seneca High School in Louisville is charged in a sexual assault reported by a female student at 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said his department was investigating the alleged rape, which was reported in a residence hall. He said it involved two students, but he declined to comment further.

"Any time somebody in our program has an issue like this, it's obviously a major concern," Stoops said at a news conference Tuesday, a day he normally doesn't meet with reporters. "We just feel for all parties involved, and we'll let the legal process go through its course."

It's the second Tuesday in a row the Kentucky head coach has had to discuss legal problems involving his players. The first involved an incident with an airsoft gun that shut down UK's South Campus for several hours on a Sunday night.

Four freshmen — Dorian Baker, Drew Barker, Tymere Dubose and Stanley Williams — were suspended for a game and charged with disorderly conduct in that incident.

"Last week when we had the other issue, I addressed all issues, including this — including sexual assault and any kind of assault and all those things," Stoops said. "I addressed it at that time again.

"And we'll continue to do the best we can and educate these guys and help these guys and, again, coach them and teach them and mentor them, and we'll be there for them when they need us to."

Stoops said he was notified of the allegation against Tubman on Thursday afternoon. The coach said he met with Tubman and his mother.

Tubman committed to UK on national signing day after having previously committed to Penn State. 247Sports.com listed him as a four-star recruit and the No. 12 weak-side defensive end in the nation.

He was the No. 3 prospect in the state for the class of 2014, behind fellow UK recruits Matt Elam and Barker. According to 247Sports, Tubman was the third-best prospect in UK's much-celebrated class behind Elam and Barker.

Before his arrest, Tubman tweeted a succession of Bible verses, including: "For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity."

Ten hours before that, he tweeted: "Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. Psalms 27:12"

This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 10:31 PM with the headline "University of Kentucky defensive end Lloyd Tubman suspended after rape charge."