Holloman rejoins team after reinstatement

~ The Redhawks' leading rusher was barred from campus after misdemeanor charges for assault were filed.

The leading rusher for the 2005 Southeast Missouri State football team is back in school and back on the squad.

Southeast officials confirmed Friday that freshman Timmy Holloman was reinstated to the university for the second semester.

Holloman and two other Southeast football players -- starting safety D'Eldrick Taylor and reserve linebacker Frederick Williams, along with former player Gerald Breedlove -- were barred from campus in mid-December after they were charged with misdemeanors for assaulting two students during an off-campus fraternity party on Dec. 4.

When the four were barred from campus, it was announced that a final decision on their status as students would be made by the student Judicial Affairs Office sometime after Jan. 1 and prior to the start of the semester on Jan. 17.

Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said Holloman was reinstated by Southeast dean of students Irene Ferguson. Taylor, Williams and Breedlove have not been reinstated.

"I really can't discuss the details of his record because of the privacy act," Ferguson said, "but students who want to have a hearing can appeal, and they can appeal it to me."

Said Ann Hayes, Southeast news bureau director: "Each case in the university's judicial system is handled on a case-by-case basis. The university doesn't comment on what goes on in the judicial proceedings that happen on campus."

Holloman, from Orlando, Fla., was Southeast's leading rusher in 2005, gaining 688 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He also led the Redhawks in touchdowns with 10, and he was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference all-freshmen team.

After seeing limited action in Southeast's first four games, Holloman became the Redhawks' feature back the rest of the season.

Over the final seven games, Holloman rushed for 638 yards. He gained 155 yards and scored four touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 22, then followed that performance with 181 yards and two touchdowns against Murray State on Oct. 29.

Kaverman said he is pleased Holloman was reinstated to the university and will continue to play football for the Redhawks.

"Absolutely," Kaverman said. "He had a productive rookie season, and we think Timmy is basically a pretty good guy. It was probably a case where he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we're glad he's back."

Holloman is scheduled for a jury trial on March 10, with a pretrial conference set for March 2.

Tony Samuel, Southeast's first-year football coach who was hired in late December, came to Southeast after the alleged assault took place.

Samuel said he did not wish to say much about the matter other than that Holloman is back on the team and has been involved with the Redhawks' offseason conditioning program. Samuel said there is a chance Holloman could be disciplined further, pending the outcome of his case.

"I think we all have to see what comes of this," Samuel said.