Vols cut off at first DE
One of Tennessee’s starting defensive ends is suspended.
The Vols will be without a defensive starter for an indefinite period of time due to the fallout from an altercation between two players from Tennessee on Thursday during practice.
According to numerous sources who spoke with GoVols247 on Monday morning, defensive end Darrell Taylor, the other player engaged in the brawl that left freshman offensive lineman Trey Smith in need of medical attention, has been suspended.
The suspension was not confirmed by a Tennessee representative. Tennessee coach Butch Jones is scheduled to speak about it at his news conference later on Monday.
Following his early ejection from Tennessee’s most recent game, a 41-0 loss to Georgia, this past weekend, the redshirt sophomore was already scheduled to miss the first half of the team’s match against South Carolina.
Taylor has been one of the Vols’ most productive defensive ends, tallying up 20 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack to go along with a forced fumble and a pass break-up.
In double overtime, he made the game-winning play to prevent the Vols from scoring the game-winning two-point convert.
In Taylor’s brief absence vs the Gamecocks, Kyle Phillips was anticipated to start; however, Tennessee will need freshman Deandre Johnson and Matthew Butler to be fit to play if the suspension results in additional missed time.
