Report: Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough fully cleared to play vs Kentucky after felony assault case
The decision is reportedly in for Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough. He has been fully cleared to play in this week’s game against Kentucky, according to ESPN’s Chris Low.
An independent review board cleared McCollough to play after he was involved in a felony assault case, but the athletic department and head coach Josh Heupel had the final say on his status for Saturday’s SEC showdown. Low reported the athletic department made its decision Thursday and McCollough will be able to play in the game.
CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel
McCollough has missed the past two games as a result of the case, in which he was accused of hitting a man who accidentally walked into his apartment instead of a friend’s. According to a report from Outkick Thursday, McCollough and his roommate were under the impression the man broke into the apartment, which is why McCollough allegedly struck him.
Report: New evidence emerges in the Jaylen McCollough felony assault case
New evidence has emerged in the felony assault case involving Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough.
According to a report from Outkick, the Volunteers defensive back was cleared to play by an independent board review at Tennessee, but the final decision was still up to Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and the athletics department. However, Josh Heupel and the Tennessee athletic department had the final say of whether McCollough returned to the team and play as the legal process sorts out.
“He has been with us here the last week,” Heuell said in a press conference on Thursday. “We will see.”
The original police report for the incident stated a man said he had been drinking with friends at an apartment complex when he went to retrieve items from his vehicle, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. 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.