Hornsby Indicted, Released From Ole Miss

((HT: Jackson Clarion-Ledger/Brandt))

Jamar Hornsby ((Pictured, thanks Clarion-Ledger file)) was given a second chance by Ole Miss when he signed a football scholarship in February.

On Friday, coach Houston Nutt said there would be no third chance.

A week before Ole Miss players are scheduled to report to campus to begin practice for the 2009 season, Hornsby was kicked off the team after being indicted on a felony aggravated assault charge in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Hornsby, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior who played last year at East Mississippi Community College, pleaded not guilty to allegations that he assaulted Benjamin Jenkins at a McDonald's in Starkville on March 2.

But the damage to his football career is already done.

"I am releasing Jamar Hornsby and he will not be a member of our football team," Nutt said in a statement released by the school. "We wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Nutt did not return messages seeking further comment.

Hornsby was considered a four-star recruit (out of five stars) by Rivals.com and a three-star by Scout.com. He was expected to compete for playing time at safety, one of the team's thinnest positions.

Hornsby, 22, was on probation when he signed with Ole Miss after being convicted of four misdemeanor counts of credit card fraud in Alachua County, Fla. He used a friend's credit card following her death in October 2007, buying almost $3,000 worth of gas.

Hornsby was kicked off the Florida team, but when Hornsby signed with the Rebels Nutt said he deserved another chance to play.

"We talked to everybody involved," Nutt said in February. "We talked to (Florida coach) Urban Meyer. We talked to the judge. We talked to his family. We wouldn't have signed him if we weren't confident he would represent our program in the right way."

In the original complaint, Hornsby was accused of using brass knuckles in the assault, but that was not a part of Friday's indictment.

"As we've said all along, there were never any brass knuckles involved," Hornsby's attorney, Steve Farese, said. That the brass knuckles allegation was not part of the indictment is "great news," Farese said. "It semi-vindicates us as far as this was just a fight."

Hornsby was released on his original bond of $15,000. The trial is scheduled for Nov. 2.