Shawn Oakman Pleads Not Guilty In Rape Case

Ex-Baylor football star Shawn Oakman is adamant he did not rape a woman in his apartment back in April ... and has formally entered a not guilty plea with the court.

As we previously reported, the 24-year-old defensive end was charged with 2nd degree sexual assault after a woman said he forced her into his bedroom in Waco and raped her.

Oakman -- who, at one point, was projected to be a top NFL draft pick -- just signed a waiver of arraignment with the McLennan County District Court, which means he's entered a plea of not guilty.

We spoke with Oakman's lawyer, Michelle Tuegel, who maintains that her client is innocent -- claiming the sex was consensual. Tuegel says the two had a consensual, intimate sexual relationship before the incident.