Tennessee junior defensive back Kenneth George Jr. has been reinstated to the Vols according to Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Longtime Knoxville reporter Jimmy Hyams relayed the quotes from Pruitt as UT’s head coach conducted an interview while making the rounds at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
George was suspended indefinitely in March when he was arrested on spring break in Florida. At the time, George faced four charges after his arrest on allegations that he punched a Miami Beach police offer. George faced charges of “battery of a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, resisting an officer without violence, and disorderly conduct.” The first two charges are third-degree felonies while the other two are misdemeanors.
The Lafayette, Louisiana native was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami where he was held on $5,000 bond.
According to the police report, George began shouting profanities at an officer as the officer approached him after responding to a report that the Vol defensive back was walking in a westbound lane.
George proceeded to ignore the officer’s commands and approached him. As the officer proceeded to steer George to the sidewalk, away from separate officers making an arrest, George punched the officer in the head. He then fled on foot as the officer attempted to arrest him. Two officers stopped George and arrested him.
Now it appears George will remain on Tennessee’s roster and will suit up in the fall with the rest of the team.
George signed with Tennessee out of Trinity Valley Community College as a late addition to the Vols’ 2018 signing class. In his first year with the Vols last season, George appeared in four games and redshirted following a season-ending injury. The redshirt junior played against West Virginia, East Tennessee State, UTEP, and Florida to begin the season. He totaled three tackles.
At Trinity Valley, George redshirted his first year and added 50 pounds while also growing several inches. He totaled 27 tackles and two interceptions in 11 games.
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound defensive back is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana and played high school ball at Acadiana High School.
Tennessee opens its 2019 season on Aug. 31 with a home game against Georgia State. Kick-off is set for 3:30 PM Eastern.
