Ex-Tennessee player accused of enticing teen for sex

The statement said Crowder engaged in an online conversation with someone he thought was a teenage girl beginning January 21.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s officials said in a release Wednesday that 23-year-old Mackenzie “Mack” Crowder was arrested Tuesday night near St. Petersburg.

On February 16, 2016, Crowder made arrangements to meet with the “minor” at which time deputies took him into custody. Crowder told investigators he sent the photos and that he thought he was communicating with a teenager, the release added.

Crowder’s arrest was made as part of the Sheriff’s Office “Operation Wayfarer” targeting men who are seeking out underage females on the internet for the goal of engaging them in sex. He was released this morning after posting $50,000 bond, jail records show.

He was charged with certain use of computer services prohibited and four counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor.

On the UT website, Crowder was listed as an offensive lineman. The university’s website says he played in 11 games, starting in three.

Crowder is a fifth-year senior still enrolled at Tennessee, and was on the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll each of the last two years.

Neither Crowder nor the University of Tennessee have commented on his arrest, and details regarding a potential court appearance have yet to be released.