Nebraska football player pleads innocent to felony charge

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A Nebraska football player charged with felony aggravated assault and battery in Oklahoma surrendered to Norman authorities Monday.<br/><br/>Cornhusker Darren DeLone was later released

Saturday, November 20th 2004, 4:11 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A Nebraska football player charged with felony aggravated assault and battery in Oklahoma surrendered to Norman authorities Monday.

Cornhusker Darren DeLone was later released on his own recognizance after a brief hearing in Cleveland County District Court.

He's accused of injuring a member of a University of Oklahoma spirit group, the Ruf/Neks, before the Oklahoma-Nebraska football game.

Prosecutors say DeLone intentionally ran into Ruf/Nek Adam Merritt, knocking Merritt into a brick wall. Merritt suffered injuries to his head, neck, back and mouth and two teeth were knocked out.

DeLone's attorney, Garvin Isaacs of Oklahoma City, says the incident was an accident and declined further comment.

District Judge Reginald Gaston scheduled DeLone's next court appearance for 9 AM on January 10th.