UCLA starting defensive back Ishmael Adams, who was arrested for allegedly stealing a cell phone from an Uber driver, posted bond and was released from jail Tuesday.
Adams, 21, was released around 6:30 a.m., according to sheriff’s department jail records. UCLA head football coach Jim Mora announced, however, that Adams has been suspended indefinitely from the team and will not play in the Bruins’ opening game Saturday against Virginia.
Adams was arrested by UCLA campus police about 3:35 a.m. Sunday, and was booked on suspicion of robbery, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. His bail had been set at $100,000.
Adams started all 26 games for the Bruins over the past two seasons. He returned two intercepted passes for touchdowns in 2014, tying the school record. He also scored a touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return against Arizona State. Adams led UCLA with four interceptions in 2013.
Adams is a graduate of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village. Adams’ father, Stefon, played defensive back for the Los Angeles Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins from 1986-90.
“As a football coach, as a parent, you hate to see young men get themselves into bad situations, and one thing that I do is I take this very seriously and I take it very personally as well,” Mora told reporters at the UCLA practice facility. “We consistently as a staff, as a university, as a support group stress the importance of making good decisions to our young men. And we talk about it on a consistent basis and you hope with all your heart that it sinks in, but you don’t always know. One thing that we stressed from the very first day that they step on this campus as a member of this football program is they have a responsibility not only to themselves but to their teammates, to their families, to this university, to our great fans, the student body, to represent the highest ideals and moral values.”
Mora noted that student-athletes live under heightened media and public scrutiny.
“When they do make a mistake it’s magnified,” he said. “It tarnishes their reputation and it certainly tarnishes to some extent the reputation of this program, so we do take it very, very seriously, and Ishmael has been suspended indefinitely. He will not play this week against Virginia.”
Mora said as the investigation unfolds, more decisions will be made regarding Adams’ status with the team.
— City News Service