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Three freshman University of Tennessee football players were charged with attempted armed robbery Thursday.

Starting safety Janzen Jackson, 18, wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson, 18, and defensive back Mike Edwards, 18, were taken to the Knox County Detention Center Thursday morning after allegedly trying to rob three Maryville men with a CO2-powered pellet gun at a Cumberland Avenue convenience store, said Knoxville Police Department Spokesman Darrell DeBusk,

As of late Thursday, Richardson was being held in lieu of a $19,500 bond. Edwards was released on a $19,500 bond, and Jackson was released on his own recognizance.

The university's athletic director Mike Hamilton said Thursday morning that officials are looking into the incident.

"At this time we are currently evaluating the circumstances surrounding an incident involving Mike Edwards, Janzen Jackson and Nu'Keese Richardson," Hamilton said in a prepared statement. "Any decisions or comments regarding their status will not be made until the evaluations are complete."

The three players are the first arrested during the tenure of first-year coach Lane Kiffin, who on Thursday said he would not make any comment on the situation until he knew more. Kiffin's predecessor, Phillip Fulmer, was often criticized for being too lax on a number of his players who had discipline problems.

"We're gathering all the information so we don't know exactly what happened. Unfortunately there was an incident. We made it 11 months and 11 days without (any incidents). We'll deal with the information as it comes in," Kiffin said.

Kiffin also declined to say if he had spoken with any of the players or what kind of discipline they might be facing. He also refused to comment on how the incident would affect the Volunteers as they prepare to travel to Mississippi on Saturday to play Southeastern Conference rival Ole Miss.

The incident occurred at about 1:43 a.m., according to a police report. Three male victims -- Benjamin Everett, Corey Smith and Corey Zickefoose -- told officers they were outside the Pilot store on the Cumberland Avenue Strip waiting on a friend to come out when Richardson and Edwards approached the car wearing black hoodies and demanded money.

"Give us everything you've got," one of the suspects allegedly said, according to the police report.

Victims told the police that they all presented their wallets to the suspects and showed them that they did not have money.

According to a warrant, Jackson approached told his teammates from the store and said, "We've gotta go."

The players left in a light blue Toyota Prius, which was allegedly driven by Marie Montmarquet, 22. The car was seen near Gibbs Hall on Lake Loudoun Boulevard, on the University of Tennessee campus, according to a police report.

A felony stop was conducted on the vehicle, and four subjects were detained.

Officers saw two black hoodies in plain view on the back seat. Underneath the back seat, officers found a black, CO2-powered pellet gun.

Inside the glove box, officers located a marijuana grinder. A search of the suspects revealed one clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in Montmarquet's jacket pocket. Montmarquet later stated that the marijuana grinder also belonged to her, according to police. She was charged with possession, in addition to attempted armed robbery.

Crime Lab responded to the scene and confiscated the hoodies, the pellet gun and the marijuana grinder. The vehicle was towed to the city impound lot. The marijuana was confiscated by officers.

All four suspects were transported back to the Pilot for a show-up identification. The victims identified Edwards and Richardson as the two who approached their vehicle and demanded "everything."

Edwards, Richardson and Jackson were subsequently charged with three counts each of attempted armed robbery.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.