UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- On the eve of Penn State's homecoming game against Wisconsin, the Nittany Lions' football program suffered another setback.

Tailback Austin Scott was arraigned yesterday afternoon before District Judge Ronald Horner on felony charges of rape, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault.

Scott, 22, also faces misdemeanor charges of simple assault and indecent assault, according to Penn State police.

"We're very disappointed that the district attorney found it fit to file these charges," said Joseph Amendola, Scott's attorney. "Austin has cooperated fully from the outset. He has maintained his innocence throughout the process. We say that it was consensual sex and we intend to prove it."

Scott is accused of raping a female student at the Nittany Apartments complex Oct. 5 at 4:16 a.m. after meeting her in a bar.

Scott, a fifth-year senior who started two games this season, was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to stay away from the woman.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled Wednesday. The case will be prosecuted by the Centre County District Attorney's office.

"Austin and the woman knew each other," Amendola said.

"They text-messaged each other about getting together on that particular Friday. They did, and she walked back to his apartment with him.

"When the woman took off, they embraced and kissed each other goodbye."

Scott, who rushed for 302 yards on 69 carries and a team-high six touchdowns in the first five games, is the latest in a long line of Nittany Lions' players to be sacked by an off-the-field incident.

"Austin regrets any embarrassment that this has brought to Penn State, his team or coach [Joe] Paterno," Amendola said.

"And he especially regrets the heartbreak that this has brought to his family.

"However, he believes that those who know him will understand that he has been unjustly accused and should await his opportunity to establish his innocence."

Scott did not dress for Penn State's game the next day against Iowa because Paterno said he broke a team rule, although the Post-Gazette reported that Scott was being investigated for an off-the-field incident.

Earlier this week, Paterno said Scott, 6 feet and 222 pounds, would not play today against Wisconsin, yet Scott was listed as the team's third-string tailback when the depth chart was released Tuesday morning.

Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson said yesterday that "[Scott] has not been practicing with the team since the end of last week."

Nelson said Scott is on the roster, but has been suspended from the team.

"We're hoping coach Paterno will reconsider and reinstate Austin to the team as quickly as possible," Amendola said.

"But that's his call, not ours."

Five years ago, Scott was the most sought-after high school tailback in Pennsylvania and was considered the plum of Penn State's 2003 recruiting class.

As a senior, Scott obliterated the state's record book by rushing for 3,853 yards and 53 touchdowns in leading Parkland High School to the PIAA Class AAAA championship.

He was a Parade All-American and rated the third-best running back prospect in the country by national college recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

Scott was billed as the next great running back at Penn State.

Unfortunately, he did not produce many highlight-reel plays and spent considerable time in Paterno's doghouse.

Scott redshirted last season in order to get another year of eligibility, but he was sent home from the Outback Bowl in December for what Paterno called "personal reasons."