INDIANAPOLIS—After Trevone Boykin’s college career ended abruptly, he got a call from an unlikely new friend: Maurice Clarett.

Just two days before the TCU quarterback was supposed to lead the Horned Frogs against Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2, he was arrested outside a bar in San Antonio after he allegedly charged at police officers—injuring one—according to a police report. This happened after he snuck out of the team hotel post-curfew check.

TCU coach Gary Patterson immediately suspended Boykin for the bowl game.

Boykin was charged with assault on a public servant, a third-degree felony that has a minimum of two years and a maximum of 10 in prison. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody.

Following the incident, people like Clarett and former TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson offered him advice, Boykin said while at the NFL combine this week.

“They just reached out and were like, if you need a hand, (I’m) always here, you have my number, you can contact me anytime you want,” Boykin said.

He took the former players up on their offers.

“I’ve been talking to Maurice,” Boykin said following his combine workout Friday. “Maurice has been doing FCA work. During fall camp he came to talk to the TCU football team and I watched the (ESPN) 30 for 30 (film) Youngstown Boys, so you see him go through his career and the things that he did for him to turn out so positive and do positive things.

“And then you’ve got guys like LT, who’s a legend really, so when you got guys like that in your corner, like I said, it’s surrounding yourself with positive people.”

Clarett does a lot of public speaking—often with college football programs—to warn young athletes to avoid slipping into bad habits like he did.

Clarett was dismissed from Ohio State following the 2002 BCS National Championship for becoming the center of an improper benefits scandal. He later went to prison for 3 ½ years on robbery and concealed weapon charges. He’s been the ultimate cautionary tale for players on how to turn a tumultuous life and career around, although in January he was arrested and charged for operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Boykin said he is prepared to be completely honest with teams when and if they ask about that night in San Antonio. He will be upfront, honest and hold nothing back, he says.

“I tell them the truth,” he said. “I tell them exactly what happened from every detail and they either accept it or they don’t. I’m truly remorseful for what happened. I devastated not only myself but the city of Fort Worth and the last name Boykin I wear with pride. I wear TCU with pride.

“When that happened to me, I try to move forward and be positive about it and show that I am remorseful for it, show that I have learned from it, and that it wont happen again.”

Boykin is being looked at as a quarterback and a wide receiver. He played both at TCU, though it was his work at quarterback — passing for 7,476 yards and 64 touchdowns and rushing for 1,319 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last two seasons — that garnered him national attention for awards like the Heisman Trophy.

“If (teams) question (me), you can look at my body of work,” Boykin said. “One incident throughout my five years at TCU. I feel like you can’t let one incident define you at all. It’s something you have to move past, move forward, and I think I’m doing that pretty well.”