Southern Miss cornerback Ed Wilkins admits to role in armed robbery

A starter on Southern Mississippi’s defense is in hot water after an incident that took place Friday morning.

According to the Sun Herald, cornerback Ed Wilkins, who started nine games for the Golden Eagles in 2013, admitted to police that he and another man “planned an armed robbery” in Hattiesburg, Miss. As a result of the incident, Wilkins, who was booked into jail Friday morning on felony charges, has been indefinitely suspended by the program.

“This is a serious matter,” Southern Miss coach Todd Monken said in a statement. “Ed has been removed from the program while we gather additional information.”

The Sun Herald is reporting that Wilkins, 21, admitted that he, along with 19-year-old Michael Bailey, went to a residence in Hattiesburg “looking to steal money and drugs.”

Here’s how it allegedly went down:

Officials first encountered Bailey, who said he was visiting ex-roommates there so he could smoke marijuana with them. According to the report, Bailey said that a man, later identified as Wilkins, entered the residence displaying a black handgun with a laser on it and wearing a ski mask. He demanded money and the drugs. Bailey said he exited the house, but returned to get his keys and was denied entrance by the occupants. The officer said the three people in the residence all gave the same story.

Soon after, other officers on the scene encountered Wilkins lying in the back seat of a vehicle across the street, where he was “appearing to be asleep.” Officers found a ski mask, handgun and cash in the vehicle. Wilkins was taken into custody and told officers that he and Bailey planned to rob the men in the residence together.

Wilkins, a redshirt junior from McDonough, Ga., registered 39 total tackles and had one interception last season. He also tallied 16 tackles in2012 in 10 games as a redshirt freshman.

For more Southern Miss news, visit BigGoldNation.com.

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