KNOXVILLE - University of Tennessee quarterback Jauan Jennings is accused of being involved in an alleged fight at a bonfire in which thrown rocks caused damage to multiple cars, according to police incident reports.
The freshman from Murfreesboro is facing accusations of assault, vandalism of property totaling more than $500 and misdemeanor theft of property worth less than $500, according to an incident report obtained Thursday from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
The 6-foot-4, 202-pound Jennings, who turns 18 next month and thus will be treated as a juvenile should charges be brought against him, faces no formal charges at this point, and whether he will face any suspension or internal discipline from the Tennessee football program is not known.
Two separate police reports were filed in connection to the alleged incident at the bonfire, including one from Bennie Jennings, Jauan's father.
According to one police report, Sandy Bell, the complainant, met with an officer May 30 and claimed her two sons were at a bonfire located somewhere on Simmons Bluff Road and Whippoorwill Road in Lebanon the previous night and that "there was a fight and rocks being thrown."
Bell told police her 18-year-old son, Russell Reed, was assaulted and her 15-year-old son, whose name is redacted in the report because he is a juvenile, was pushed down. The report lists the stolen property as a cellphone (valued at $50), a jacket ($150) and a black arm brace ($50). The estimated damage to the windshield and hood of Bell's vehicle was $300.
The report lists two 15-year-old witnesses, and Jauan Jennings' name is redacted.
Officers informed Bennie Jennings that he needed to bring Jauan in to speak with investigators. According to the report, the quarterback spoke with the investigating officer and gave a written statement about that night.
According to the report filed by Bennie Jennings, which lists one unknown suspect, "several subjects" were involved in the alleged fight at the bonfire and "several vehicles" were damaged from thrown rocks, including Jauan's black Lexus ES300. The estimated cost of the damage to the vehicle was $1,500, according to the report.
Bennie Jennings retained Lebanon-based attorney Jeff Cherry for his son.
Cherry told the Times Free Press on Thursday afternoon that he has yet to meet with Jauan Jennings regarding the alleged incident. Jennings returned to Knoxville at the end of May to begin summer classes and summer workouts with the Volunteers. Cherry said he plans to meet with Jauan soon to discuss the accusations.
Cherry said Jennings "has never had any run-ins with law enforcement officers" before now and "will be vigorously fighting" the allegations.
Jennings and fellow freshmen Quinten Dormady and Sheriron Jones are competing to be the backup to starting quarterback Josh Dobbs. Jennings, the Class AAA Mr. Football award winner, had a big senior season at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, and the four-star recruit enrolled at Tennessee in January.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com