AUBURN, AL — A former Auburn University staffer who now identifies himself as a University of Tennessee student has been arrested on felony charges of theft of trade secrets and computer tampering, according to Auburn police and court records.
Police said 24-year-old David Rudolph Jenrath of Franklin, Tennessee, turned himself in Monday after warrants were issued in the case. He was later booked into the Lee County Jail and is being held on a $15,000 bond.
The investigation centers on a business on the 300 block of South Donahue Drive, an area near Jordan-Hare Stadium, Plainsman Park and Neville Arena. Auburn police said an unidentified business reported that information had been stolen and distributed to competitors.
Police say the case involves information passed to Auburn opponents
Auburn police said the alleged tampering was done “with the intent to harass Auburn University Athletics by disclosing…to their opponents.” Records did not identify the specific information involved, and police have not publicly described what was taken.
The charges are both classified as felonies. Police identified Jenrath as the suspect after investigating the reported theft and distribution of information.
The timing of the arrest adds another layer of attention because Auburn is preparing for its Week 5 matchup against Tennessee, but police records focus on the alleged conduct itself and the business information that was reportedly shared.
Jenrath’s Auburn job ended months before the arrest
Records and publicly available profile information show that Jenrath worked at Auburn University as a Player Personnel Scouting Assistant from January 2026 through June 2026. His LinkedIn profile now lists him as a sports analytics student at the University of Tennessee.
His Instagram biography also includes a University of Tennessee, Knoxville “27” reference, indicating he is expected to graduate next year. Those profiles were referenced in the reporting tied to the arrest, but the criminal complaint itself focuses on the theft and computer tampering charges.
Police have not said whether Jenrath’s prior Auburn role is directly connected to the alleged offenses, beyond the allegation that the information was used in a way intended to affect Auburn athletics.
The investigation began after a business reported stolen information
Auburn police said the matter began when an unidentified business reported that information had been stolen and then spread to competitors. Investigators later identified Jenrath as the suspect.
The business and the precise material involved have not been named publicly. Auburn police also did not release a description of the data beyond saying it was tampered with and disclosed in a way aimed at Auburn University Athletics.
Because the case involves trade secrets and computer tampering, the details remain limited in the public record. What is clear from the warrants is that authorities treated the matter as a serious felony investigation.
Turn-in, booking and bond set the next steps in the case
After warrants were issued, Jenrath surrendered to authorities on Monday. He was then booked into the Lee County Jail, where he remained held on a $15,000 bond.
Court and jail records show the charges are active, but no further court dates or plea information were included in the records provided with the arrest account. Auburn police did not announce any additional suspects.
The case is now in the hands of the legal system, with the public record so far limited to the arrest, the felony charges and the allegation that business information was diverted to opponents with Auburn athletics in mind.
Why the arrest drew attention around Auburn athletics
The arrest drew attention because it connects a former Auburn employee, a Tennessee student and an investigation centered near the university’s major sports venues. The location on South Donahue Drive places the alleged conduct close to the heart of Auburn athletics.
It also comes as Auburn and Tennessee are tied together by a football week that already had added significance. Even so, the legal case is separate from the game itself and rests on the police allegations, not on any on-field result.
For now, the public facts are narrow: a felony arrest, an alleged theft of confidential information, and an ongoing criminal case involving a former Auburn staffer now linked to Tennessee through his school profile.
