Lafayette rallies ahead of 150th matchup against Lehigh on Nov. 15, 2014
Lafayette College defensive lineman Steve Mercado dances with fellow players during a community pep rally Nov. 15, 2014, in Easton's Centre Square. Hundreds were in attendance to build excitement ahead of 150th matchup Nov. 22, 2014, against Lehigh University at Yankee Stadium. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)
A Lafayette College football player, who starred both on the field and in the classroom, is no longer in school after he was cited following a drunken home invasion, court records and a college official said.
Defensive tackle Steven Mercado, 22, of Cape Coral, Florida, at 3:07 a.m. Dec. 18 forced his way into 633 Monroe St. on Easton's College Hill, according to citations filed in District Judge Antonia Grifo's Downtown Court.
Mercado, who is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 275 pounds, was "yelling profanities," "terrorized occupants" and was "annoying to occupants," according to the citations.
The home is owned by the college, Northampton County property records show.
Mercado "entered the wrong residence by force," one of the citations says.
He is the second Lehigh Valley college football player in recent months to allegedly enter the wrong home.
On Nov. 8, Lehigh University football player Brian Githens went into the wrong home and beat up another student in a case of mistaken identity, Bethlehem police said. Githens was charged with burglary, simple assault and criminal mischief/damage to property.
Mercado was charged with public drunkenness, disorderly conduct hazardous/physical offense and defiant trespass, authorities said.
Meracdo, a senior with a 3.23 grade point average in anthropology and sociology, last week was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. In 2013, he was a second team All-Patriot League player.
Asked for Mercado's current status on campus, spokesman Roger Clow said, "At this time, Steven Mercado is not enrolled at the college."
Clow wouldn't say if Mercado had graduated. A phone number for Mercado at his Florida home was not immediately available.
The citations were filed Jan. 22 by the college's Department of Public Safety.
All three charges are summary offenses. The summonses were issued the same day, court papers say, but a hearing date doesn't appear on them.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.