Staff Writer

jsibley@theeasleyprogress.com



CENTRAL - Clemson University sophomore and star defensive football player Maurice McDaniel was arrested Saturday night and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

McDaniel, of 118 University Village Apartments, is accused of abusing his 19-year old girlfriend at his residence, according to a Central Police incident report.

At 8 p.m., a call came into the Central Police department in reference to an assault. Upon arrival, Sgt. Eddie McCall spoke with the victim who said she had been badly beaten by her boyfriend, McDaniel, the report said.

The incident began when the victim asked about his behavior pertaining to an earlier time that night at a local club.

From there, McDaniel put a comforter over her head and "began choking her and jerking her head up and down," the report said.

She then stated that he struck her with his fists in her face and around her head, the report said.

During the incident, McDaniel continued to verbally abuse and threaten the victim by saying he would "break her neck," the report said.

The altercation subsided only after McDaniel shoved the victim down a flight of stairs and followed her to her car and then punched her in the chest.

McDaniel was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and is awaiting further action.

The victim was treated at Oconee Memorial Hospital with "serious bodily injury including chest and facial contusions and a neck sprain," a report said.

McDaniel played in all 13 games last season and was a head prospect out of high school in Tallahassee, Fla.