Ex-Syracuse player pleads not guilty to stabbing 2 players

Published Apr. 18, 2016 1:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) A former Syracuse University football player has pleaded not guilty to stabbing two current Orange players with a pocket knife.

City Court Judge Ross Andrews entered the plea for Naesean Howard on Monday because Howard didn't have an assigned lawyer.

Howard is accused of repeatedly stabbing Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield, redshirt juniors who play defensive back for Syracuse. The alleged attack happened Saturday evening on the university's South Campus. Howard is charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

Scissum was listed in stable condition Monday at a Syracuse hospital. Winfield was treated and released.

Howard, a former Orange defensive back who grew up in Syracuse, left the program in September 2014 before re-enrolling this year with the hope of rejoining the team. He has never played in a game for Syracuse.