Redshirt freshman linebacker Quentin Poling was charged with underage drinking.
Ohio University football player Quentin Poling was charged with underage drinking by the Athens Police Department after an altercation outside of Courtside Pizza, 85 N. Court St., Jan. 25.
OU Athletics has not said if they will suspend Poling from any games next season.
“We will allow due process to run its course and respond accordingly,” Michael Stephens, senior associate athletic director of External Operations, said in an email.
According to the Ohio Athletics Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, when a student-athlete is arrested, he or she is placed on immediate suspension until the Director of Athletics and Head Coach reviews the facts of the incident.
During the period of review, the student-athlete is not allowed to participate in any “athletically-related activity.”
OU’s code of conduct also says “the possession and consumption of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 is illegal and is prohibited.”
Failure to comply with the code of conduct could result in the termination of a student’s status as a student-athlete and loss of athletic financial aid, according to university documents.
The arrest, which classifies Poling’s case as a low-level misdemeanor, may result in a suspension ranging from 10 to 25 percent of the NCAA authorized athletics contests.
Student-athletes can appeal disciplinary actions to the athletic director.
The police report from Jan. 25 read that APD officers on patrol witnessed what appeared to be a fight breaking out at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
At his court date Jan. 26, Poling pleaded not guilty for underage drinking. Assault charges were not filed.
Poling, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Spencerville, Ohio, was named the Mid-American Conference East Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 8. He played in all 12 games this past season and led the team with 89 tackles and five sacks.
-Joshua Lim contributed to this report.
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