Well, this is certainly a stunning development.
One day after losing an assistant coach, Derek Dooley is now forced to deal with losing arguably Tennessee’s best defensive player. Whether that departure will continue into the 2011 season remains to be seen.
Austin Ward of the Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting that safety Janzen Jackson has abruptly left not only the Volunteers football program, but he’s withdrawn from school as well. Personal issues -- the same ones that kept him out of bowl practices last December -- were the reasons given for this unexpected development.
No specific details as to what the personal issues are have been divulged.
“Janzen continues to battle personal issues of which our program is always going to be very supportive of,” Dooley said according to the paper. “His withdrawal from school has nothing to do with disciplinary reasons on the football team and everything to do with a continuing battle of deep personal issues, of which we’re very supportive of.”
Jackson will not be permitted to participate in any team activity this semester, including spring practice. Dooley did state that, if he can get a handle on the issues plaguing him, he would be welcomed back to the team.
The sophomore has started 22 games in his UT career, including all 13 games in 2010. He was named to the All-SEC second team by the coaches following the ’10 season.
