3 Pitt football players deny assault charges

Graham, junior wide receiver Devin Street and redshirt freshman defensive back Lafayette Pitts deny they were involved in a confrontation with a student who told police he was hit in the head by one of the players.

Online court records don't list attorneys for the players charged in the complaint filed by city police on Thursday. The players were not arrested but have been mailed summonses to appear in Pittsburgh Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on the charges Jan. 9.

Graham, of Elizabeth, N.J., is the Panthers' leading rusher with 622 yards and seven touchdowns. Street, of Bethlehem, Pa., is the team's leading receiver with 50 catches for 695 yards and four scores. Pitts, of East Pittsburgh, is also the team's top kick-returner.

School spokesman E.J. Borghetti said in a statement the players have offered to speak with police but have not been questioned or received any court documents.

"We take matters of player discipline very seriously and will continue to cooperate with any investigation," Borghetti said. "However, we will not, and hope others will not, rush to judgment on these misdemeanor allegations. All three players will remain active members of our program while we gain more clarity on this situation."

According to the complaint, Karl Olsheski, Diana Olsheski and Samantha Mitchell told police they were walking along a street in Oakland, the neighborhood where the university is located, when a group of Pitt football players walked into their path from the opposite direction about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 21.