By Justis Mosqueda
After starting his college football career with a productive freshman season, Devonte Fields, now a former TCU Horned Frog, will be transferring to Stephen F. Austin in 2014, according to a tweet sent out by his private Twitter account, which was screen capped and later confirmed by Travis Brown of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Star-Telegram also reported on the 23rd of July that Fields was “separated” from the school after he was accused of punching his former girlfriend during an incident where he also brandished a gun on her, which is the reason Fields was forced to transfer from the program. In another Fields story from much earlier in the off-season, he was also involved in an incident where he was allegedly pistol-whipped, robbed, and beaten in January.
In 2014, Fields has already made up for his missed headlines in 2013, but not in the way he wished to. As the returning Big XII Defensive Player of the Year after his freshman season of 2012, he missed all but three games last season due to an injury and a suspension due to an unspecified team policy. During Big XII media week, Fields, then thought of as healthy and eligible, was voted by the media members as the preseason candidate most likely to win the Big XII Defensive Player of the Year award again in 2014.
A talented pass-rusher, Fields could declare for the 2015 draft, as he’d check off his required three years removed from high school by that time. He’s also eligible to play immediately at Stephen F. Austin, as they participate at the FCS level. The Lumberjacks haven’t had an NFL draft pick since Jabara Williams was selected 228nd in 2011, but Fields, at least on the field, has the potential to break the dry spell.
If Fields is able to go back to the production he put out his freshman year of 10 sacks and 18.5 TFLs, Fields could shoot right back up boards, if he stays out of trouble. With three incidents on his resume, the robbery, the suspension, and the alleged assault, it’s going to be interesting to see if he’ll make the NFL’s character cut and make himself draftable.
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