It has been a freefall from grace for former UNM running back Demond Dennis.
Once a three-star recruit and the Lobos’ featured tailback, Dennis, 21, faces multiple felony charges stemming from his alleged role in an armed robbery in Lawrenceville, Ga. He is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase June 7 after he and three other men allegedly robbed his cousin.
Dennis didn’t return text messages to the Daily Lobo seeking comment. His lawyer, Jay Jackson, didn’t return multiple calls over the weekend.
The Gwinnett Daily Post first reported that three men allegedly entered the victim’s Village Way home with a .38-caliber handgun, looking to steal marijuana. They took the marijuana and the victim’s purse before fleeing. A Lawrenceville police officer identified a vehicle that matched the description of the getaway car, but before he could stop the car it sped off.
Dennis, the alleged driver, reached speeds of 85 mph before veering off the road at the intersection Ga. Highway 120 and Old Norcross Road, according to police. The suspects fled on foot, the Daily Post reported, but were later apprehended. The victim identified the suspects, including Dennis , who the victim said is her cousin.
Dennis and the three other suspects were booked on charges of armed robbery, possession of marijuana with the intention to distribute and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, according to court records.
In October, Dennis was dismissed from the UNM football team after failing to meet academic requirements. Dennis was among the players in head football coach Mike Locksley’s first recruiting class.
When announcing the decision Oct. 26, Locksley said it was an unfortunate end to Dennis’ Lobo career.
“We had some things in place that needed to be met on Demond’s part,” he said. “It saddens me that he was unable to meet the standards we set.”
The former UNM tailback was also involved in an encounter with Albuquerque Journal reporter Greg Archuleta. Archuleta emailed Dennis on Oct. 4 and asked him if he had quit the team, suggesting that it might have been “a step in the right direction” if Dennis had quit. Dennis handed the email to the Athletics Department, and the Journal subsequently reassigned Archuleta.
Three weeks after the email exchange, Dennis was no longer with the program. He played in 16 games in two seasons for the Lobos, racking up 427 yards in 10 games as a freshman.
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