Four former Vanderbilt football players charged with rape

Four former Vanderbilt football players have each been charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery.

According to The Tennessean, tight end Brandon Vandenburg, cornerback Brandon Eric Banks, wide receiver JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie and safety Cory Batey were charged in the indictment. Vandenburg is also charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of unlawful photography.

None of the four have played in a game for the Commodores. though Vandenburg was expected to contend for a starting spot this fall. Batey and McKenzie were redshirt freshmen. All of them have already been suspended by the university for a violation of team rules.

Batey has already been arrested and has gone through a mandatory blood draw, but the other three are still being tracked down by Metro police. Police spokesman Don Aaron sand an arraignment would be held "in the coming days."

Police said the four raped an unconscious woman in Vandenburg's dorm room on June 23. They were notified after university officials checked a hallway security camera in an unrelated incident and noticed suspicious behavior by the four.

Vanderbilt's starting quarterback, Carta Samuels, and four other team members, were listed as witnesses on an indictment.

Aaron said that the victim, who remains unnamed, has been "in close contact with the police department."

"She has been through a lot, and I believe she will be a partner as we continue with this case," he said in a press briefing.

Princine Lewis, a senior strategist in Vanderbilt's news and communications department, has said the university plans to issue a statement soon.