Three Illinois football players have been suspended indefinitely following arrests on charges of home invasion and armed robbery.
"Darta Lee and Zarrian Holcombe were already suspended from team activities for violations of team rules, and will remain suspended," coach Lovie Smith said in a statement released by the athletic department on Wednesday.
"Howard Watkins has been suspended indefinitely from team activities. These allegations, if true, fail to live up to the standards we expect of our student-athletes. We continue to gather information and will take appropriate steps based upon what we learn."
Champaign police have confirmed to the Tribune that the three were arrested.
According to a police spokeswoman, Lee, Holcombe and Watkins, all 19, entered the victim's dorm room and announced a robbery.
At one point the victim recognized one of the robbers' voice, she said.
One of them took off their mask and told the victim the robbery was a prank. An RA heard the commotion and contacted the police. All three are due in bond court Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The robbery happened about 3:20 a.m.
Last season the 6-3, 320-pound Lee became the first true freshman at Illinois to start on the offensive line in the season opener in at least the last 20 seasons. He appeared in six games, starting two.
The native Texan was battling for a starting spot in spring practice.
Holcombe, a Houston native, played in seven games last season as a true freshman. Watkins, from Cincinnati, is a freshman offensive lineman who enrolled in January.
