[The Benjamin]

in the case of bad to worse....

U. of I. football star Mendenhall robbed at gunpoint
BY ANNIE SWEENEY Crime Reporter
May 5, 2008


University of Illinois star running back Rashard Mendenhall -- who was just drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers -- was robbed at gunpoint early Monday along the South Side lakefront, sources said.

Mendenhall, 20, was walking along the lake near 39th Street at 2 a.m. with another person when two people robbed him of his phone, cash and wallet, sources familiar with the investigation said.

Mendenhall, who played for Niles West and is from Skokie, was not hurt.

"It was obviously a scary moment," said his agent, Mike McCartney of Priority Sports. "But he is fine. He is doing great. He said he doesn't have anything that is worth his life."

According to reports, the robbers wore black hoodies and ski masks. No one was in custody this afternoon.

Mendenhall, who broke seven school records at Illinois, was passed over by the Bears for Vanderbilt's Chris Williams in last week's NFL draft.

Mendenhall was the 23rd overall pick.

He is not due to report to Pittsburgh until May 16, McCartney said.

Mendenhall skipped his senior year at Illinois to enter the draft after a year in which he set Illinois records for rushing yards, touchdowns and points. Mendenhall is two semesters from completing a bachelor's degree in sports management.