KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee freshman tight end Kyle Oliver is leaving the Volunteers football program and will transfer to another school, according to multiple reports on Thursday evening.
His departure is related to unspecified off-field issues, a source with the football program told the Times Free Press.
Tennessee has yet to confirm Oliver's departure.
The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Oliver is the second freshman to leave the Vols this month. Receiver Jocquez Bruce and Tennessee parted ways last week. Bruce, a local product out of South-Doyle High School in Knoxville, reportedly was suspended shortly before announcing his decision to leave.
Oliver was listed as an "associate" on the police report for redshirt freshman lineman Charles Mosley's DUI arrest last week, but he was not cited or charged for any wrongdoing in the report.
A former three-star prospect out of Murfreesboro's Oakland High School, Oliver caught 40 passes for 574 yards as a senior and hauled in 31 passes for 505 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in 2013.
Oliver is the 17th player from the 2013, 2014 and 2015 signing classes to leave the program. Eight members of the 2014 class already have left the program. Two were dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Tennessee returns two of its top tight ends in Ethan Wolf and Alex Ellis, a duo that combined for 29 catches, 327 yards and one touchdown. The Vols get A.J. Branisel back after his missed the entire 2014 season while recovering from a torn ACL. Junior Joe Stocstill and redshirt freshman Neiko Creamer also return.
The Vols have two tight end commitments -- Devante Brooks, who recently tore his ACL a second time, and Austin Pope -- in their 2016 class.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.