Draft prospects Victor Hampton and Kelcy Quarles of South Carolina will not face charges stemming from an April 11 brawl at the Greenhouse nightclub in New York City, according to a tmz.com report.
Although some details remain unclear, the fight reportedly broke out because a group including some South Carolina draft prospects objected to marijuana being smoked in the club. Quarles initially denied even being at the club, saying police instead should have been searching for former Gamecocks defensive end Chaz Sutton. Sutton reportedly received a minor stab wound outside the club later that night from a man who had been involved in the argument.
Attorney Joe Tacopina said that both Hampton and Quarles were interviewed by police and told they would not be charged, tmz.com reported.
Hampton, Quarles, Sutton, wide receiver Bruce Ellington and quarterback Connor Shaw were in New York at the time for a magazine photo shoot. Of the five, Quarles and Ellington are more highly regarded draft prospects, both potentially second-day (Rounds 2-3) picks. They are expected to be the second and third South Carolina players chosen, following defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Quarles is a 300-pound defensive tackle who led South Carolina in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (9.5) last season. Ellington led South Carolina in receiving for the second consecutive season.
Hampton, a cornerback, is more likely to be a third-day (Rounds 4-7) pick. Hampton was arrested for disorderly conduct just days after the Greenhouse brawl following a heated argument with his sister, and draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki wrote in Hampton's NFL.com draft profile that "character concerns will cloud his draft status and have already knocked him off some draft boards."
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