Cornerback Tarrant suspended from Ga. Tech team after rape charge

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ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech cornerback Jerrard Tarrant has been charged with rape and has been suspended from the football team.

The alleged victim said she was raped at an on-campus dormitory April 25 and reported the incident to police that morning, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.

Charles Lea, an attorney representing Tarrant, said his client is innocent of the charges.

Tarrant, 19, was released Saturday on $40,000 bail, the newspaper reported. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Carrollton, Ga., was considered a potential starter at cornerback.

Tarrant has been suspended indefinitely from the Tech football team pending the outcome of the case, Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson said in a statement.

"These charges filed against Jerrard are something that we take very seriously. He has been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings," Johnson said.

Georgia Tech campus police said the arrest report was not available Monday afternoon.

Tarrant was competing with Mario Butler for the spot opposite Jahi Word-Daniels. Tarrant also practiced at nickel back and on special teams.

Lea said Tarrant's side of the case will be presented at the proper time. "We maintain that any sexual activity that took place was entirely consensual," he said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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