5/24 update:
Zarian Holcombe, Darta Lee, and Howard Watkins have been dismissed from the team by head coach Lovie Smith.
The three players were arrested on May 11th after an incident that the three described as a prank.
All three remain in the Champaign County jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.
Lee and Holcombe were already suspended from team activities due to an undisclosed violation of team rules according to Lovie Smith.
5/11 update
According to reports in the News-Gazette the three players entered a dorm room to rob it, but were recognized by the victim.
“Three individuals entered an apartment masked and the victim recognized one of them by voice,” [Champaign Police St.] Shaffer said. “He pulled his mask off and tried to make light of the situation. One of them produced what we now know to be fake firearm and demanded cash.”
Shaffer said the trio left with an undisclosed amount of money.
Illinois Football coach Lovie Smith released the following statement
Darta Lee and Zarrian Holcombe were already suspended from team activities for violations of team rules, and will remain suspended. 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.
Original Report:
Three University of Illinois football players were arrested today on charges of a Home Invasion that reportedly took place on the University campus.
Zarrian Holcombe, Darta Lee, and Howard Watkins were arrested and charged with Home Invasion and Armed Robbery. The incident allegedly took place in Bromley Hall on the university campus.
Holcombe and Lee both list Bromley Hall as their residence.
Holcombe and Lee are both in their second seasons on the team. Lee started two games for the Illini last season and appeared in six. Holcombe appeared in seven games in a special teams role. Watkins was a member of Lovie Smith’s 2017 recruiting class out of Cincinnati Colerain High School.
All three are expected to be arraigned Thursday at 1:30.
Police are still investigating the incident.
