TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– It was already tough not seeing him participate in practice all season because of an injury, but wide receiver Donnie Lee Jr. was forced to say goodbye to his football career at the University of Alabama.
Lee, a walk-on, was scheduled to miss the remainder of the year due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his knee at fall camp in August, but according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, he was arrested and charged earlier today with third-degree domestic violence.
Per an additional report from Kelvin Reynolds of WBRC (Fox 6 affiliate), police responded to a domestic violence call in the 900 block of 12th Street at around 1:00 a.m. The situation in question involved Lee and his girlfriend, and per the police report, an altercation occurred that resulted in physical injuries. Lee was held on $1,300 bond, with $1,000 coming on DV charges.
Following the news, Alabama head coach Nick Saban released his statement.
“Donnie Lee, Jr., a walk-on who has not been participating in team activities since a knee injury in August, has been dismissed from our football team and is no longer a part of our program. This behavior will not be tolerated from anyone and is not representative of our football program.”
Lee becomes the second Tide players under Saban to be released from the program because of domestic violence, joining former defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor in 2014. Hailing from Northport, Ala., the 6-foot target was entering his senior year prior to the incident.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
