TUSCALOOSA — Former Russellville standout Brent Calloway was among four University of Alabama football players arrested Monday on charges ranging from fraudulent use of a credit card to second-degree robbery.
University of Alabama police received reports of two robberies early Monday, the school said in a statement today. The first incident occurred at approximately 12:35 a.m. in the 800 block of Campus Drive and the second at approximately 1:20 a.m. in the 200 block of Seventh Avenue.
University police posted an advisory Monday saying two students reported being approached by two men who asked for a light for a cigarette. Both students said they were then hit in the head and robbed.
The school said the following football players were arrested Monday evening:
- Defensive back Eddie Williams was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.
- Linebacker Tyler Hayes was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery.
- Defensive lineman Dennis “D.J.” Pettway was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery.
- Calloway, a running back, was charged with fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.
The school release did not say what the status of the players was in relation to the football program.
Athletics Director Mal Moore issued the following statement: “This is a very serious matter and we are very disappointed in the actions that have resulted in the charges against these student-athletes. In this type of situation, the athletics department works in conjunction with the university. We will have more to say at the appropriate time.”
All four players were backups last season for Alabama, which has won two straight national titles and three of the past four.
Williams was released on $65,000 bail, while Hayes and Pettway were released on $60,000 bail each. Calloway was released on $5,000 bond.
Police also said Williams had been arrested on a charge of carrying a pistol without a permit a day before his Monday arrest. Tuscaloosa police Sgt. Brent Blankley said in a news release that a clerk at a gas station called police early Sunday, telling officers that Williams threatened that he had something in his trunk after a fight about paying for gas.
Officers who pulled over Williams found a pistol in his pants pocket, the release said. In that case, he was released on $500 bond.
Jail records did not show whether any of the players had an attorney.
This is the second arrest for Calloway since he signed a scholarship with the Crimson Tide in 2011.
He was arrested on marijuana possession charges in October 2012 as a passenger in a vehicle stopped on campus.
A high school All-American at Russellville and four-star recruit, Calloway, along with the other three players, all were backup players on the 2012 National Championship team.
As a senior at Russellville, Calloway ran for 1,974 yards and 29 touchdowns while also starring at linebacker.
He made headlines in January 2011 after switching his long-standing commitment from Alabama to Auburn. Another change of heart led him to sign with the Tide in February 2011.
By Tom Smith/TimesDaily, Correspondent Brett Hudson and AP reports
