Former Florida Gators fullback Eric Rutledge was arrested Friday evening and charged with home invasion with a deadly weapon and conspiracy – first- and second- degree felonies, respectively.
According to Alachua County records, his bond is set at $150,000 and he remains unsentenced after being booked at 6:27 p.m. on Friday.
Rutledge, along with three co-conspirators, is charged with allegedly breaking into a private residence, holding four people at gunpoint, beating them and robbing the home of a number of items including cash, computers and marijuana.
A native of Gainesville, FL, Rutledge was apprehended by police after a license plate identified by one of the victims belonged to a car registered to his cousin, Shannon Mann. Police were able to piece the case together after finding messages on Mann’s phone between the two discussing the alleged robbery.
OGGOA will update this story as more information is made available. Rutledge’s mugshot is unable to be obtained due to a technical error.
I don’t understand what is wrong with these boys. You play for the University of Florida – you basically have the college football nation in the palm of your hand. Why would you want to ruin any of that…..I just don’t understand.
Well…in his case…he is a former player.
Yeah, he hasn’t been on the team for 3 years, and in 4 years (49 games) accumulated a grand total of 16 yards of offense on 3 kick returns; which kind of begs the question, “Why is there even an article about it?”.
So because he only gained 16 yards means he is less of a member of the team than some of the other guys? There are lot of other players (offensive linemen, for example) who do not produce statistics. He was a blocking FB and ST coverage guy who saw action in the vast majority of games he was eligible for…
Another sad story of a guy who never got his degree. Everybody things they are going to have a pro career and so few do.
Have to agree with G8R8U2 on this Adam, don’t really see how this is news worthy. I know it’s slow during the summer but stuff like this is NOT interesting or refreshing. I guarantee no cares about what’s happening to Eric Rutledge’s post Gator life… especially three years after the fact.
I hope there is plenty else for you to read and enjoy here. 🙂
This is just more fodder for the Gator Hater nation to jump on about the charcter of our players. Doesn’t matter that he has been gone for awhile or that he was relavively unknown to non – Gators it will be just what the haters want to read about.
How do you not cover this….he played a lot of games and was a popular player and it’s not like this is a minor incident…breaking into someones home and robbing them at gunpoint allegedly….pathetic
Exactly…though I’m not sure how “popular” he was…
ahhhh.. Offseason
Maybe recognizable name would fit more than popular…but he was a local kid who seemed to get the most out of his talent and I think many pulled for him because of that
Its funny how people specualte on situations and or people and assume the worse or think they are less than others. Contrary to ur comment Reptiles Rule, he did receive a degree and was in the process of pursuing a professional career in football. While I do not endorse what ALLEGEDLY took place in this situation I sympathize with the fact that his entire career on and off the football field is possibly ruined over something he may or may not have done. So tpo everyone on here keep in mind that it might be ur ass in the Gainesville Sun one day and folk might be contemplating on how important you were……or not.
WHO GIVES A #$@% IF HE WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER. THE BOTTOMLINE IS THAT HIS IGNORANT ASS DECIDED TO ROB SOME KIDS FOR MONEY THAT HIS BROKE ASS COULDNT MAKE WITH HIS “TALENT” OR COMMON SENSE. HE DESERVES TO BE LOCKED UP WITH ALL THE REST OF THOSE IDIOTS AND IGNORANT PEOPLE.
ALL CHARGES DROPPED—GNV really srewed up, he was not even there. Too bad to be black, living in the South, and poor——–10 months in jail without a trail, no bond set, then relesaed when identiy finally checked out———–
I usually stay away from things like this..obv i couldnt help myself after a friend pointed this out to me..just a couple things i got for ya..first things first..clearly it was news worthy enough to bring about these pathetic comments. Secondly contrary to what pgator had to say..there are thousands of REAL gator fans who are concerned about my post gator life..a heck of a lot more than you have concerned about you im sure. Finally..which is my purpose for commenting..to the Rutledge is garbage person…people like you arrest people and send them to jail for 11 months for something they didnt do whether it be for lack of attention to detail, you being envious, or TRUE ignorance. My “talents” allowed me to earn a degree from the University of Florida and create endless opportunities for my life. It has allowed me to meet many genuine gator fans all over the country..so many children that look up to me and appreciate my experiences in life..i live for that. As a whole we’ve come so far but clearly we still have soo far to go. My prayers for you will never cease! God bless!
Eric- I tried to contact you on three occasions since you joined Twitter for this reason – so you could tell your side of the story and change people’s opinions about you. I never got a response to my interview requests. You have to realize that many people have their knowledge of legal situations limited to what is provided publicly. It is a rare occasion that the person in trouble/falsely accused gets the opportunity to share their side of the story. You have that opportunity. If you wish to take advantage of it, I am all ears.
Adam
Well it’s nice to know that youve learned how to talk like a sophisticated human being while in jail but some of us commenting know a little bit more about what hapened than others. You know the truth and whether your willing to admit it your not, you are guilty. Its not hard to recognize a face when they’re at the front door attemting to rob “someone”. And as for those “endless opurtunites”, they are are doing a whole lot for you. The oppurtunity to put someones life in danger to earn some cash may be endless when your charges are dropped, but people dont change and im sure you will be at it soon enough.