Mississippi State dismisses 2 players after arrests on gun, assault charges

3/28/2008 6:32 PM

By CHRIS TALBOTT
Associated Press Writer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -Two Mississippi State players have been kicked off the team and dismissed from the university after their arrests Thursday night.

In a statement Friday, the university said that the dismissals of starting left tackle Michael Brown and backup defensive tackle Quinton Wesley are pending a campus judicial hearing.

The two were arrested in what was described in the statement as a ``campus incident involving two handguns.''

No one was injured and Dean of Students Mike White said in the statement there was no threat to other students.

Police recovered the guns and charged Brown with possession of a firearm and Wesley with aggravated assault, both felonies. It is against state law to carry a firearm onto a college campus. White said additional charges are being considered.

A spokesman said coach Sylvester Croom had no comment until he learned more about what happened. A Mississippi State police department employee referred questions to the university and White did not immediately return a phone message left Friday night.

News of the dismissals came on the eve of Mississippi State's spring game.

Brown was Mississippi State's best offensive lineman and key to the Bulldogs' punishing running game last season. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound junior from College Park, Ga., had started 18 of 19 games he'd been eligible for since transferring from Florida. He is featured on the cover of Mississippi State's spring media guide.

Brown was an honorable mention pick on The Associated Press' All-Southeastern Conference team after last season.

Wesley, a 6-4, 315-pound sophomore backup left defensive tackle from Atlanta, has played in 21 games with one start, 19 tackles and one forced fumble. He was expected to receive significant playing time in the defensive line rotation next season and was listed on the spring depth chart behind starter Kyle Love.