KNOXVILLE -- Derek Dooley's coaching staff underwent a shake-up Sunday night.
Monday night, it was the University of Tennessee football coach's roster.
Dooley announced that safety Janzen Jackson had withdrawn from school this semester to continue to deal with the personal problems that forced him to miss much of the December practices leading up to the Music City Bowl. His future as a Volunteer is uncertain.
"We are continuing to support Janzen as he addresses his personal issues during this temporary withdrawal from school," Dooley said in a release. "While he would still be eligible to compete if he enrolls this fall, nothing is more important than Janzen's well-being."
During Jackson's absence in December, Dooley refused to disclose any details of the player's situation and continually reiterated support for the Louisiana resident.
Jackson, whom Dooley called his best defensive player on multiple occasions last season, was an All-Southeastern Conference player after making 69 tackles and leading the Vols with five interceptions.
Three other players are no longer Vols.
Cody Pope, who missed nearly all of last season with a lingering stinger after beginning the year as the starting center, will take a medical exemption and no longer participate with the program. He wrote on his Twitter page Monday night that he "can't get cleared."
Defensive back Ted Meline, who redshirted last season, withdrew from school for personal reasons, and linebacker Jerod Askew, a former four-star recruit who played in just one game in two seasons, was dismissed for a violation of team rules.
Cornerback Art Evans has been reinstated after missing the last five games of the season because of a suspension. Evans, who will be a senior this year, will join the team's offseason workouts.
Jackson's uncertainty places another strain on UT's thin secondary. The Vols signed seven defensive backs last week, including junior college players Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier.
If Jackson doesn't return to the team, the high expectations for Lanier and Moore to make immediate impacts are raised even further.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com or 901-581-7288. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/patrickbrownTFP.
Patrick Brown has been the University of Tennessee beat writer since January 2011. A native of Memphis, Brown graduated from UT in May of 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Electronic Media and worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel for two years on the sports editorial staff and as a freelance contributor. If it’s the NBA, the NFL or SEC football and basketball, he’s probably reading about it or watching it on TV. Contact him ...
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Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley spoke publicly for the first time since the Volunteers' star safety Janzen Jackson re-enrolled in ...
KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee’s football program got the big boost it was long expecting on Wednesday.
Tennessee free safety Janzen Jackson will be back in school when the second semester of summer school begins Thursday.
Jackson withdraws from UT
Star safety's future uncertain
Janzen Jackson withdraws from UT
Well, looks like early exiting continues at the University of Tennessee. I hope J. Jackson can get his life together. I do not expect that to happen in time for him to play in the fall. I hate that as he would have potentially been the defensive leader. With Chuck Smith's exit, more starting over will be taking place. It is a challenging time for the football Vols and it may get more sticky when the NCAA decides on the former debacling coaches' actions. Hang in there guys! Some of us will be supporting you no matter who leaves or what Big Brother NCAA decides.
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