The stepfather of Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil alleges a different version of the events that led to Tunsil incurring a domestic violence charge last week, and that the incident stemmed from an argument he and Tunsil's mother were having about the player "riding around with football agents."
Tunsil and his stepfather, Lindsey Miller, were involved in an altercation on Thursday night that led to a domestic violence charge against Tunsil, while Tunsil and his mother, Desiree Tunsil, have pressed charges against Miller as well. Miller made the allegation of agent contact in his statement to police after the incident, according to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.
According to Laremy Tunsil and Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, Laremy Tunsil's actions during the altercation came in defending Desiree Tunsil from Miller. Miller denied that narrative, telling the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department that he was trying to shake hands with Laremy Tunsil when Laremy Tunsil attacked him. Miller's son, Derek, told police that his father and Desiree Tunsil were cursing at one another when Laremy Tunsil entered the home and began fighting with Miller, but did not say Desiree Tunsil was being harmed physically.
Miller acknowledged an argument with Desiree Tunsil over Laremy Tunsil's alleged contact with agents. He told police when they arrived at the scene that Laremy Tunsil had left with agents in a yellow convertible, according to the report. While it is not against NCAA rules for players to have contact with agents, the acceptance of money or benefits of any value from an agent can place a player's college eligibility at risk.
Freeze issued the following statement Tuesday to the Clarion-Ledger: "We are aware that Laremy and his family have met with potential agents, which is within his NCAA rights as a student-athlete. Regarding the altercation, we will continue to gather facts and cooperate with the proper authorities."
While contact with an agent might be of concern to Ole Miss fans with respect to Tunsil's NCAA eligibility, the bigger issue for NFL teams will be the details of the domestic violence incident. An NFC scout told College Football 24/7 that if Tunsil's side of the story "checks out," -- specifically, that he was acting in his mother's defense -- the incident would likely be met with understanding by NFL clubs.
Tunsil is considered one of the most talented offensive linemen in the nation, and was recently selected as the top offensive tackle to watch in the college game by NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein. Tunsil has started at Ole Miss since his freshman season in 2013 and will be a junior this fall.
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