The University of Tennessee is in trouble again with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Tennessee is under investigation for potential name, image, and likeness (NIL) across multiple sports, per reports.
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According to a report from CBS Sports, this is the second time the Volunteers have been investigated for something of this magnitude in collegiate athletics. It could be seen as a repeat offender by the NCAA, which would bring on harsher penalties.
Tennessee was in this situation before under Jeremy Pruitt from 2018 to 2020.
Reports state that Pruitt and his staff provided $60,000 of impermissible benefits and recruiting inducements to more than two dozen recruits and their families in a three-year span. Pruitt was hit with a six-year show cause and is currently a physical education teacher and junior high boys’ basketball coach at Plainview High School.
Three players Pruitt coached for Alabama football don’t think he was the over-arching theme of the problems. Will Lowery, Nick Gentry, and Ryan Anderson all witness BCS National Championships with Pruitt.
Anderson was a star edge rusher on the Crimson Tide’s 2016 defense under Pruitt.
With the Vols under fire and Pruitt not there, Lowery, Gentry, and Anderson are campaigning “Free JP” to have him back reinstated for college football. Currently, a school would suffer a one-year suspension if it hired Pruitt for football.
👀 👀 👀 Lemme hear from all those UT fans & other twitter trolls criticizing my comments on Jeremy Pruitt & Tennessee. The root of that debacle & unraveling was & always has been Tennessee, not Pruitt. They’re gonna need some #Volunteer attorneys here soon for all these… https://t.co/R7tg74JAPt
— Will Lowery (@jwlowery29) January 30, 2024
#FreeJP first pick in my trenches 🫡🫡 Don’t let that rocky top clown show fool you – Fulmer&co wanted him out and made him the fall guy to avoid paying his buyout!! Pruitt is an ELITE football mind & coach, will be an enormous asset to whoever “breaks the ice” & hires him 💯💯 https://t.co/8m5jhI0upl
— Will Lowery (@jwlowery29) January 15, 2024
Can’t wait for @CoachJPruitt to get back in the game!!! pic.twitter.com/re779eOXGd
— ✨🏈 “COACH G”Nick Gentry🏈✨ (@nickbgentry) January 14, 2024
Time to reinstate my guy @NCAA!! It wasn’t @CoachJPruitt fault all along from what I see 😂!!! pic.twitter.com/QhJxDEkOAs
— ✨🏈 “COACH G”Nick Gentry🏈✨ (@nickbgentry) January 30, 2024
— Ryan Anderson (@_ryananderson22) January 31, 2024
We will see what happens moving forward, but Pruitt has former players in his corner.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
