LSU will be without AJ Haulcy during the first half of its college football season-opener against Clemson. The star transfer will be suspended for fighting.
However, he was not a member of the program when the incident occurred.
This surprising ruling comes less than 48 hours prior to the highly-anticipated college football matchup between two ranked Tigers teams. Everybody seemed to forget about the senior safety’s punishment until it was rediscovered on Thursday morning by a South Carolina-based reporter.
Who is AJ Haulcy?
The 6-foot-0, 215-pound safety rated as a three-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022 and committed to New Mexico. Haulcy became a breakout star with the Lobos, recording 86 total tackles with two interceptions as a freshman.
That gave him the opportunity to “transfer up” so he entered the portal and ultimately landed at Houston.
His time in Texas was an even greater success than his time in Albuquerque. Haulcy recorded an eye-popping 97 total tackles as a sophomore and 74 tackles with five interceptions as a junior in 2024.
He chose to re-enter the transfer portal prior to his senior year. LSU received his commitment, in large part because of a lucrative NIL deal, even though Miami rolled out the red carpet and Rick Ross during his official visit.
Why is LSU’s star transfer suspended against Clemson?
This whole thing started at 10:46 a.m. on Aug 28. when David Hood of ‘TigerNet.com‘ posted the following discovery:
“Doing research and found out starting S AJ Haulcy, who transferred from Houston, was ejected for fighting in the 4th quarter of Houston’s bowl game against BYU,” he said. “I am fairly certain he will have to sit the first half against Clemson.”
It completely unraveled from there. Rumors started to swirl that Clemson went to the NCAA and/or SEC and called for Haulcy to be suspended, but those rumors have not been confirmed.
Regardless of who said what to whom, the information got back to the governing body of collegiate athletics. AJ Haulcy will be suspended for the first half against the Tigers of South Carolina.
He was ejected for his role in a brawl between BYU and Houston at the end of the regular season.
An ejection for “fighting” warrants a two-quarter suspension in the next regular season game. Because this incident took place during the final regular season game of 2024, the suspension carries over to 2025.
“For fighting in the last game of a season, those with remaining eligibility shall serve suspensions during the first game of the next season for which the are eligible,” per NCAA rules. “Penalties do carry over to the following season and follow a player when transferring.”
Haulcy was initially ejected for “unsportsmanlike conduct” by the Big 12. The ruling was later clarified as “fighting.”
Everybody forgot.
“We’re practicing, preparing to play him, and we’ll wait for further guidance,” Brian Kelly said after being informed of Haulcy’s situation on Wednesday.
And then Hood came flying in from the top rope.
Kelly confirmed the suspension on Thursday afternoon. He said the NCAA “upheld” its original ruling to suspend AJ Haulcy for fighting.