Former Big Red, WVU football player pleads guilty to assault charges

Former Steubenville High School football standout and West Virginia University linebacker Nicholas "Branko" Busick pleaded guilty to assault charges.

Busick pleaded guilty Tuesday in Monongalia County Circuit Court to two counts of assault during the commission of a felony.

A sentencing date will be determined next week.

A Weirton, W.Va., native, Busick was previously an all-state football player for Steubenville High School. At the time of his arrests last summer, he was living in Morgantown while attending West Virginia University on a football scholarship. He was expected to compete for a starting linebacker position last season.

WVU head football coach Dana Holgorsen dismissed Busick from the team after his initial arrest.

Morgantown police had said that Busick was connected to two robberies. During one of the robberies, a man was punched and knocked to the ground. Police said Busick stole the victim's iPhone and wallet containing $70.

The robbery happened just a few blocks from where police said Busick pointed a gun at a group of people inside an apartment and demanded money. He also allegedly beat one man with a gun during the crime. Busick was arrested inside the apartment after the victim called police.

Busick was initially put in jail after the apartment robbery, but was later released after his parents posted a $25,000 property bond.