UCLA Punter Arrested On Suspicion of Rape

One of the kickers on the UCLA football team has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman he met at a party back in 2014 ... this according to police.

Officials say 20-year-old Adam Searl was arrested on October 8th and booked on 3 counts of rape. Searl has punted for UCLA five times this season.

According to investigators, Searl met the accuser at an off-campus party in Westwood in October 2014 and accompanied her to a nearby residence.

The woman claims she fell asleep -- but woke up to Searl raping her.

Officials launched an "exhaustive investigation" in conjunction with the UCLA PD -- and the woman eventually identified Searl as the assailant.

Searl was arrested without incident -- and has since been released on $300,000 bail.

UCLA football coach Jim Mora says Searl has been suspended by the team indefinitely while the legal process runs its course.