University of Tennessee has Warren in school

KNOXVILLE — Former Florida State tight end Brandon Warren has been admitted to the University of Tennessee.

Bruce Warwick, UT’s assistant athletic director for football operations, confirmed the news Thursday afternoon via e-mail.

“He has been admitted,” Warwick wrote. “There are still a number of issues we are currently working with the NCAA about eligibility.”

The school’s official Web site lists Brandon Rashaun Warren as an “active” student.

Warren was named the No. 26 overall prospect, No. 2 weakside defensive end and No. 1 prospect in Tennessee following his senior season at Alcoa High School, about 10 miles from the UT campus. He chose Florida State over Tennessee in a highly competitive recruiting battle. He was named Freshman All-America after catching 28 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown as FSU’s starting tight end.

Warren (6-foot-2, 230) left FSU shortly after his freshman season, citing a desire to be near his ill mother. Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden denied his request for a release to play elsewhere, though, and an FSU faculty board denied Warren’s appeal.

The NCAA let Warren out of his letter-of-intent while he attended classes at Knoxville’s Pellissippi State Community College. That was the first of three steps needed to get him on the field for UT this season. The second step was fixing his academic situation at PSCC and enrolling at UT.

The third is an immediate-eligibility waiver from the NCAA to play this season. While that’s no sure thing, it’s generally considered an easier step than getting out of a signed letter-of-intent, according to a UT official.