DeSean Hales came to Texas as a highly-touted four-star recruit, rated as the No. 1 all-purpose back in the country.
While his first four years with the Longhorns had been underwhelming to say the least, it appeared that the light may have flipped on for the receiver this offseason. Unfortunately, neither the player nor the team will ever know if that was actually the case.
In a release, UT announced that Hales has decided to forego his final season of eligibility in order to begin work in earnest on his post-football future.
“Coming to this decision wasn’t easy, but I’ve talked to my family and have decided that it would be best for me to focus on my degree and my career for the future,” Hales said in his statement. “Football doesn’t last forever, and I feel like I could be a help to the team in other ways outside of playing.
“I always knew that eventually I would like to work with young people, whether it’s coaching or training or in some other way, and this will give me the experience of doing that. I’ve been in the system, I’ve seen how things work and I can help guide them and show them the ropes.”
In 31 career games, Hales totaled 13 receptions for 87 yards.
“We appreciate the effort and work DeSean has put in over his four years as a player here,” the statement from head coach Mack Brown read. “We understand his decision and look forward to him staying involved with the team and being a positive influence, especially to the young receivers.”