Baylor dismisses troubled RB Devin Chafin; seven recruits request release

Baylor University dismissed running back Devin Chafin from the football program Wednesday, the school announced.

Chafin, who was accused of violently assaulting his girlfriend in April 2014, per an Outside the Lines report, was one in a string of football players named in allegations of sexual assault, domestic violence and other acts of violence in recent years for which the school has come under fire. Chafin also was suspended in March after he was arrested for possession of marijuana.

At the time, former Baylor coach Art Briles said Chafin experienced "bad judgment, just like a lot of us do."

A rising redshirt senior, Chafin rushed for 1,256 yards and 21 touchdowns in his three-year career.

Also Wednesday, ESPN.com reported seven Baylor commitments from the school's highly ranked 2016 recruiting class have requested to have their national letters of intent nullified, a direct result of the scandal that's led to the resignation of university president Ken Starr and numerous firings in the athletic department, including Briles.

Patrick Hudson, J.P. Urquidez, Jared Atkinson, Kameron Martin, Parrish Cobb and Donovan Duvernay have all asked to be released from the program shortly after Briles was fired and other members of the coaching staff were let go.

Duvernay, the top prospect in Baylor's 2016 class, intends to request his release and is close to having it granted.

Once a player signs a national letter of intent, he is bound to that school unless he isn't academically eligible; he isn't enrolled at the school for at least one academic year; the school has been charged with breaking NCAA recruiting rules; or he is released by the university.

Baylor has 30 days to respond to the recruits' requests. Some schools will allow a recruit to be released if there is a coaching change (or firing,) but other schools maintain that a signee should honor commitment.

According to National Letter of Intent director Susan Peal, the situation is "in Baylor's hands right now."

Baylor also announced Wednesday the cancellation of June football minicamps, including its on-campus youth camp.