Though a season-ending hip injury would have prevented him from playing in last year’s Alamo Bowl anyway, Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks was one of two players to be sent home before the game for, technically speaking, violating curfew.
However, Hicks, along with backup Longhorns quarterback Case McCoy, was linked to a sexual assault case just before UT’s 31-27 win over Oregon State in San Antonio. No charges were ever filed in the alleged incident and the pair was reinstated to the team in January, but Hicks took the opportunity Saturday after Texas’ final open practice to apologize for what happened: being out past curfew.
“I was a leader on this team and I was out past curfew. As a leader, I shouldn’t have done that,” Hicks said. “I haven’t had the chance to apologize to the whole fan base, and I would like to do that. I’ve done everything I can to earn back the respect of this team and I think I’ve done that.”
Hicks, who was the team’s leading tackler in 2012 before sustaining his injury last September, was recently awarded a medical redshirt that will give him two years of eligibility.