Former Vanderbilt football player Brandon Vandenburg attends his sentencing hearing. Picture: AP

Vandenburg, 23, was found guilty of five counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and unlawful photography in the June 2013 incident that brought a national spotlight on colleges’ response to sexual assault.

Judge Monte Watkins speaks during the sentencing hearing of former Vanderbilt football player Brandon Vandenburg. Picture: APSource:AP

Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins handed down the sentence overnight, saying Vandenburg was a leader in the attack and betrayed the woman’s trust.

The sentence is two years longer than the his co-defendent Cory Batey, 22, in July,

The woman, who graduated and moved out of state to pursue an advanced degree, did not attend the sentencing hearing.

Cory Batey was sentenced to 15 years in jail in the Vanderbilt rape case. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Former Vanderbilt football player Brandon Vandenburg, left, enters the courtroom for his sentencing hearing. Picture: APSource:AP

In the early morning hours of June 23, 2013, the woman was unconscious when Vandenburg carried her into his dorm room and his teammates assaulted her, according to trial testimony.

Vandenburg also had a prior arrest for scratching a school security officer in California.

In January 2015, Vandenburg and Batey stood trial together, and a jury found both guilty. But Judge Watkins declared a mistrial because of an issue with a juror’s honesty.

Batey stood trial again in April, and Vandenburg faced his second jury in June.

Former Vanderbilt football player Brandon Vandenburg, centre, listens as his attorneys Randall Reagan, left, and Albert Perez Jr., right, talk at Vandenburg's sentencing hearing. Picture: APSource:AP