KNOXVILLE - Tennessee already is a little shorthanded at wide receiver for the 2016 season.
Redshirt freshman Vincent Perry is academically ineligible for the season, program spokesman Ryan Robinson confirmed via text message Wednesday afternoon.
Perry, who sat out last season after suffering a knee injury in August, will remain with the team. Though he'll be able to practice with the Volunteers, the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder from Nashville will have to pay his own tuition for fall semester.
"He will have the opportunity to earn his scholarship back," Robinson said, "by his performance off and on the field."
After starring as a football and baseball player at Hillsboro High School, Perry joined the Vols last season as a "blueshirt," meaning he neither took an official visit nor hosted coaches for an in-home visit during the recruiting process and showed up on campus as a walk-on before being put on scholarship for the fall.
Perry showed promise while lining up in the slot during the 2015 preseason, and during practice this spring Perry continued to demonstrate his ability to help Tennessee's offense with his shiftiness, athleticism and pass-catching ability, but the wait for his first contributions to the Vols will continue.
Perry's situation opens the door a little more for Tennessee's newcomers at receiver, a group that includes junior college transfer and early enrollee Jeff George, talented freshmen Marquez Callaway and Tyler Byrd and two more rookies, Brandon Johnson and Latrell Williams. Corey Henderson, Tennessee's fifth wide receiver signee, is heading to junior college after failing to qualify academically.
The Vols return just four receivers who caught a pass last season. One of those players, Jauan Jennings, may not be ready for the start of preseason practice after undergoing knee surgery in April.
Perry's ineligibility isn't the only summer attrition for Tennessee.
Redshirt freshman punter Tommy Townsend, a former U.S. Army All-American Game selection and the brother of All-Southeastern Conference punter Johnny Townsend of Florida, has requested and been granted his release and will transfer.
Sophomore running back Joe Young's playing career remains very much in doubt due to a neck injury. Young appeared in five games last season, totaling 64 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. It's likely he'll remain with the program as a student coach after defensive back Devaun Swafford did so in a similar situation last year.
Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced last month that tight end Neiko Creamer intended to transfer.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.