Indiana boots RB Morgan Ellison from football team, suspends him for 2½ years

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana University running back Morgan Ellison has been suspended for 2½ years from the college and dismissed permanently from the football team, IU announced Friday night.

An IU panel had earlier determined the sophomore standout had sexually assaulted a female student. A person with knowledge of the accusations confirmed the panel’s decision Oct. 11 to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details have not been made public. In its findings, the school’s sexual misconduct hearing panel said Ellison should be suspended from Indiana for 2½ years and required to undergo counseling. 

As of last week, Ellison had not been charged with a crime and it was not immediately known whether he had an attorney.

Ellison led the Hoosiers in rushing in 2017 as a freshman but was suspended indefinitely before this year’s opener. Coach Tom Allen had said that Ellison had returned to practice but he spoke the day before the panel’s decision, which was dated Oct. 3.

Ellison ran for 704 yards and six touchdowns in 2017 and was twice named Big Ten freshman of the week.

Jeff Keag, senior assistant athletic director for media relations with Indiana University Athletics, issued this statement Friday night:

Effective today, October 19, 2018, sophomore Morgan Ellison has been suspended for two and one half years from Indiana University, dismissing him from all university-related activities and resulting in his permanent dismissal from the football team.