In late June Vanderbilt dismissed four unnamed football players from the program following what was reported as a "sex crimes investigation" related to an alleged incident at a Vanderbilt dormitory. On Monday Vanderbilt issued a statement from coach James Franklin that named the four players as Brandon Banks, Cory Batey, Jaborian McKenzie and Brandon Vandenburg.
"For student athletes at Vanderbilt, it is a privilege, not a right, to be a part of the program," Franklin said in the statement. "My coaching staff and I make sure every member of our team understands that. We insist on high standards of personal responsibility and integrity, and there are consequences when those standards are not met.
"In dealing with this matter, the Commodores football team will continue to hold itself to the same high standards of responsibility and integrity Vanderbilt demands of all of our students.
"We are cooperating fully with the Nashville Police Department and have pledged not to say or do anything that could interfere with its work or compromise the rights of anyone involved. We have not prejudged anyone's guilt or innocence."
Banks, Batey and McKenzie were freshmen during the 2012 season and never saw playing time with the Commodores. Vandenburg was a three-star junior college transfer in the school's 2013 recruiting class.
On June 28 the Tennessean quoted a police spokesman as saying, “I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit began an investigation on Wednesday in regard to a matter that was alleged to have occurred at a Vanderbilt University dormitory.” The same afternoon, Vanderbilt announced it had dismissed four players from the team.
