PULLMAN -- Washington State University safety Xavier Hicks is suspended for the first three games of the upcoming football season.

KREM 2 Sports

WSU safety Xavier Hicks, shown here making a tackle last year against Arizona State, is suspended for the first three games of the upcoming season.

The Cougs play Oklahoma State in Seattle to open the year, then face California in their Pac-10 opener, before travelling to Baylor. Hicks will not play in any of those contests.

Hicks, who is currently serving a 45-day jail sentence, pleaded guilty to assault and theft charges earlier this month. The redshirt junior charged more than $1,500 on a stolen credit card and also put rubbing alcohol in a roommates contact lens case. The roommate, former Cougar football player Grady Maxwell, never put the tainted contact lenses in his eyes.

Hicks played in all 12 of the Cougars' games last year, making 53 tackles and one interception. He also forced a fumble and blocked a kick.