Fights between teammates during a college football practice are known to happen across the country, but sometimes the physical aggressiveness goes a little too far. That appears to be the case in Knoxville as Tennessee has suspended defensive tackle Darrell Taylor following a reported incident at a recent practice during the bye week. Taylor reportedly got involved in an altercation with teammate Trey Smith.
Multiple reports have said Taylor -- who was already serving a suspension last week for fighting in the previous game -- kicked Smith in the face, leaving the star freshman to need stitches.
Source: UT DE Darrell Taylor kicked OL Trey Smith's face at
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) October 6, 2017
practice during 1 minute drill Thursday, leading to Smith needing stitches.
Source: Smith blocked Taylor to the ground and Smith lost his helmet. They wrestled. Taylor then kicked at Smith and hit him in the face.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) October 6, 2017
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said “multiple factors” led to the indefinite suspension but the Vols coach was reluctant to go into the details. Instead, Jones offered a glowing review of Tennessee’s bye week and spoke about getting players “leadership reps” in a way only Jones could.
"You don't have to get a physical rep, it can be a leadership rep." - Butch Jones
— RockyTopTalk (@RockyTopTalk) October 9, 2017
What
It’s just a guess to say that Taylor is going to have to get in a good amount of leadership reps before he is reinstated by Jones and the Vols.