Arkansas running back Alex Collins (3) evades pressure from Texas A&M linebacker A.J. Hilliard (46) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

The football career of Texas A&M linebacker A.J. Hilliard is over.

Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters Monday that Hilliard has retired from football and is on a medical scholarship moving forward. Hilliard has dealt with several injuries throughout his career, but was coming off his best season in 2015 when he put up 58 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack in nine games.

Hilliard opened the 2014 season as a starter, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the first game of the year. An injury also prematurely ended his 2015 season.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Hilliard began his career at TCU, where he appeared in 11 games in 2012 as a freshman. He then transferred to A&M and redshirted the 2013 campaign.

Additionally, Sumlin announced that defensive lineman Justin Manning has also been placed on medical scholarship. Manning was a four-star, Top 100 recruit in the 2013 class, but struggled to get on the field due to injuries. He registered three tackles as a sophomore in 2014, but did not record a stat in 2015.

Coming off a 8-5 record in 2015, A&M opened spring practice on Monday.

For more Texas A&M news, visit AggieYell.com.

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