In a shocking turn of events, a former Tennessee Vols running back and esteemed high school football coach found himself at the center of legal troubles following a prostitution sting in Nashville. Herman “Jay” Graham III, who also served as a running backs coach at East Tennessee State University, was apprehended by authorities along with two others on Wednesday.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has charged the 50-year-old Graham with patronizing prostitution involving a minor and solicitation of a minor for aggravated statutory rape. This arrest has rocked the community, particularly at Centennial High School in Middle Tennessee, where Graham had been leading the football team as head coach.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving detectives from MNPD’s Specialized Investigations Division, the Special Victims Division, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Together, they orchestrated the sting by placing ads on adult escort websites, a common tactic used to catch individuals engaging in illegal activities.

According to police reports, Graham allegedly responded to one of these ads, unwittingly entering a conversation with an undercover officer. In a disturbing twist, the officer had posed as a 16-year-old, leading to the charges against Graham.

Police said Graham allegedly responded to one of the ads and engaged in a conversation with an undercover officer posing as a juvenile. The undercover officer identified herself as a 16-year-old.

Graham and the undercover officer agreed on a price of $120 for sex, and Graham went to a Nashville hotel room. There, he gave the undercover officer $120 and was immediately taken into custody, according to the MNPD.

Graham’s bond is set at $45,000, police said.

Graham is a former University of Tennessee and NFL running back. He has also served on several college football coaching staffs as an assistant, dating back to 2006, and won a national championship at Florida State University in 2013 as the running backs coach. He previously was on ETSU’s coaching staff under different head coaches.

This was his first season as the head coach of the Centennial High School football team.

A spokesperson for Williamson County Schools said Graham has been fired from the coaching staff and suspended without pay from his teaching position. He is no longer allowed on Centennial’s campus.

Graham was hired as a coach/substitute on March 27, 2025, before he was hired as a teacher on July 28, 2025. The district noted his background check was processed by the TBI on Feb. 28, 2025, and found no criminal history.

Counselors are available at Centennial Thursday to meet with students if needed. Centennial principal Clarissa Haymon will meet with the football team to discuss the situation and offer support.

Williamson County Schools noted law enforcement has not indicated there should be any concern for Centennial families, but anyone with information or concerns is encouraged to come forward.

According to the MNPD, two other men were also arrested in the prostitution sting.

Police arrested 46-year-old Aaron Barnack of Erin, Tennessee, and he is charged with two counts of patronizing prostitution with a minor and two counts of solicitation of a minor for aggravated statutory rape.

Barnack allegedly replied to one of the ads and made a deal for $1,000 to spend the night with an undercover officer posing as a 16-year-old girl and her 17-year-old cousin. He arrived at a motel room, met with two undercover officers and was taken into custody. His bond is set at $45,000, according to the MNPD.

The third man arrested was 20-year-old Anthony Proctor of Hermitage. He is charged with patronizing prostitution with a minor and solicitation of a minor for aggravated statutory rape.

Police said Proctor replied to one of the ads online and made a deal for $50 for a 15-minute sexual visit with an undercover officer posing as a 16-year-old. He exchanged money with the undercover officer and was taken into custody.

Proctor’s bond is set at $41,000, and he was taken into custody.