by Bruce Gietzen
FORT WORTH - Three key defensive players on the Texas Christian football team are among 18 students arrested in a campus drug bust Wednesday.
Linebacker Tanner Brock, the leading tackler two seasons ago who played high school football in Copperas Cove, defensive tackle D.J. Yendry and cornerback Devin Johnson were among four football players arrested Wednesday. The other is offensive lineman Ty Horn of McGregor who formerly played for Midway High School.
Police say the football players were caught making ``hand-to-hand'' sales of marijuana, and others in the group also sold cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs to undercover officers.
Brock faces three felony charges of delivering marijuana more than a quarter-ounce but less than five pounds. Horn was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of selling less than a quarter ounce, and another enhanced charge of selling more than that in a drug-free zone.
TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said the arrests came after a six-month investigation prompted by complaints from students, parents and others. The transactions happened at different locations near campus, including a Hooters, a Kroger parking lot, a 7-11 store, and residences of players.
Police would not rule out more arrests, but said only people caught selling drugs had been arrested Wednesday.
Officials said the students had been separated from TCU,'' but it wasn't clear if the players had been kicked off the team.
The Ft. Worth Star Telegram is reporting head football coach Gary Patterson did not know about the alleged illegal drug sales, but when a recruit recently turned down TCU because of drug problems there, Patterson ordered a surprise drug test February 1.
One of the arrested football players reportedly told an undercover police officer most of the members of the football team failed that drug test. The school refuted that report.
Patterson said his initial reaction today to the arrests was shock, then he felt hurt, and as the day wore on he was mad.
In 2010, Sports Illustrated said TCU was the only top 25 school in the nation that had no players with a criminal record, and the Horned Frogs and Oklahoma were the only two ranked schools who did background checks on recruits.
Tanner Brock (Left), Ty Horn (Middle), Devin Johnson (Right) (Picture Courtesy of Dallas Morning News)
Ty Horn
Tanner Brock
