Jeremy Hill, LSU’s leading rusher from last season, was formally charged Monday with simple battery following an altercation in Tigerland on April 27.
Hill was suspended indefinitely by coach Les Miles following the incident, which occurred at 2:13 a.m. outside of Reggie’s bar. He was arrested with another man, Robert Bayardo, at 3:50 a.m. after fleeing the scene of the fight.
Bayardo was also charged with simple battery.
Hill was already on probation following a high school incident to which he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Hill’s probation was upgraded after the incident, which now includes a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew as well as substance abuse evaluation and orders to follow any recommended treatment he received.
He was arrested after police were shown a video from a cell phone, which allegedly showed Hill and Bayardo striking the victim, Connor Baldridge, in the Tigerland parking lot. Following his arrest, Hill admitted to being in Tigerland but denied any involvement in the altercation despite being shown the video.
Allegedly, Hill punched the victim behind the left ear, and Bayardo followed with a punch that knocked Baldridge unconscious.
After his breakout freshman season — rushing for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns— Hill was pegged to be the Tigers’ starting running back for the 2013-14 season.
He rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries in the spring game just before the incident.
Hill’s arrest marks the third consecutive season that a starting LSU player’s status was jeopardized before the season due to disciplinary issues.
In the 2010-11, former quarterback Jordan Jefferson was arrested after participating in a bar fight at Shady’s Bar, while last season former cornerback Tyrann Mathieu was kicked off the team following a litany of failed drug tests.