UPDATE: Jeremy Hill Not Dismissed From LSU
By Kyle Kensing
Dec 31, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Jeremy Hill (33) celebrates with tight end Chase Clement (88) after a touchdown in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATED: Les Miles held Jeremy Hill’s roster spot to a team vote, per Les East of The Advocate. Miles will not elaborate on specifics of Hill’s punishment.
The official LSU football Twitter account issued a statement from Hill.
Jeremy Hill just spoke to the media: "I want to thank Coach Miles and this university for giving me another chance to play football."
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) August 5, 2013
Jeremy Hill continued: "I would like to apologize to my teammates and the community. I will continue to work to be a better person."
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) August 5, 2013
Embattled LSU Tigers running back Jeremy Hill met with a Baton Rouge judge on Monday morning. Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com reports that Judge Bonnie Jackson rendered a verdict that opens the door for Hill to return to the field football in 2013.
#LSU running back Jeremy Hill given 2 more years of probation by Judge Bonnie Jackson plus 40 hours of comm. service @ Bishop Ott center
— JimKleinpeter (@JimKleinpeter) August 5, 2013
UPDATED: Michael Shingleton of WBRZ reports that Hill’s probation was not extended.
Judge Jackson did NOT extend Hill's probation 2yrs as reported elsewhere. Added only aforementioned provisions. @WBRZ
— Michael Shingleton (@ShingletonWBRZ) August 5, 2013
Hill was arrested in April following an altercation outside a Baton Rouge bar. He was already serving probation for a 2011 arrest. Because he was a repeat offender, the District Attorney sought revocation of Hill’s probation and mandatory jail time.
A condition of his sentence is a daily curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., sentenced in May. But Jackson’s decision allows for a football exemption, per And The Valley Shook:
That clears it. Hill's probation curfew now has a "football activities" exemption. Up to Miles now
— PodKATT (@valleyshook) August 5, 2013
That leaves Hill’s status up to head coach Les Miles. Miles suspended Hill indefinitely, and the Tigers’ leading rusher in 2012 has yet to be involved in any football activities since. His absence allows for Alfred Blue, returning from injury, and Kenny Hilliard to vie for the Nos. 1 and 2 in the running back rotation as LSU opens fall camp today.
LSU has the SEC’s second lowest arrest rate since Aug. 2010, according to ArrestNation.com. Miles has proven willing to part with top tier players in the past, including quarterback Ryan Perrilloux and 2011 Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu. Perrilloux’s ouster from the team in 2008 sent the quarterback to Jacksonville State, where he refocused and earned his degree. Mathieu’s college career ended following his dismissal from the team last August. He is now with the Arizona Cardinals.