A source close to former TCU safety Jacob Fields is pushing back on the idea that he was being mistreated before the locker room altercation that ended his time with the program.
The source, authorized to speak for Fields and his family, said Friday that their side does not believe Fields was bullied or targeted by teammates in the days before his dismissal. That account differs from a previous source close to Fields who told the Star-Telegram that Fields had faced mistreatment before the incident involving a player later identified as junior wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma.
“Everything I’ve gotten has been from TCU and Jacob himself,” the new source said Friday.
According to that source, the tension came from the usual edge of fall camp and from some questionable plays in practice, not from bullying. The source said TCU staff knew there was growing friction, but saw it as part of a competitive camp. The coaching staff addressed the team about chippiness in practice at least once during camp.
The source said the situation between Fields and Ezukanma escalated during an Aug. 12 practice, when Fields reacted to a hard block. After practice on Aug. 13, Fields was part of the physical confrontation in the locker room that led to his dismissal.
TCU general manager Ryan Dorchester later called TCU campus police on Aug. 14 to report a potential aggravated assault, according to a copy of the police report.
Ezukanma addressed the incident in an Instagram video posted Friday. He said Fields “sucker punched” him and that he was knocked unconscious when his head hit the floor. Ezukanma’s face showed signs of carpet burn.
“Cause I do you bad at practice, this what you do to your teammates?” Ezukanma asks.
Fields had been expected to play a major role for TCU’s defense this season after emerging as the likely replacement for All-Big 12 standout Bud Clark at free safety.
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