LSU's starting safety has been ruled out for the first half against Clemson after the NCAA made the ruling on Thursday.
In a rapidly developing story, the NCAA confirmed to On3’s Pete Nakos that LSU starting safety AJ Haulcy will be suspended for the first half of LSU’s game vs. Clemson. The organization clarified his ejection in the final game of the 2024 season was due to fighting, which includes an automatic carryover penalty.
Here is what ESPN’s Pete Thamel initially reported from the NCAA.
“In the last game of the 2024 season, A.J. Haulcy was ejected from the contest, initially listed as unsportsmanlike conduct but clarified postgame that game officials ejected the player for fighting,” the NCAA said to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Fighting carries an automatic carryover penalty.”
Haulcy was a All Big-12 First Team selection out of Houston last year and is a big part to the Tigers’ revamped secondary. However, Kelly has talked about what makes this team different is their depth.
“Dashawn Spears has played a lot of football for us. Jardin Gilbert and Javien Toviano as well. We’ve got pretty good depth. We feel really good about our defensive backfield. We’re dealing with this the same way you guys are, waiting on information. Once we get it we’ll adjust accordingly and be ready to play Clemson.”
Spears is a second-year player who has high expectations, emerging as a solid payer on LSU’s two-deep, while Gilbert and Toviano return after up and down seasons in the Tigers’ secondary in 2024. Regardless, the Tigers have options as they go into a tough road environment to start the year.
Just an hour before the ruling came out, LSU and Brian Kelly were practicing like normal and speaking to the media one final time.
“We’re waiting for clarification on [Haulcy],” Kelly said on Thursday evening. “We were informed of his situation on Wednesday, so we’ll see where that ends up. We’re practicing him and preparing to play him, so we’ll wait on further guidance.
“I think it’s a little bit of the conference and NCAA rulings, in terms of what the circumstances are at the end of the game. Our conference has been great at providing the support and we’ll wait for the decision and plan accordingly.”
Kelly did confirm that starting safety Tamarcus Cooley is eligible to play the first half after his status was in question due to a similar ejection.
LSU and Clemson are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 30 on ABC. LSU is a four-point underdog on the road, but looks to snap the losing streak of season openers and get the 2025 season started on the right foot with a bevy of new transfers and quality top-end talent.
Category: General Sports
