Attorney: Jaylen McCollough maintains 'complete innocence' after aggrevated assault arrest
A new development has taken place in the Jaylen McCollough aggravated assault case, as the Tennessee defensive back faces uncertainty ahead of the Volunteers’ showdown with Alabama this coming Saturday.
On Tuesday, McCollough’s attorney — Chloe Akers — released a statement, emphasizing that the Tennessee defensive back “maintains his complete innocence” in the situation.
“Mr. McCollough is cooperating fully with both the University of Tennessee and Knoxville Police Department investigations into these allegations,” said Akers, per the Knoxville News Sentinel. “He looks forward to a speedy resolution of this matter and maintains his complete innocence.”
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Moreover, McCollough is in his fourth season as a starting safety for the Volunteers, and has recorded 23 tackles so far this year. He has played all 40 games since the beginning of his true freshman season in 2019.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the police report states the incident occurred Sunday afternoon at 3:28 p.m. ET. A man said he had been drinking with friends at an apartment complex when he went to retrieve items from his vehicle. He returned to the building and went to the wrong apartment, knocking on McCollough’s door instead of his friends’.
When no one answered, the man stated that he stepped inside the apartment. He immediately realized it was the wrong one and apologized, turning to leave before being pursued by an unknown male, presumed to be McCollough.
The man said he apologized once again, but also told McCollough he “didn’t have to be a (expletive) about it.” The man then tried to leave, but was struck in the face and fell down a staircase before losing consciousness. He later regained consciousness as he said a male and female helped him to his feet.
Police said when McCollough returned to the scene, his right hand was in bandages, with blood showing on his hand, according to the report. The report also described the other man as having a bloody, swollen mouth and missing teeth when they arrived, and said police discovered blood on the staircase.
McCollough was taken into custody and did not answer any questions at the scene.
A former four-star recruit in the 2019 class, McCollough ranked as the No. 165 overall player and No. 19 safety according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Throughout his career with the Volunteers, he has accumulated 141 tackles (10 for loss), two sacks, three interceptions and 12 passes defended.
The news came less than a week before the No. 6 Volunteers are set to take on No. 3 Alabama in Knoxville, and puts McCollough’s status in serious doubt. Kickoff for that game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.