Stillwater, Okla. ? Linebacker Chris Collins was permanently dismissed from Oklahoma State’s football team Monday, six days after he pleaded guilty to the felony aggravated sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in Texas.

Coach Mike Gundy met with Collins to inform him of the dismissal, according to a statement released Monday evening by Marlene Strathe, the university’s interim president.

“Chris has been a model student-athlete since he arrived at OSU last year, and coach Gundy felt that he had earned the privilege of hearing the decision face-to-face from his head coach,” Strathe said in the statement. “During the meeting, coach Gundy informed Chris that he would no longer be a member of the football team, and the university supports coach Gundy’s decision.”

Collins had been suspended for the remainder of the season after entering his guilty plea last week in New Boston, Texas, on the charge resulting from the May 2004 assault that occurred after prom in Collins’ junior year of high school. Collins, who was 17 at the time, was one of four men charged with assaulting the girl. An affidavit indicated the girl said she could recall Collins being on top of her and kissing her neck, and contains a statement from one of the other men that he saw Collins and the girl having sexual relations.

A jury recommended Collins receive a five-year prison sentence, which he would serve on probation. He will be formally sentenced by a judge on Dec. 10.

Strathe said Collins would be permitted to keep his scholarship and remain in school.

“Because of the way Chris has conducted himself since coming to OSU, we will honor his athletic scholarship so that he can continue his education at OSU, if he is so inclined,” Strathe said.