KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Three freshman Tennessee football players are charged with an attempted armed robbery.

According to Knoxville police, wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson and defensive back Janzen Jackson and Mike Edwards were arrested after the early Thursday morning incident.

The victims told police they were sitting in their parked vehicle at a gas station near Tennessee's campus when two males, one brandishing a handgun, approached.

The two suspects demanded whatever the victims had. When the victims showed they had no money, the suspects joined a third man in a Toyota Prius and left.

Police located a Toyota Prius matching the description and the victims identified Richardson and Edwards as the men who approached the vehicle.

Officers say they found a pellet gun, drug paraphernalia and a plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton says he is evaluating the incident.