KNOXVILLE -- Since his dismissal from Tennessee's football program for his role in an alleged domestic incident, Treyvon Paulk has remained enrolled at the university.
And while the running back hasn't been a part of any team-related activities or workouts with the Volunteers, the door doesn't appear to be closed on a potential return.
Amid recent speculation and rumors that Paulk, who was never charged after he allegedly punched his ex-girlfriend in the mouth during a party, would return to the Vols, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Thursday morning that Paulk's future remains under consideration.
"It's an ongoing process, and we'll continue to evaluate that situation as time continues to move on, but right now he's still not a part of our football team in terms of any team-related activities or anything," Jones told the Times Free Press.
"We'll continue to look into that situation, just like we do with every single player, and certain criteria, is that being met, and then what's best for Tennessee football and for Treyvon in moving forward as well."
Jones swiftly dismissed Paulk the Monday following the alleged incident in September.
The 5-foot-8, 200-pounder was redshirting during his freshman season after coming off an ACL injury as a senior at Milton High School in the Atlanta-area suburb of Alpharetta. After running for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, Paulk was rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN.
Tennessee has just one returning scholarship running back in Jalen Hurd, who along with Paulk was one of three backs the Vols signed in their 2014 recruiting class. The third, Derrell Scott, transferred to East Carolina.
The Vols signed Alvin Kamara, a junior college transfer and former Alabama freshman, and John Kelly in 2015, and Jones said at his news conference on signing day earlier this month the lack of depth in Tennessee's backfield was "a big concern."
On Thursday, Jones immediately identified running back as a position where Tennessee fell short in a class that finished in the top five nationally.
"It's very uneasy," he said, "going into a football season where you'll have three running backs on scholarship. (I've) never had that."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.