PALMDALE, California — University of Southern California football player Josh Shaw admitted on Wednesday that he fabricated a widely publicized story that he hurt himself while rescuing his young nephew from a swimming pool.

“I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong to not tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part,” Shaw said in a statement issued by his attorney, Donald Etra.

Etra said the 22-year-old senior defensive back and captain of the Trojan football team did fall off of a balcony but declined to say under what circumstances.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/28/us-usa-usc-football-idUSKBN0GS00720140828