Two Central Methodist University football players charged with assault

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Howard County Prosecutor's Office charged two Central Methodist University football players with assault on Wednesday, according to online court records.

Kamarrion Ferguson, 20, and Michael Hourel, 22, were booked into the Howard County jail on Monday and remain there as of Tuesday evening.

According to the probable cause statement filed with the Howard County circuit clerk, the charges stem from an incident in which both men allegedly assaulted a teammate. The statement said the victim told police that a team rule requires anyone late for practice to fight another player.

The victim said the player he was to fight didn't want to engage other than "to do 'body shots,'" at which point Hourel allegedly objected and hit the victim in the face. At that point, others - including Ferguson - allegedly joined in hitting the victim as well.

The victim's injuries were serious enough to require a consult with a concussion specialist "due to the possibility of a brain bleed."

While talking to police, Hourel reportedly said that as a team captain, he'd had issues with some players being not held accountable for tardiness. He also reportedly admitted to hitting the victim "with open hands in the face."

Ferguson is a junior from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Hourel is a senior from Andalusia, Alaska. Both have arraignments scheduled for Wednesday morning.