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South Carolina football suspends 3 freshmen after 1 reportedly arrested on weapons charges

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: A detail of a South Carolina Gamecocks helmet on the sideline during the second half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at TIAA Bank Field on December 30, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Monteque Rhames II is reportedly still in jail after an overnight arrest. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) (James Gilbert via Getty Images)

South Carolina suspended three freshmen football players indefinitely on Friday after one of them was arrested on weapons charges around midnight Friday, according to The State's Ben Portnoy.

In a brief statement, the Gamecocks did not say why Monteque Rhames II, Anthony Rose, and Cameron Upshaw were being suspended, but included the following quote from head coach Shane Beamer:

“Our student-athletes know what is expected of them. They know that both the University and the football program will hold them accountable for their actions and decisions.”

Per the State, Richland County jail records show Rhames, who moved onto campus last month, was arrested Thursday night on charges of carrying weapons on school property and obstruction of justice. The former is listed on the South Carolina statehouse's website as a felony.

The records reportedly show Rhames was booked at midnight. Per an incident report, campus police responded to a "housing complaint" at an on-campus dorm complex at 9:20 p.m. Thursday, with references to "weapon law violations" concerning a rifle. Rhames, Rose and a juvenile are reportedly listed as suspects in the alleged incident.

Rhames is reportedly still in jail as of Friday afternoon, with his first court appearance scheduled for March 31 and bond set at $10,000.

Rhames, a Sumter, South Carolina, native, is rated by Rivals as a four-star defensive end and is one of the Gamecocks' top signees in the Class of 2023. He and Upshaw, a three-star defensive back, were among the program's early enrollees. Rose, formerly a four-star safety, was a member of South Carolina's signing class of 2022. He redshirted last season after not appearing in a game.