Oklahoma State junior DE Jamie Blatnick charged with assault after bar fight

Okla. St. football player charged with assault

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State junior defensive end Jamie Blatnick was charged Monday with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after a fight with a former OSU offensive lineman at a Stillwater bar.

Police say witnesses told them Blatnick started the fight early Saturday by hitting Stephen Denning in the face with a beer bottle. Police say Denning was treated at a local hospital for a fractured orbital socket.

According to online court records, the Payne County District Attorney’s office filed the felony charge on Monday against Blatnick while Denning was charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer. Both men appeared in court Monday and entered pleas of innocent.

Blatnick’s arrest came one week after teammate Victor Johnson, who was already accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and obstructing a police officer. Police say they found marijuana in Johnson’s apartment when they responded to a complaint of a suspicious odor.

“We continue to monitor and evaluate a couple of ongoing situations within our program,” Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said in a statement released by the school. “We take each case individually and seriously. We feel like we are close to a resolution on one front and are still gathering information on another.”

Blatnick started seven games last season for Oklahoma State and enters training camp this week as a projected starter at defensive end.

Denning started 23 straight games at offensive guard for the Cowboys, finishing his career in 2008.