Safety Janzen Jackson withdraws from Tennessee

By Austin Ward
Shortly after the first significant shakeup of his coaching staff became official, Derek Dooley was hit with one to his roster.
The Tennessee coach will be without the player widely considered to be his best heading into spring practice, and there’s no timetable for a return.
After parting ways with defensive line coach Chuck Smith on Sunday, Vols safety Janzen Jackson withdrew from school Monday to continuing dealing with the personal problems that forced him to miss workouts in December before the Music City Bowl. His decision to leave school definitively rules him out of team functions this semester and leaves his status with UT unclear heading into what would be his junior season.

“Janzen continues to battle personal issues of which our program is always going to be very supportive of,” Dooley said. “His withdrawal from school has nothing to do with disciplinary reasons on the football team and everything to do with a continuing battle of deep personal issues, of which we’re very supportive of.
Jackson will have to handle them all away from team activities for at least the rest of this spring, though he could conceivably return by fall practice if his issues are taken care of even without passing credits this spring due to a one-time missed-semester NCAA waiver.
As he did throughout bowl preparation, Dooley refused to provide any details on the personal matter or address the likelihood of Jackson returning to the program -- aside from reiterating his support for the second-team All-SEC performer.
“His leaving for bowl practice was not a punishment, and as long as he continues to manage his personal issues and football and school, he’s going to be welcomed back in the program,” Dooley said. “He’s clearly reached a point where the personal issues have become much greater than his ability to manage workouts and school.
“Until he gets a little clarity on those issues, we’re going to support him.”
Aside from the absence of roster, Dooley’s roster heading into spring practice next month also became clearer with the announced departures of defensive back Ted Meline, linebacker Jerod Askew and offensive lineman Cody Pope.
Meline withdrew from school as well for personal reasons, Askew was dismissed for violation of team rules and Pope appears headed for a medical exemption for his lingering stinger issue and is also no longer a part of the program.
The Vols will have one addition back into the fold heading into practice though, with the suspension of Art Evans now over with his problem tied to late car payments apparently now cleared up.
“Art Evans has had his suspension lifted, so he’s working out with the team,” Dooley said. “He cleaned up his compliance concerns, and he’s been reinstated, approved and ready to go.”
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