Manhattan ? Thomas Clayton, Kansas State’s leading rusher last year, has been suspended for one game following a misdemeanor battery conviction and will miss the Sept. 2 season opener against Illinois State.
Clayton, who will be a senior, was convicted Friday on the misdemeanor count stemming from an incident last September in which he hit a university parking services employee with his car.
The employee, James A. Seymour, was attempting to put a wheel-lock on Clayton’s car after noticing that the license plate was missing and the parking permit was invalid.
Clayton, from Alexandria, Va., said he was late for football practice and left the scene, bumping into Seymour on the way. He was arrested a short time later and charged with aggravated battery, later reduced to a misdemeanor. Clayton, who will be sentenced July 10, could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
“We have high standards for the members of our team and organization and the rewards for success are significant,” Kansas State’s new coach, Ron Prince, said. “When we fail to meet those standards, however, there are consequences.”
Clayton missed Kansas State’s 54-7 victory over North Texas last September as punishment for the same incident. For the season, he rushed for 637 yards on 137 carries.