Slocum Juggles the Texas A&M; Backfield

Texas A&M; Coach R.C. Slocum will move a wide receiver into his backfield after an internal investigation that led to the suspension of running back Greg Hill a week before the Cotton Bowl game against Notre Dame.

Slocum said Wilbert Biggens, a sophomore wide receiver who played running back in high school, would switch to the backfield to back up Rodney Thomas, who gained 856 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 154 carries.

“I’m extremely disappointed to be in this situation,” Slocum said Saturday. “Avoiding this has been more of an objective for me than winning games.”

Hill, who rushed for 1,339 yards and 15 touchdowns in 267 carries, was suspended along with three freshman reserves after a school probe revealed NCAA rules violations after a published report that the players had received payment by boosters for work not done.

Slocum said he also would consider activating freshman tailback Leeland McElroy, who has redshirted this season.

“I will visit with Leeland and Leeland’s parents this week and say, ‘In the event that we lost Rodney, would you want to trade Cotton Bowl exposure for a year’s eligibility?’ ” Slocum said.