A Texas trooper has been sent home from Texas A&M's Kyle Field after confronting South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor during Saturday's game. The state's Department of Public Safety confirmed the officer was removed from the stadium following the incident, which occurred after Harbor scored an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Harbor, appearing to be nursing a leg injury, entered the tunnel after his score and was walking back to the field with three teammates, including running back Oscar Adaway III, when the trooper stepped between Harbor and Adaway, bumping into them. The officer pointed at the players and appeared to admonish them before a teammate pushed Harbor away to continue towards the pitch.
Video of the confrontation was widely shared online, drawing a reaction from basketball star LeBron James, who wrote on X: "That A&M cop needs to suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some shit. Do better man." The Department of Public Safety said its Office of Inspector General is investigating, adding that no further information would be released at this time.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer expressed satisfaction with the swift action, saying he had "a ton of respect" for the operation at College Station. "They're first-class people, so appreciate them handling that the right way, sending [the trooper] home," Beamer said after the game.
Texas A&M recovered from a 27-point deficit to win 31-30, remaining undefeated. Harbor later left the field in the fourth quarter with a suspected chest injury after another player landed on him during a catch. Beamer said the 20-year-old was taken to hospital as a precaution, accompanied by his father Jean, a former professional soccer player with 15 caps for the United States.
Harbor, who won the 2023 Franklin D Watkins Memorial Award for African American high schoolers, has also claimed national track titles. He volunteers at a soup kitchen, works with the Generosity Global campaign for women's health in Africa, and is majoring in public health, having been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for two consecutive years.
