COLLEGE FOOTBALL / BOWL REPORT : HOLIDAY : Illini Player Arrested on Theft Charge

An Illinois redshirt who made the trip to San Diego for the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl but was not expected to be activated, was arrested Monday night for allegedly trying to steal two items of clothing from a department store. Martin Jones, a freshman wide receiver from Cincinnati, was released after $5,000 bail was posted on his behalf.

A security guard detained Jones, 19, as he was leaving the Nordstrom store at a downtown San Diego shopping mall, police said. The guard told police he saw Jones grab an empty shopping bag and walk through the store looking at displays before putting a pair of jeans and a black shirt in the bag.

Jones told officers two men threatened him outside the store, demanding that he bring them some merchandise.