LSU football player under investigation for alleged rape

Louisiana authorities are investigating an LSU football player for alleged rape of a female student.
A police report was filed by a woman who said defensive end Damien Shanklin raped her in October 2025. A Title IX case on matter initially resulted in Shanklin being found responsible for “forcible rape” and suspended one year, but an appeal reduced the suspension to probation, according to ESPN.
Now, the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office is investigating the matter after the woman made her allegations public in a TikTok video Sept. 14. LSU police are also investigating, ESPN reports.
USA TODAY’s policy is not to identify victims of alleged sexual assault unless they agree to be named.
Grant L. Willis and Morgan H. Johnson, attorneys for Shanklin from the Taylor Porter Law firm, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports the LSU player maintains his innocence and will fully cooperate in the investigation.
“What has been portrayed on social media and in the news thus far, is not a full account of all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this situation,” the statement read. “Given this is an ongoing criminal investigation, all facts are not publicly available to not compromise the criminal investigation. We simply ask that the court of public opinion cease to make any assumptions about any person involved until more information is publicly available.”
Shanklin’s attorney’s added he will not have any further comment until the investigation is complete.
Citing Title IX documents, ESPN reported Shanklin and the woman agreed their initial contact inside Shanklin’s residence hall room was consensual, but he had penetrative sex with her without her consent for nearly 20 seconds before she told him to stop. She went to a nearby hospital to get a rape kit and alleges he sent her $1,000 so she wouldn’t press charges, and that Shanklin’s mother contacted her to ask her the same.
LSU confirmed the incident was reported by the woman and Shanklin a few days afterward but no criminal complaint was filed at the time. The Title IX investigation found Shanklin responsible for “forcible rape,” which resulted in a one-year suspension from all campus activities. Shanklin appealed it and in August, Administrative Law Judge Janet Waguespack reduced the punishment to a probation that allowed Shanklin to remain enrolled and able to participate in activities.
After the Title IX investigation was appealed by Shanklin and resulted in a lesser sentence, the woman went public.
“That made my anxiety really, really bad because I don’t want to face this person, so this caused me to go online full time, and now I’m just trying to speak on my story because LSU does really protect their athletes, especially their football players,” the woman said in her TikTok video. “I really just wanted to bring awareness upon this situation because I’m just dealing with a lot right now, and I think that this story needs to be heard.”
LSU stated it “properly followed” its Title IX policy and processes to reach a conclusion.
“LSU and its current administration take very seriously any allegations of misconduct involving students on our campuses. Safety and security must be our number one priority,” said university president Wade Rousse. “Let me assure everyone that this incident has been handled professionally and that LSU has strictly followed our policies, procedures and best practices, including the Title IX process, to guide our actions to date.
“Now that a criminal complaint has been filed, our role is to continue cooperating with our law enforcement partners as they work through their investigatory process.”
Shanklin is a second-year player for the Tigers after making five appearances in his freshman season in 2025. He has not seen any action during the 2026 season, and he was not practicing with the team prior to the start of the campaign.
“He is not practicing with the team right now and that’s all I can comment on that,” first-year coach Lane Kiffin said about Shanklin’s status on Aug. 12.
LSU football did not immediately respond to a request asking if Shanklin remains on the team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LSU football player under investigation for alleged rape
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