By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
A former Tennessee Volunteers football player was arrested on Tuesday night in Fla. on five felony charges, according to the Tennessean. MacKenzie James Crowder, whose 23-years-old, who was an offensive lineman for the team from 2011 through this past season, is facing the serious charges in relation to child pornography.
Crowder is facing the charges after “sending harmful material to a minor and another for breaking Florida’s Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act.”
This past season, he played in 11 games, including three starts at center and guard.
Crowder was also a subject of rumors after he reportedly accused head coach Butch Jones for making inappropriate physical contact with a player. The school has denied that the contact ever took place.
According to the story, he was released on bond late Tuesday evening. He’s out on $50,000 bond.
Four of the counts are for transmission of material harmful to minors. The other is violating Florida’s Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Action.
He’s was arrested in Pinellas County, Fla., which is near Tampa, Fla. However, Crowder is listed on his charges at a Knoxville, Tn. address.
If he’s convicted of these crimes, he’ll likely have to register as a sex offender. He’ll also have to do significant jail time, as well.
He made his 13th career start against No. 19 Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 10. Then, he made his second and third starts in back-to-back weeks against South Carolina Gamecocks and North Texas Mean Green on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14.
He also played significant time on Senior Day against the Vanderbilt Commodores at left guard. The Vols had 331 rushing yards in that game.
Last year, he started all 11 games at center. He suffered a leg injury against the Kentucky Wildcats on Nov. 15, then missed the next two weeks against the Missouri Tigers and the Commodores.
In his first two years with the program in 2012 and 2013, he played in 10 games and made just one start. His first career start came against No. 11 South Carolina in 2013.
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