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2 Minnesota players allegedly involved in sexual assault to transfer after expulsion ruling

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Minnesota players Ray Buford and Tamarion Johnson will move to a community college after a ruling recommending their expulsion.

The two had been suspended in 2016 after their alleged involvement in a sexual assault. A female student who worked games at TCF Bank Stadium alleged she was sexually assaulted by multiple football players after Minnesota’s season-opening game.

The players, along with KiAnte Hardin and Dior Johnson, were suspended following the woman’s accusation. After charges weren’t filed in the case, the four players were reinstated, though the woman then filed a restraining order preventing them from playing in home games. The restraining order was dropped in November.

After a school investigation resulted in the suspension of 10 players before the Holiday Bowl for their potential involvement with the incident, Minnesota’s team briefly boycotted before realizing the significance of the case and the severity of the accusations.

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Per the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, a conduct panel ruled Friday that the four players should be expelled, while two other players are facing a year-long suspension. All panel decisions can be appealed.

On Friday, a school panel said those four students will face expulsion and two other Gophers, running back Carlton Djam and quarterback Mark Williams, will be given one-year suspensions.

The panel also said four players no longer face punishment: freshman safety Antoine Winfield Jr., freshman quarterback Seth Green, sophomore defensive back Antonio Shenault and junior running back Kobe McCrary.

Buford tweeted Monday that going to Minnesota is still the greatest decision of his life.

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Tamarion Johnson, a a defensive end, redshirted in 2016. Buford had 16 tackles and three pass breakups in seven games as a freshman last season. Both players — as well as Dior Johnson and KiAnte Hardin — are still listed on Minnesota’s online roster.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!