McDaniel suspended after assault charge

They meant on the football field.

The 6-foot-7, 300-pound McDaniel was suspended indefinitely Tuesday after allegedly striking another student during a pick-up basketball game on Jan. 12 at the UT recreation center.

McDaniel turned himself in to police Monday, according to sources with the football team. A warrant was issued Friday with a Class C felony charge of aggravated assault. McDaniel posted a $500 bond at the Knox County Jail and was released. The incident is still under investigation.

"Unfortunately, Tony made a poor decision,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said in a release. "We want our student-athletes to be responsible members of our community. They need to know that they will be held accountable for their actions and these types of issues will not be tolerated.''

The issue has been put before UT's student conduct committee, according to UT athletic director Mike Hamilton.

McDaniel, who turns 20 Thursday, has played in 24 games for Tennessee over the past two seasons. His only start was in this year's Cotton Bowl. McDaniel made 13 tackles last season and had a sack. He was not available for comment.

According to the UT Police Department incident report, the fight occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. Upon the officers' arrival, Edward Goodrich, 26, was being attended to by recreation center personnel. Goodrich, who is 6-4, 205 pounds, according to the police report, had been temporarily knocked unconscious by McDaniel's right hand.

Goodrich said in an affidavit the attack was unprovoked and he suffered four broken bones to the right side of his face and required stitches. There was swelling and bruising to his right eye, according to the police report.

Goodrich refused to be transported by ambulance after the incident, but he later went to the hospital with a friend. Goodrich, who said Tuesday when contacted that he was attending class, was not required to stay overnight.

McDaniel's status with the Vols won't be clear until the UT student conduct committee has reviewed the matter, Hamilton said.

The most recent UT player charged with a felony was safety Brandon Johnson, who discharged a firearm in October. Johnson, who had prior disciplinary matters with the Vols, was dismissed from the team.

McDaniel, who is from Columbia, S.C., has not had any prior disciplinary issues, Fulmer said.

Douglas Home: UT junior offensive guard Cody Douglas returned to his home in La Marque, Texas, Tuesday morning, after learning Monday that his older brother, Zack, was killed in a four-wheeler accident.

Douglas suffered an anxiety attack after learning of the death of his sibling and was taken to the UT Medical Center where he had an EKG test performed. Douglas checked out fine and was released. Fulmer, along with secondary coach Larry Slade, who recruited Douglas, and James Mitchell, UT's Fellowship of Christian Athletes director, attended to Douglas at the hospital upon learning of the situation.