Ole Miss officials have reportedly confirmed that the text messages that were published on social media claiming Laremy Tunsil took money while playing at the school were real.
According to ESPN’s Outside the Lines, Ole Miss officials are still trying to determine if the texts were altered in any way. However, the school has apparently learned enough to conclude that the messages were sent back and forth between Tunsil and someone within the Ole Miss football department.
Before he was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft, Tunsil had his Instagram and Twitter accounts hacked. Someone shared texts (see them here) that appeared to show Tunsil asking Ole Miss assistant athletic director John Miller for money to pay his rent. There was also a video — which turned out to be old — posted to Tunsil’s Twitter account that showed him smoking out of a gas mask bong. You can watch that here.
In the leaked text messages, Miller responded to Tunsil’s request by telling him to “see Barney next week,” likely referring to Ole Miss assistant athletic director for high school and junior college relations Barney Farrar. Farrar claimed last month that he never gave Tunsil money and Tunsil never asked him for money.
There has been some speculation that Tunsil’s estranged stepfather, Lindsey Miller, was the one who leaked the text messages, though it appears that theory has been ruled out. Miller is suing Tunsil claiming Tunsil physically assaulted him two days before the draft. Outside the Lines has more details of that lawsuit.
