Tennessee Vols dismiss Danny O'Brien for rules violation

Tennessee defensive tackle Danny O'Brien pressures Ohio quarterback Greg Windham during their game earlier this month at Neyland Stadium. O'Brien and fellow tackle Kendal Vickers have been reliable veterans for the Vols this season.
Tennessee defensive tackle Danny O'Brien pressures Ohio quarterback Greg Windham during their game earlier this month at Neyland Stadium. O'Brien and fellow tackle Kendal Vickers have been reliable veterans for the Vols this season.

KNOXVILLE -- Two days after he was taken off the field on a stretcher during Tennessee's loss at Texas A&M, defensive tackle Danny O'Brien was dismissed from the program for violating team rules on Monday.

The one-paragraph statement from Tennessee said the fifth-year senior's dismissal is "unrelated to the injury he suffered" in the second half against the Aggies.

"However, should he require any additional care, it will be provided by the University of Tennessee," the statement said.

O'Brien laid on the ground face down after tackling Texas A&M running back Keith Ford, and he eventually was placed on and strapped to a backboard and carted off the field.

It was a scary moment causing a long delay during the game as players from both teams knelt and his teammates surrounded him as he was taken off the field.

Tennessee officials said Saturday O'Brien had movement in all four of his extremities and was taken to the hospital for further examination as a precaution, and he flew back to Knoxville with the team on Saturday night.

Head coach Butch Jones said earlier Monday he felt "relief" when he saw O'Brien after the game and learned his injury wasn't as serious as initially feared.

"Those are one of the moments in time when you're on the field and you never want to be a part of," he said. "Everything is racing through your mind, but the big thing you want to do is you want to be there for him and you want to be there for his family. I thought our training staff took all the precautionary elements that needed to be done. Texas A&M officials handled it exceptionally well.

"He flew back with us. His status is day to day. As a parent, that's something that you think about. You love and you care about these kids and their safety. The family and brotherhood of our players to continue to ask, 'How's he doing? How is hes doing? How is he doing?' -- it's something you don't want to experience very often."

One of Tennessee's five fifth-year seniors, O'Brien joined the Vols in 2012 when Derek Dooley was the coach. He redshirted his first season at Tennessee and played in 42 games the past four seasons. The Michigan native recorded 63 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

In six games this season O'Brien made 14 tackles and three for loss.

Last season O'Brien was suspended for the Oklahoma and Western Carolina for violating team rules and policies.

His dismissal means more playing time will be available for sophomores Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie, who "played their best football" against Texas A&M, according to Jones.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.

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