MINNEAPOLIS -- Three University of Minnesota football players were undergoing questioning Friday after allegations of criminal sexual conduct, the university said in a statement.
As of Friday night, it appeared they had not been charged with any crime, but the players remained in police custody
Coach Tim Brewster immediately suspended the players until the investigation is complete. The allegations came on the eve of the team's spring intrasquad game.
The players were identified by the university as Alex Daniels, listed as a 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive end who came to the Gophers as a highly touted linebacker from Columbus, Ohio; Keith Massey, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback from Columbus; and E.J. Jones, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back from Edwardsville, Ill.
Daniels and Massey are 20 years old. Jones is 19. A university spokesman said all three are sophomores.
According to a police report, an 18-year-old woman claimed she was raped Wednesday morning. The victim, whose name is not being released, was examined at a local hospital.
University Police Chief Greg Hestness said in a statement that his department learned of the allegation early Friday, and the players were being questioned that evening. Once the investigation is complete, he said, the case will be submitted to the Hennepin County attorney for possible charges.
"Obviously, this is disappointing news for any coach to receive," Brewster said. "There is an ongoing investigation and we will cooperate fully with law enforcement on this matter."
This is Brewster's first season as the Gophers' head coach. He replaced Glen Mason, who was fired after 10 seasons with Minnesota.
Brewster spent the last two seasons as the tight ends coach with the Denver Broncos, and also served as an assistant with the San Diego Chargers and in college under Mack Brown at Texas and North Carolina.
The Gophers' spring game is at noon Saturday at the Metrodome.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Three players for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team have been arrested following a rape allegation. The three players have been identified as defensive end Alex Daniels, cornerback Keith Massey, and running back E.J. Jones, all sophomores. They are in custody at the Hennepin County Jail pending charges. Bail has been set at $100,000 for each player.

The three are accused of raping an 18-year old woman at the University Village Apartments, where the accused players live. "Overnight one of the University Officers was flagged down by a young woman who wanted to make a report that she'd been sexually assaulted," said University Police Chief Greg Hestness. Hestness did not disclose further details of the allegations, though he stated the players "were booked on criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. And that usually does involve penetration, non-consensual penetration." Once an investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Hennepin County attorney for possible charges.

Following Saturday's spring scrimmage at the Metrodome, new coach Tim Brewster said "Obviously it's a disappointing situation that's been presented to me. There's an investigation that's ongoing that we're going to cooperate fully with." The players have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, and did not participate in the annual intrasquad game.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said "We will let the process take its course and then do the appropriate thing. But I'm not ready to abandon these kids. It's our responsibility to stand by them and their families."