Louisville suspends cornerback Tayon Holloway after arrest on strangulation and assault charges
Louisville defensive back Tayon Holloway (20) breaks up a pass intended for Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore (1) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. Credit: AP/Jacob Kupferman
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville sophomore cornerback Tayon Holloway was suspended indefinitely on Monday night following his arrest on charges of felony first-degree strangulation and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault.
The school said in a statement announcing the suspension that it was gathering more information about the arrest, which occurred Sunday night. Holloway has pleaded not guilty.
Holloway was arrested a day after he committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Stanford, one of two costly late flags in Louisville's 38-35 loss to the Cardinal.
According to an arrest citation, a woman told University of Louisville Police that Holloway was preparing to smoke marijuana in his room and when she intervened to try to stop him, he threw her off a bed and began punching her with a closed fist.
Holloway then grabbed a pillow and pressed it against the woman's face for “around 10 seconds,” police wrote in the citation. He then removed the pillow and pushed and shoved the woman toward the bedroom door, according to the document.
The woman used a mirror to protect herself and broke it in the process, police wrote. An officer on the scene reported that the woman had a laceration on her upper lip.
Holloway was arraigned Monday morning in Jefferson County District Court. Bond was set at $10,000 and he was ordered not to have contact with the woman.
Holloway transferred to Louisville after two seasons at North Carolina and has played in all 10 games this season with 16 tackles, five pass breakups and a sack.
