Tenn. suspends two players amid rape probe
A.J. Johnson has been suspended from all team-related activities. (USATSI)Tennessee has suspended senior linebacker A.J. Johnson and sophomore defensive back Michael Williams following a Knoxville police investigation into an alleged rape and sexual assault that occurred early Sunday morning.
Police have only confirmed that the investigation involves two male UT students, but multiple reports, incuding one from the Tennessean, linked the investigation to the Vols football program.
“I am aware of the alleged incident that occurred over this weekend, and right now we’re in the process of gathering all the information,” coach Butch Jones said of the investigation on Monday, per GoVols247. “Once we have all that appropriate information, we will act in a very decisive manner, which we have proven over time to do here at the University of Tennessee.”
Jones did not identify the players by name in his media availability, but Tennessee announced later Monday, via its official Twitter account, that Johnson and Williams have been suspended from all team-related activities.
Tennessee has suspended A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams from all team-related activities.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 17, 2014
“We’ll continue to gather information, and based on what we have at that particular time, we’ll determine whether or not they will practice. But if there is anything of it, then they won’t practice,” he said. “I think we’ve proven since we’ve been here that we’re always going to act accordingly and we’re going to act swiftly.”
Johnson has been one of Tennessee’s most consistent defensive players for the past three seasons. The Vols play Missouri on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.
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