Melvin Alaeze, a former Illinois football player who left school in October for personal reasons, faces charges that include attempted murder in connection with an alleged robbery last month.
Alaeze, 19, was being held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 9, Baltimore County police said.
Alaeze signed with Ron Zook and Illinois after Maryland rescinded his scholarship offer last June, partly due to Alaeze’s February arrest on five marijuana-related offenses. His enrollment at Maryland already had been delayed a year while he attempted to meet NCAA academic requirements.
He was the top-ranked defensive player in the country when he graduated from high school in 2005.
Alaeze was ruled eligible by the NCAA and played one game in September, but was suspended for the Iowa game for missing classes. On Oct. 1, he left citing personal reasons.
Alaeze has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery, car theft and use of a hand gun in the commission of a violent crime, according to Baltimore County court records.
He was arrested Jan. 13 in connection with the Christmas Eve incident at an apartment complex. The charges against Alaeze carry sentences ranging from life for attempted murder to five years for auto theft.