Former Vol football recruit arrested in campus robbery

News Sentinel staff
Sunday, October 14, 2007

Police have made a second arrest in a series of robberies on the University of Tennessee campus, and this time the face is a very familiar one.

Travis Cozart, 33, a one-time prized Vol football recruit, was charged with robbery and assault in connection with a purse-snatching in Hess Hall on Oct. 6.

Loudon County authorities arrested Cozart on warrants obtained by UT Police.

Cozart, who is from Loudon County, was a high school standout who signed with UT in the late 1990s, but was dismissed from the team before playing a single game. He has since had numerous brushes with the law.

On Wednesday night, authorities arrested Sandra Harrison, 39, of Lenoir City, on an aggravated robbery charge. She is accused of participating in an Oct. 6 robbery of a man at 16th Street and Laurel Avenue. In that incident, two men robbed a man of his wallet and escaped in a car driven by a woman.

Two hours prior to that, three men assaulted and robbed a man of his wallet at 1507 White Ave. and also escaped in a car driven by a woman.
 

 

 

 

 

 
Knoxville (WVLT) -- A former Loudon County football star and University of Tennessee player is behind bars.

Travis Jerome Cozart, 33, has been charged with robbery and assault in relation to the purse snatching last Saturday on UT's Campus.

According to police, Cozart followed a student into Hess Hall, pushed her and took her purse. She was unharmed but he had gotten away before police arrived on the scene.

Late in the week, the University of Tennessee Police Department and Loudon County Sheriff's office issued warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody sometime Saturday. The arrest was the second in last week's string of campus crimes which also included two armed robberies and a sexual assault on that Saturday.

In the early 90s, Cozart excelled at both football and basketball for Lenoir City High School, ranking as one of the best prep tailbacks and free safeties in the nation his senior year.

He ended up at the University of Tennessee in early 1995 after playing his freshman season at Coffeyville Community College.

During that springs practices he moved up the depth chart, all but guaranteeing play time behind then starting tailback Jay Graham.

But two months before the season began, he a kicked off the team for an off the field incident.

He finished the year playing professionally with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League.

In October 1996, Cozart was one of three people arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse after his 15-month old daughter ingested cocaine while in his care.

While that case was pending, he was signed by the Rams for the 1997, but he didn't end up playing.

In October of that year he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for the cocaine incident, having already spent 30 days behind bars, he was given probation.

But two months later he violated its terms and was sent back to jail.

Cozart was arrested again in July 2006 for violating probation by evading arrest.

At the time he had outstanding warrants in Loudon County. There is no word when he will appear in court.


 

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