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Razorback tight end caught shoplifting from Belk, ahead of Belk Bowl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arkansas senior tight end Jeremy Sprinkle was suspended from the Belk Bowl Thursday night against No. 18 Virginia Tech after police accused him of shoplifting from the department store that sponsors the game.

Sprinkle was charged by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police with shoplifting by concealment Tuesday at the Belk department store at SouthPark Mall.

As a perk of the game, Belk gave players on both teams a $450 gift card to one of their department stores and 90 minutes to spend it. The police report indicates that Sprinkle shoplifted $260 worth of merchandise.

Sprinkle had 33 receptions for 380 yards and four touchdowns this year, and is projected as one of the top 10 tight ends available in next year's NFL draft.

The Razorbacks released the following statement:

"Jeremy's suspension has been known by our staff and players for several days so we've had a chance to prepare our game plan accordingly.

Throughout his career and this season as a graduate student-athlete, Jeremy has displayed numerous times the qualities we want to represent our program.

We have standards within our family that must be upheld on a daily basis and unfortunately he failed to do that in the last week. Jeremy's suspension isn't drug, alcohol or violence related but one that will cause him to miss his final game as a Razorback."

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