Michigan reserve wide receiver Grant Perry, facing charges of sexual assault and underage drinking from a night in downtown East Lansing earlier this season, has denied "any and all allegations of criminal sexual conduct" in a statement released by his attorney on Thursday.
"We are hopeful that both the media and the public will afford Mr. Perry the presumption of innocence that he is entitled to and we're looking forward to contesting these allegations through the court system."
While Perry, 19, remains suspended from football activities, his lawyers asked for a three-week extension for the preliminary exam in the case, citing "new discovery" this week. Perry's next date in court is set for Jan. 26.
Perry was arraigned in East Lansing District Court on Dec. 19 on one felony count of assaulting, battering, resisting or obstructing an officer, two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual assault and underage drinking, according to the Lansing State Journal.
The charges stem from an incident in October, during Michigan's bye week, where Perry allegedly touched a woman waiting outside a bar in downtown East Lansing and then ran from officers.
"When [police] arrived on scene, we tried to grab onto him, and we had to chase him," said Lt. Scott Wriggelsworth, spokesman for the East Lansing Police Department, to the Lansing State Journal. "In the midst of that fracas, one of our officers suffered a minor hand injury."
Michigan immediately suspended Perry once they were made aware of the incident, the school said in a statement.
"The University was made aware of the arrest of student-athlete Grant Perry earlier this fall. He was immediately suspended from all team activities at that time and missed two games. Based on the information at that time, Grant was allowed to resume team activities pending the outcome of the investigation.
Upon being informed that charges would be filed, he was immediately and indefinitely suspended from all team activities until the legal process is completed."
Perry had 13 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown for Michigan on the season as the Wolverines' fourth leading receiver.
