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Ole Miss freshman defensive end Charles Wiley was arrested on Monday afternoon and charged with domestic violence, according to The Clarion-Ledger. Ben Garrett of Scout.com adds that Wiley's girlfriend was also arrested.
Hugh Freeze released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon:
We are aware of the situation and recognize the proper authorities are responsible for the matter. Charles is being withheld from all team activities while the process moves forward. We take incidents like this very seriously and will make decisions once the course of action is complete.
Wiley, a four-star prospect out of Stockbridge, Ga., is an exceptional athlete whose 4.62 40-yard dash speed figures to make him a dangerous weak-side edge rusher -- perhaps as an eventual replacement for Marquis Haynes, who could be a high draft pick in 2017. Wiley's immediate role on a currently-stacked D-line is less prominent -- assistant coach Chris Kiffin told The Clarion-Ledger during spring practice that Wiley will likely redshirt this season.
With starting strong-side end Fadol Brown still wearing a boot as he struggles to heal up from a stress fracture, the Rebel defense does have a potential depth shortage in the early going. Any discipline for Wiley that includes missed game time -- be it a suspension or kicked off the team entirely -- would mean one less body to rotate in.
I'll avoid speculating on any potential punishment until the facts come out, but given recent events concerning SEC athletes involved with domestic violence -- most notably Mississippi State's baffling decision to suspend five-star freshman Jeffrey Simmons for just one game despite video of him pummeling a prone woman -- investigating this incident will undoubtedly be taken very seriously by the Ole Miss athletic department.