Their suspensions include all daily team-related activities and will last until the investigation of the assault is completed, university spokesperson Terry Denbow wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Sophomore running back Glenn Winston and junior safety Roderick Jenrette were kicked off the team last week for their involvement in the assault. The release stated investigators interviewed victims and witnesses, and reviewed video footage of the assault to identify the players.

Three of the players – Cunningham, Dell and Rucker – are regular starters on the football team.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said police are working to identify five more suspects involved in the fight. Denbow said he does not know whether those five are members of the football team.

The suspensions came after university officials remained mum for more than a week on the identity of those involved in the incident. Police will not release details of the police report, saying the investigation is open. The department has regular meetings with The State News and typically discusses details of open cases, but the Rather Hall incident is being treated differently. The State News submitted a Freedom of Information Act request Monday for the police report and video footage of the area of Rather Hall where the incident took place.

Members of Iota Phi Theta were finishing a potluck in the Rather Hall lounge Nov. 22 when witnesses said assailants, including members of the football team, barged in seeking a member of the fraternity, then started an altercation after discovering he was not present. The fraternity also stated members of the team were involved in a fight Nov. 21 at The Small Planet, 16800 Chandler Road, which
might have led to the Rather Hall altercation. Police were not involved in that incident, which caused the venue to be shut down for the night.

Vanessa Moss-Wilson, the attorney representing communication junior Brent Mitchell, who was punched in the face during the Rather Hall incident, said three of the assailants were wearing ski masks and 10 to 15 members of the football team were present.

She said Mitchell might press charges against the assailants after police finish their investigation.

Taylor said police hope to submit a report to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office early next week. The prosecutor’s office then will evaluate the investigation and determine what charges might be filed against the players.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III and John Lewandowski, MSU associate athletic director for communications, did not return repeated phone calls Tuesday evening.

This is the second time Winston has been investigated for an assault. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail for assaulting MSU hockey junior defenseman A.J. Sturges in an Oct. 19, 2008 fight that left Sturges hospitalized.

Dantonio reinstated Winston to the team hours after he was released from jail.

In the university statement, MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said he and Dantonio share high expectations and standards for the conduct and behavior of student-athletes.

Both Cunningham and Rucker were frequent starters this season. Cunningham has 48 catches for 641 yards and four touchdowns, and Rucker was considered by coaches to be the team’s top defensive back, with 58 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Dell had 26 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown.

Staff writer Chris Vannini contributed to this report.