Five Gophers football players have been reinstated after being cleared by university officials after being accused in a sexual assault last September, the Pioneer Press reports.
The five players reinstated following a review of the case by the U of M’s office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action are: safety Antoine Winfield Jr., running back Kobe McCrary, quarterback Mark Williams, cornerback Antonio Shenault and quarterback Seth Green.
According to the Star Tribune, the university panel upheld its recommendation to expel cornerback KiAnte Hardin and to suspend running back Carlton Djam for one year.
“These couple of months have been nothing short of a nightmare for me and I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me and shown nothing but love,” Winfield wrote on Twitter. “Today I have officially been cleared and I am excited to tear up the field for my brothers and my Gopher fans. God’s always got me. Let’s get this work in!”
There were 10 football players accused in the case. None of them were charged with a crime.
Three other players who were recommended for expulsion or suspension – Ray Buford, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson — have transferred to Arizona Western Community College.
The Gophers are in the early stages of spring practice.
