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.