Barring a sudden and complete exoneration, the buzz at Marshall surrounding Florida's "Mr. Football" award recipient A.J. Graham has been silenced.

The dual-threat quarterback from Tallahassee, Fla., is no longer part of the Thundering Herd's plans, coach Mark Snyder announced Wednesday. "Due to the situation, I have decided to release A.J. from his scholarship," Snyder said.

Graham may not be going much of anywhere for the foreseeable future, after his arrest Tuesday on a charge of robbery with a firearm. In Florida, the felony offense is punishable by up to life in prison.

Graham, 18, entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday morning, and is being held in the Leon County Jail without bail.

A probable-cause affidavit detailed the alleged robbery, which happened just before midnight Friday.

Three friends were on their way to a party when they walked past a gray Chevrolet Impala, the report states. The driver rolled down the window, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at one of the friends and said, "Put it in the car." The report says the victim asked for clarification, and the suspect and a passenger got out of the car. The suspect put the gun in the victim's face and said, "Give me your money."

The victim said he had no money and showed the suspect his wallet, which was immediately snatched. The suspect and his passenger got back in the car. The report says the victim pursued the Impala, calling Tallahassee police along the way, but lost the suspect.

Graham and another man allegedly attended the party the victim was headed to, and was "acting shady." A person at the party knew Graham drove a Gray Impala, and officers traced the car to Graham's residence. Graham was identified by two of the three partygoers in a photo lineup, and was arrested at his home.

Graham was taken into custody just before his graduation at Tallahassee's Godby High School. He became the first player from that city to win the "Mr. Football" award, and was the Tallahassee Democrat's Big Bend Player of the Year. He set a number of school records and led the Cougars to the Class 4A championship game.

Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.

Barring a sudden and complete exoneration, the buzz at Marshall surrounding Florida's "Mr. Football" award recipient A.J. Graham has been silenced.

The dual-threat quarterback from Tallahassee, Fla., is no longer part of the Thundering Herd's plans, coach Mark Snyder announced Wednesday. "Due to the situation, I have decided to release A.J. from his scholarship," Snyder said.

Graham may not be going much of anywhere for the foreseeable future, after his arrest Tuesday on a charge of robbery with a firearm. In Florida, the felony offense is punishable by up to life in prison.

Graham, 18, entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday morning, and is being held in the Leon County Jail without bail.

A probable-cause affidavit detailed the alleged robbery, which happened just before midnight Friday.

Three friends were on their way to a party when they walked past a gray Chevrolet Impala, the report states. The driver rolled down the window, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at one of the friends and said, "Put it in the car." The report says the victim asked for clarification, and the suspect and a passenger got out of the car. The suspect put the gun in the victim's face and said, "Give me your money."

The victim said he had no money and showed the suspect his wallet, which was immediately snatched. The suspect and his passenger got back in the car. The report says the victim pursued the Impala, calling Tallahassee police along the way, but lost the suspect.

Graham and another man allegedly attended the party the victim was headed to, and was "acting shady." A person at the party knew Graham drove a Gray Impala, and officers traced the car to Graham's residence. Graham was identified by two of the three partygoers in a photo lineup, and was arrested at his home.

Graham was taken into custody just before his graduation at Tallahassee's Godby High School. He became the first player from that city to win the "Mr. Football" award, and was the Tallahassee Democrat's Big Bend Player of the Year. He set a number of school records and led the Cougars to the Class 4A championship game.

Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.