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Tennessee Football Defensive Tackle Danny O’Brien Suspended by Vols for Violation of Team Rules

By Caleb Calhoun

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The Tennessee football team has suspended defensive tackle Danny O’Brien for a violation of team rules just as the Volunteers get set to host the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday.

When Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners come to Knoxville Saturday evening, the Tennessee Vols football team will be without their top defensive tackle, Danny O’Brien.

And they could be without him longer than that.

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O’Brien was suspended for a violation of team rules, according to Butch Jones in his Wednesday press conference. He did not elaborate on what the violation is, but he said there is no timetable for his return, either.

Here is a quote from Jones on the suspension, according to a transcript from the press conference:

"“I’m not going to speculate. It’s ongoing, and we’ll see. We’re going to support Dan through this whole deal, but there’s just no timetable. I don’t want to sit here and tell you it’s one game. I don’t want to sit here and tell you it’s six games. It’s going to be the ebb and flow and it could be ever-changing.”"

O’Brien, who is a junior, had two tackles last week against the Bowling Green Falcons, including one sack for a seven-yard loss.

He has been the leader of a very young but deep defensive line. That makes him a huge loss.

However, that simply means that more guys in the rotation will have to step up. Senior Owen Williams and Junior Kendall Vickers are the veterans who will start on the line, but it is time for Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie, the highly touted freshmen, to step up in the rotation.

Jones said that Tuttle is ahead of McKenzie right now due to spring ball, but it is time to see both of them in action. Without O’Brien as the catalyst, it will take raw potential now to keep the unit fresh and allow the Tennessee football team get much needed pressure on Oklahoma.

Next: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma: Five Keys for Each Team

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