For the first time in nearly a year, he feels completely healthy. He wears his normal size 11 cleats, no more steel plate lining the bottom, no more padded insoles, no more toe and foot pain. He thinks about his late grandmothers, two women he calls his "why," and readies himself. It is finally time to show what made the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Durham the top high school running back in his class in Texas: his blend of strength, ability to change direction and speed.
He was the No. 3 wide receiver prospect in the nation during his senior year of high school, according to both 247Sports and ESPN. He was a consensus top-40 recruit and some even had him in the top-20. One such scouting report, which projected him as an early-round pick, listed his player comparison as none other than current Patriots teammate Stefon Diggs, who is a four-time Pro Bowler.
Haulcy, who transferred to LSU in May and was considered one of the top defensive players available in the portal, was suspended for a fight in his final regular-season game last year while playing for Houston. The news came as a surprise to No. 9 LSU, as team officials were not informed of the suspension until Wednesday, sources told ESPN. The suspension leaves LSU without a key member of its secondary in a road game against Clemson's Cade Klubnik, one of the country's top quarterbacks.