According to LSU coach Les Miles, running back Jeremy Hill may accompany the team on its trip to Dallas for the season opener against TCU Saturday night.
Will he play? That's another matter. And one that's still unknown.
Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Miles declined to comment on Hill's status on Monday, but then added that he "wouldn't be surprised if he's on our trip." When pressed, Miles simply said "No further comment."
Hill pleaded guilty to simple battery in July after a bar fight in April when he punched a man in the back of the head. After the fight, Hill was suspended indefinitely by Miles, but reinstated on August 5 after Miles held a team vote about Hill's status.
When the bar incident occurred, Hill was on probation from a misdemeanor in high school when he pled guilty to charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile from an incident in 2010 when he and another student were arrested for a sexual act with a 14-year-old female. Because of those charges, Hill's enrollment at LSU was delayed a year.
Gary Patterson, Miles' peer on the other sideline Saturday night, was openly critical of Miles' decision to have the team vote on Hill's status, saying that the reinstatement "doesn't teach life lessons." Patterson suspended defensive end Devonte Fields for two games in the spring, but Fields will be dressed and on the sidelines for the LSU game.
Hill ran for 755 yards and 12 TDs as a freshman last season. Will we see him on the sideline Saturday night? And if we do, will we see him on the field? Should we?
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