A development that was leaked late Monday night has further clouded the future of a prominent commitment to Michigan State’s 2015 recruiting class.
Citing online court documents, the Detroit Free Press is reporting that Cass Tech High School football player Jayru Campbell is facing charges in connection to an in-school incident Jan. 22. The Free Press writes that "[t]he possible charges listed include assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a felony, and aggravated assault, a misdemeanor.”
Campbell was arrested -- but not charged as originally reported -- after he was involved in an altercation with a school security guard. Several cell phone videos of the incident subsequently surfaced, each of which showed an individual purported to be Campbell body slamming a Cass security guard. Outside of a verbal spat, what led to the encounter between Campbell and the security guard is unclear.
In an unusual move, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. ET Tuesday to announce a charging decision, the paper reported.
The fact that one of his player’s dirty legal laundry is being aired for public consumption doesn’t sit well with Cass Tech’s head football coach.
“I’m just really in awe,” Thomas Wilcher told the Free Press. “I’m just ticked at the whole process. ...
“I don’t understand why everything has to be played out in the media about this kid.”
This, though, is not the first incident involving Campbell and some level of violence/anger issues.
Last November, Campbell was again (somewhat) caught on video, this time punching a Detroit Catholic Central player in the handshake line following a Cass Tech playoff loss. The Detroit News reports Campbell was suspended for 3-5 days by the school immediately following that incident. He was also suspended for the 2014 season opener.
In the video below, you don’t see the actual punch that was acknowledged by the player’s own coach, but you do see the aftermath — including, ironically enough, Campbell being put to the ground by another man:
Rivals.com has given a four-star rating to Campbell, ranking him as the No. 9 dual-threat quarterback in the country for the Class of 2015. He also holds offers from Alabama, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, although the recruiting website refers to him as a “solid verbal.”
Campbell gave a non-binding verbal commitment to the Spartans in early August of last year. There’s been growing speculation that MSU has pulled its offer, although that’s not been confirmed.