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Tennessee Football: Vols DT Alexis Johnson Has Charges Dropped, Reduced

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Recent charges for Tennessee Football defensive tackle Alexis Johnson have been dropped or reduced. The Vols’ newcomer is a four-star Rivals JuCo transfer.

Expected to be a crucial part of the Tennessee Volunteers defensive line this Fall, junior college transfer Alexis Johnson had to miss all of spring due to allegations back in February that he tried to choke a woman he previously dated.

Those charges have now been dropped or reduced.

According to a report on 247 Sports and other sources, Johnson was facing a felony assault charge, but it was reduced to a misdemeanor domestic assault charge in Knox County General Sessions Court Thursday. He had a false imprisonment charged dismissed.

The alleged victim is part of the sexual assault lawsuit that is ongoing against the University of Tennessee.

Whatever happened between Johnson and the alleged victim is unknown, and it is wrong to rush to judgment either way. And it is also not clear when Johnson is expected to return to the Vols given the fact that he was suspended due to the charges.

What is clear is that this is a huge boost for Tennessee’s defense and brings the Vols one step closer to meeting the expectations that are sure to be high for the 2016 season.

At 6’4″ 295 pounds, Johnson is expected to be an integral part of the defensive line rotation, particularly in the middle with Kahlil McKenzie, Danny O’Brien, and Shy Tuttle.

He also joins five-star defensive end Jonathan Kongbo as two junior college transfers who committed to the Vols and are expected to have immediate impacts on the defensive line.

It is unfortunate that nobody got to see what he could do in the spring, but his inevitable return before the football season is just one more reason to be excited about the Vols.

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