LSU running back Jeremy Hill announced via Twitter on Monday that he would enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
I am a Tiger for life. I will forever be grateful to my LSU fans, friends, coaches and family. This decision has been very difficult for me.
— Jeremy Hill (@JeremyHill33) January 13, 2014
With all of that being said, I have decided to forego my Junior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. #GeauxTigers #33ToTheNFL #Blessed — Jeremy Hill (@JeremyHill33) January 13, 2014
Hill ran for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013. His biggest game came in the Outback Bowl against Iowa, when he ran 28 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
He accumulated those statistics while missing the first game of the season against TCU. Hill pled guilty in July to a charge of simple battery after an April bar fight in which he punched a man in the back of the head. As punishment, he was put on probation.
Hill was already on probation for a previous offense in high school when the bar fight occurred. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile for an incident while in high school in 2010.
That first probation expired this week. Hill's probation for the bar fight is set to expire in July 2015, though his lawyer told the Advocate on Friday that he's close to fulfilling the conditions of it.
He is the 22nd LSU underclassman to declare for the NFL Draft in the past six years. He joins receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in declaring early this season.
Hill's departure also opens up playing time next season for top recruit Leonard Fournette. Fournette, a five-star running back from New Orleans, La., is the No. 3 2014 prospect in the country.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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