New England Patriots star Alfonzo Dennard faces up to six years in prison after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer.

The 23-year-old cornerback is alleged to have punched a policeman outside a bar in Lincoln, Nebraska, last April when resisting arrest.

Dennard is due to be sentenced on April 11 but could be spared prison time if he is given probation for the felony charge and misdemeanour, Reuters reports.

The incident occurred days before the player was due to enter the 2012 NFL Draft, causing him to slip to the seventh round where he was picked up by the Patriots.

Dennard made six starts for the Patriots during the last campaign, making three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.