Washington State defensive players Robert Barber, Shalom Luani and Logan Tago played in the Cougars' 56-6 victory over Idaho on Saturday, despite off-the-field issues in which the Pullman Police Department are recommending charges against all three.
The Pullman Police Department is recommending charges of second-degree assault for Barber and Luani, stemming from two separate incidents. It has recommended that Tago be charged with robbery from a third incident in June.
The Whitman County Prosecutor has already received the recommendations for Tago and Luani, and Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said Friday the recommendations on Barber and another player, T.J. Fehoko, will be sent next week.
Barber, 22, is accused of punching student Jackson Raney in the head twice -- once while he was on the ground -- that led to a concussion. Investigators determined that Fehoko, 19, punched student Alex Rodriguez, who suffered a broken jaw. Jenkins said his department is also recommending charges of disorderly conduct in provoking a physical altercation for two other students, Dylan Rollins and Pedro Diaz, who don't play football.
None of the players has yet been formally charged, though Barber has already been expelled by the student conduct board. He's appealing that decision and is still a member of the football team during that process.
"Allegations have been inconsistent at best," Washington State coach Mike Leach told the Pac-12 Network on Saturday. "We haven't been able to get accurate facts on these instances and there have been embellishments in the media. These guys are innocent until proven guilty, which I think is the approach that should have been taken a long time ago."
Earlier in the week, Leach intimated that the Pullman Police Department might be unfairly targeting football players, as they're the only ones being singled out despite other people being involved in all three incidents.
Barber blocked a field goal attempt in the first half of Saturday's game that led to a 72-yard return from Marcellus Pippins.