Eastern Kentucky DB Marquae Kirkendoll Suspended, Charged with Robbing Postal Carrier
Aug 26, 2022
MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 12: Eastern Kentucky Colonels helmets sit on the sideline during the first quarter of the college football game between the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and the West Virginia Mountaineers on September 12, 2020, at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Defensive back Marquae Kirkendoll has been suspended from Eastern Kentucky's football team after being charged with robbing a postal carrier.
In court documents filed in federal court in New Mexico (via the Associated Press), five charges were filed against Kirkendoll, including robbing a postal carrier, stealing a key from the carrier used to open mailbags and lockboxes, brandishing a gun, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy.
According to the Associated Press, the robbery took place on Jan. 18 and allegedly also involved former University of New Mexico football player Rayshawn Boyce.
Boyce was arrested in February and also been charged.
Kirkendoll enrolled at New Mexico in 2019 and redshirted as a freshman. He appeared in 16 games for the Lobos over the past two seasons, recording five total tackles.
Soon after New Mexico's 34-7 loss to Fresno State on Nov. 13 last season, Kirkendoll entered the transfer portal. The Chicago native announced he was going to Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 15.
Per Christopher Leach of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Eastern Kentucky football spokesperson Rixon Lane said Kirkendoll's suspension is indefinite pending the results of the legal process.
Boyce, a linebacker from Los Angeles, originally attended L.A. Valley College after graduating from Salesian High School in 2015. He transferred to New Mexico as a junior in 2017.
In eight games with the Lobos, Boyce recorded three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Eastern Kentucky LB Michael Harris Bodyslams Cop on Police Video During Arrest
Feb 13, 2020
AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 28: Linebacker Michael Harris #30 of the Auburn Tigers looks to tackle running back Kylin Hill #8 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Auburn, AL. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
Eastern Kentucky linebacker Michael Harris was reportedly arrested and issued a felony charge of assault and three misdemeanors, and video of him bodyslamming a police officer during the incident has emerged.
TMZ Sports reported the news, noting court records said the misdemeanors were disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing official business.
Police footage of the officers interacting with Harris shows a heated exchange that turned physical. At one point, Harris picked up one of the police officers and threw him to the ground.
TMZ Sports noted the officer avoided serious injury.
"Eastern Kentucky University Athletics is actively monitoring an incident involving one of our student-athletes, Mr. Michael Harris, that resulted in criminal charges against Mr. Harris," the school said in a statement to ESPN.com's Heather Dinich. "Mr. Harris is currently enrolled at EKU and listed as a redshirt sophomore on the EKU football roster. He has been suspended from all team and football-related activities at this time."
Police, who arrived at the scene when a woman called and said Harris was being "aggressive" and "did not seem to be 'all there,'" then took the linebacker to the hospital, where he was sedated before taken to jail.
The report said police found pills and a digital scale "consistent with drug use" in his car even though Harris said he was not taking medication or drugs.
Harris was a highly regarded recruit in the class of 2018 and arrived at Auburn as a 4-star prospect, per 247Sports.
However, he announced he was leaving Auburn in December after limited playing time. Giana Han of AL.com noted he played in 11 games in 2019 but tallied just three tackles.
Eastern Kentucky announced him as part of its signing class earlier this month.
Eastern Kentucky Football Game Moved Due to Threatening Graffiti on Campus
Oct 7, 2015
Eastern Kentucky quarterback Bennie Coney looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 34-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Eastern Kentucky University announced Thursday's scheduled football game against Tennessee Tech University has been moved to nearby Georgetown College after an apparent death threat on campus.
A cryptic message reading "KILL ALL BY 10/8/15 THIS BU OOP" was written on a campus men's room wall Sunday night, per Sean Moody of WKYT.
"It's a little hard to understand what the handwriting at the end of that message means. Police are investigating that. They're sharing information with partner agencies to determine if there is another meaning for it or if it's just a handwriting mistake," EKU spokesperson Kristi Middleton said, per Moody.
Eastern Kentucky has canceled all classes through Friday as police continue to investigate the case. Classes had been held as scheduled earlier this week.
School president Michael Benson provided an update on how the school is handling the matter Wednesday in an email, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com):
Our primary goals in assessing this situation are limiting any safety risks and avoiding disruption to learning and teaching. While we are confident the responding team of law enforcement agencies has kept a watchful eye over our community and is diligently investigating the threat, it has become clear this incident continues to be unsettling to a number of our students, faculty and staff.
Georgetown College is located roughly 40 miles from Eastern Kentucky. In the wake of this month's mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, it's commendable Eastern Kentucky is making a concerted effort to ensure the safety of its students.
The university is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the person responsible for the threat.
