CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois football player Jarrod "Chunky" Clements has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery stemming from a fight at a party in March and has entered a program that could see the charge reduced or dropped, authorities said Monday.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Clements was accused of punching another man on March 4, Clements' attorney, Evan Bruno, said. Clements was charged April 28 and entered a plea June 3. The reason for the delay between the incident and the charge was not immediately clear.
Clements, a senior defensive lineman, was placed in a program that allows those accused of lower-level crimes to perform community service and have charges reduced or dropped, Champaign County lead prosecutor Troy Lozar said.