College Football Wire Notes | Memphis lineman dies after being shot

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Classes at Memphis were canceled Monday after defensive lineman Taylor Bradford was fatally shot on campus, in what school officials said was a targeted attack but city police later said could have been random.

By late Monday afternoon police had not identified any suspects in the slaying of Bradford, who was shot Sunday night, apparently near a university housing complex.

Bradford, 21, crashed a car he was driving into a tree. Police said they had not determined whether he was shot before or after he started driving the vehicle, or whether he was in the car when he was shot.

The 5-foot-11, 300-pound Bradford was apparently shot once, police said, though an autopsy was pending. Police said investigators found about $7,000 in Bradford's car. He had been at a Tunica County, Miss., casino over the weekend, police said.

In an e-mail alert to faculty, students and staff members at 3:40 a.m. Monday, the university said "the initial investigation indicates this was an act directed specifically toward the victim and was not a random act of violence."

City police, who are handling the case because it is a homicide investigation, expressed less certainty Bradford had been specifically targeted than university officials did.

City Police Director Larry Godwin said a motive for the shooting had not been determined and added, "We really don't know whether it was a random act or whether or not this individual was targeted," he said.

Godwin said witnesses saw two unidentified men running from the area where investigators believe the shooting occurred and other witnesses reported hearing gunfire. Godwin said investigators had no evidence Bradford was involved in illegal activity.

"Everything I've heard about him ... he was just a good kid," Godwin said.

Bradford was a junior who transferred to Memphis last year after two seasons at Samford in Birmingham, Ala.

Monday afternoon, several football players and others tied a large red ribbon to the tree Bradford struck with his car and put up a large poster board for friends and acquaintances to leave personal notes.

"Our entire football team is deeply saddened by the loss of Taylor," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "He was well respected and a popular member of our team."

Memphis hosts Marshall tonight, and a moment of silence is planned before the game.

Notes

• Massachusetts freshman linebacker Johnny Evans, 18, was listed in fair condition after reportedly being stabbed in the buttocks in a fight on campus Sunday. No arrests have been made.

• Jacksonville Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson, a former Florida Gator, and three current Florida players were questioned about a shooting Sunday morning in downtown Gainesville after the Gators' 20-17 loss to Auburn on Saturday.

None of the four is a suspect, Gainesville police spokesman Keith Kameg said. He did not release the names of the Florida players because of an ongoing investigation.

• Mitch Cozad, a former punter for Northern Colorado, recently was convicted of second-degree assault in a stabbing attack on starter Rafael Mendoza a year ago.

Cozad will learn his sentence today.

• The Big Ten might take up to three weeks to decide whether to discipline Michigan for using an ineligible player, freshman safety Artis Chambers. He has played in three games this season.

• No. 9 Florida will be without offensive tackle Phil Trautwein (foot injury) and freshman running back Chris Rainey (shoulder) for the rest of the season.