Tyler Judson -- a Tulane Univ. football player -- was arrested Monday ... this after a woman reportedly accused him of punching her so hard in the face at a Louisiana Waffle House, she required a trip to the hospital.
The mother of the alleged victim told WWL-TV her daughter was at the popular restaurant in Zachary, La. in the early morning hours of Memorial Day ... when a fight with Judson broke out.
The mom claims her daughter didn't know Judson prior to the incident, and didn't start it .