Police have arrested a Utah State University football player accused of first-degree felony rape in connection with an April 9 incident involving a 20-year-old USU coed.

Back-up quarterback Jerod Walker, 19, turned himself in to police Thursday. He was arrested and booked into the Cache County Jail, according to USU Police Lt. Steve Milne. Walker bailed out on $10,000 bond.

It is unclear when Walker will make an initial appearance in court. No official charge from the county attorney's office had been documented in the statewide court computer system as of Saturday.

"The report came to us early Monday morning, April 10. The victim contacted us. We interviewed her and some of her friends that she had discussed this with, and she submitted to a rape examination," Milne said.

"We also interviewed Mr. Walker. He was cooperative, he came in and told us his side of the story stating that it was consensual sex," Milne said. "The county attorney's office said there was enough evidence to support a charge of rape."

The woman had gone to Walker's apartment on campus April 9 and, early the next morning, "She reported immediately to her roommate, and we were contacted from there," Milne said.

"We proceeded very carefully on this because we knew there would be a lot of media attention because it's an athlete, but we also owed it to the victim to proceed as quickly as possible," Milne said.

Conviction on a first-degree felony potentially carries a sentence of five-years-to-life in prison.

Utah State athletic director Randy Spetman and head football coach Brent Guy declined comment Saturday.

Walker has been suspended from the team and did not take part in a scrimmage on Friday.

Following the scrimmage, Guy told the Deseret Morning News, "He was suspended, and we won't know (more) until the legal action runs its course."

Walker was recruited from Jersey Village High School in Houston, where he was a star player. He was named first-team all-district as a senior after being named second-team all-district as a junior.

As a senior, he set a single-season school record for rushing by a quarterback with 1,000 yards while throwing for a school-record 1,800 yards. As a junior, Walker threw for 800 yards and rushed for 500.

Last season, his freshman year at USU, Walker started two games in place of injured starting quarterback Leon Jackson III. He played in a total of nine games last year.

Walker led the Aggies to a 24-21 victory over New Mexico State in the 2005 season finale. In the win, he completed 14 of 20 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 102 yards.

Walker tied with Jackson for second on the team in rushing with 328 yards. He threw for 653 yards and six touchdowns with just two interceptions.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com; jhinton@desnews.com