The UW Athletic Department suspended football cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu for violating the student-athlete discipline policy Friday, after he was arrested for burglary while allegedly attempting to steal an Xbox last week in Illinois.
Ikegwuonu, a UW-Madison sophomore, was released on $150,000 bond Nov. 27 from the DeKalb, Ill. County Jail, but following Friday's suspension is not allowed to join teammates in competition and practice, said UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez in a statement.
Ikegwuonu's residential burglary charge is considered a felony; therefore, it required suspension under the UW Athletics Disciplinary Policy.
Ikegwuonu started all 12 games this season, defending a team-high 11 passes. He is the Badgers' only defensive player to make the All-Big Ten Conference team.
However, he may not necessarily miss the Captiol One Bowl Jan.1 in Orlando, Fla. Due to disciplinary policy, Alvarez is allowed to appoint someone to find more details on the case, and pending the discovery of information, Ikegwuonu could be reinstated.
The policy was revised and approved in May to show the Athletics Board is keeping a closer eye on student-athlete misconduct. The new policy gives greater investigatory powers to the athletic department to look into incidents and allows the possible use of lawyers or private investigators.
The revised disciplinary policy comes after a series of acts involving student athletes.
Last year, former Badger running back Booker Stanley was accused of sexually assaulting and battering his ex-girlfriend. Nov. 13 he was sentenced to one year in Dane County Jail.
In September, UW-Madison sophomore and Badger linebacker Elijah Hodge was accused of stealing another student's moped. He was suspended Thursday Sept. 21, but after new information was uncovered and the charges were dropped by the Dane County District Court, he was able to play in that Saturday's game against Michigan.
UW football coach Bret Bielema told the Wisconsin State Journal if Ikegwuonu does not play in the bowl game, junior Ben Strickland or freshman Kim Royston would be the likely starter.
Bielema also told the WSJ about some possible position changes, after having moved linebacker Andy Crooks and defensive end Travis Beckum to tight end last spring.
""[I] have already had some of those thoughts in my mind,"" Bielema said of the changes. ""I've got a few things we're going to do during the developmental practices.""
Under the U.S. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the athletic department has the right to decline comment regarding Ikegwuonu's case and is allowed to protect any further information from being released, according to UW Athletic Communications Director Justin Doherty.
