Norman, Okla. ? A former Nebraska football player was acquitted Wednesday of an aggravated assault-and-battery charge stemming from a pregame incident in which an Oklahoma spirit squad member was injured.

A 12-member jury deliberated for just less than three hours before declaring Darren DeLone innocent on the felony charge. After the verdict was read, DeLone let out a muffled gasp and pumped his right fist over the table.

“First, I want to thank God. I just want to thank everybody. I prayed to God,” said DeLone, who said he expected the acquittal. “I was just ready for it, no doubt.”

DeLone’s defense attorney, Garvin Isaacs, said in his closing arguments Wednesday that the 6-foot-5, 315-pound former Nebraska offensive lineman was “wrongfully accused” and that the injuries suffered by 19-year-old Adam Merritt were accidental.

“He’s an innocent man,” Isaacs said, pointing to DeLone in the Cleveland County courtroom.

“No crime was committed by anybody. It was a pure and complete accident,” Isaacs said.

Isaacs pointed out inconsistencies among prosecution witnesses and said it was based on “suggestion and guesswork.” He called it “one of the most frightening cases that I’ve ever seen in my life.”