Devin Chafin Dismissed by Baylor: Latest Comments, Reaction | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
William Burgess The Baylor Bears announced Wednesday they dismissed running back Devin Chafin, per Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News.
In the April 2014 case, a woman told Waco police that Bears running back Devin Chafin grabbed her arm and slammed it against a car, in front of teammates and another witness. She provided photos of bruises on her arm to police. She told police that, weeks earlier, Chafin had grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against a wall, then threw her to the floor and kicked her, according to a police report.
In the police report, the officer wrote that the woman was uncertain about pressing charges, and no legal action was taken. Chafin played in nine of 13 games the following season, including the season opener.
Authorities in Oklahoma also arrested Chafin and a female companion on marijuana charges on March 11. Then-head coach Art Briles suspended Chafin immediately after the arrest, but Briles told reporters on March 16 that the player would likely return for the 2016 season, per John Werner of the Waco Tribune:
He'll be back. It's his first offense in over a four-year period, and he had some bad judgment, just like a lot of us do. He picked a bad time to do it. … It's about representing yourself, your family, the Baylor community and making wise decisions. He's remorseful, but there will also be some punishment phases that go along with the remorse.
A lot has changed since then, though. The level of scrutiny around the Bears football program has increased following an investigation by law firm Pepper Hamilton into Baylor's handling of sexual assault allegations. In the aftermath, the school suspended Briles with "intent to terminate" his contract.
The Bears hired former Wake Forest and Ohio head coach Jim Grobe to serve as the interim football coach for the 2016 season.
Briles' imminent departure has caused a major ripple effect for Baylor on the recruiting trail.
According to 247Sports, four players from the Bears' 2017 recruiting class had decommitted from the school before dual-threat quarterback Kellen Mond announced Wednesday he's no longer committed to the Bears. ESPN.com's Jeremy Crabtree also reported seven members of Baylor's 2016 class are asking to be released from their national letters of intent.
No current players on the team have voluntarily left since the school suspended Briles.
The San Antonio Express-News' Tim Griffin sees Chafin's dismissal leaving a hole in the Baylor running game:
Tim Griffin @TimGriffinBig12Baylor is stacked at RB, but Devin Chafin's departure will hurt. Chafin rushed for 1,261 yards, 21 TDs in his first 3 seasons at Baylor.
Chafin rushed for 578 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games as a junior for Baylor in 2015.
Both Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson, who rushed for a combined 2,329 yards, will be back for Baylor in 2016. Linwood missed spring practice, though, after having foot surgery last December.