Jeremy Pruitt announced the Tennessee football Volunteers linebacker is gone.
In another major blow to Tennessee football, the Vols have dismissed redshirt junior edge rusher Kivon Bennett, who has been their best pass rusher in recent weeks. The move came after an arrest that happened earlier in the day.
According to a report from Caleb Wethington of WATE, Bennett was pulled over for speeding on Neyland Drive. The officer smelled an odor of marijuana, and Bennett admitted that he had marijuana in the car and a gun under the driver’s seat.
Bennett faces multiple drugs and weapons charges stemming from the arrest, as he had 44.9 grams of marijuana, a black digital scale, 58 plastic baggie and a Glock 17 9MM handgun. Pruitt said he incident fell “well short” of the standard for Tennessee football players.
For the year, Bennett leads the Vols in tackles for a loss with seven and a half, and he is tied with Deandre Johnson for the leader in sacks with four and a half. However, Bennett has had two sacks in each of the previous two games, against the Arkansas Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers. He also has a fumble recovery for a touchdown on the year along with 22 tackles, 13 of which were solo.
Without Bennett, Johnson will be the feature edge rusher. He isn’t far behind in tackles for a loss with six, and he also has two forced fumbles along with 22 tackles, 14 of which were solo. Overall, his stats could be considered better than Bennett’s.
Beyond Johnson, though, UT will have to go with the youth movement. Roman Harrison, who has two tackles for a loss, is likely to step into that role. After Harrison, though, the next man up is a complete mystery.
Given how things are going on Rocky Top right now, this is the last thing Tennessee football wanted. Bennett was one bright spot over the past month amidst a program slide, and without him, the Vols are in more trouble than ever.