University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer on Wednesday suspended defensive back Marsalous Johnson for four games and dismissed freshman tight end Lee Smith.

Johnson, 20, is accused of pointing a black plastic toy Uzi at an off-duty law enforcement officer Sunday night in Putnam County.

Smith, 18, who was charged Wednesday with drunken driving, was dismissed from the team.

"We have excellent positive energy around our team," Fulmer said in a statement. "We have many outstanding young men and those are the ones we will work with, and the ones that have been inconsiderate of our program or act immaturely will be left behind.

"Marsalous and Lee have embarrassed this great university and not presented themselves in a manner that appropriately represents our program. I have demanded accountability from our players and the team, and these two players have not followed instructions.

"As for Marsalous, he has been suspended from the football team for the first four games regardless of the outcome of his court appearance for not following my instructions to walk away from any potential trouble. When classes begin (Aug. 23), he will be required to move back into the dorm and return his car to his home as well as perform 50 hours of community service. His practice status will be as a member of the scout team.

"Any reinstatement of Marsalous depends on his attitude and demonstration of accountability."

Fulmer made the decision to suspend Johnson after investigating the incident, which occurred on Interstate-40 near Cookeville.

UT linebacker Rico McCoy, a freshman redshirt from Washington, D.C., was a passenger in Johnson’s car and was not charged.

Johnson, from Smyrna, was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly pointed what an incident report described as a toy weapon at Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoover.

But the report also indicated that officers recovered numerous plastic pellets from the interior of Johnson’s car indicating that the replica weapon could expel a projectile.

Johnson, however, told officers Sunday night that he didn’t point anything at Hoover.

Johnson, a redshirt freshman who is expected to provide depth at cornerback for the Vols, said UT was "my all-time favorite team," when he committed to play for UT before his senior year in high school.

He said he had considered Ohio State and Florida State among other schools but said, "Why wait when you can play for the team you’ve always rooted for?"

The events leading to the charge and Johnson’s suspension occurred about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a Putnam County Sheriff’s Department incident report obtained by the Associated Press and the complaint filed in Putnam County Sessions Court.

According to those documents, the events unfolded as follows:

Johnson and McCoy, in a Chevrolet Caprice, and Hoover and his passenger, in Hoover Ford F-150, were both traveling east on I-40.

Hoover said in the complaint that Johnson was following Hoover’s truck too closely and became upset when Hoover had to brake for slowing traffic.

But Johnson told Putnam County Deputy James Patterson — who responded to the call and did the incident report — that Hoover "was slamming on his brakes trying to get him to rear end him."

The documents indicate that Hoover and Johnson were both traveling in the left, or fast, lane, on I-40.

Johnson subsequently pulled out from behind Hoover’s truck and moved into the right lane to pull up even with Hoover’s truck.

Hoover said in the complaint that Johnson then pointed what appeared to be a weapon at the deputy and his passenger "in a threatening manner placing them in fear of imminent bodily harm."

Both Johnson and McCoy denied pointing anything at the occupants of the other vehicle, though Johnson said he yelled at the truck.

Hoover called for help and both Patterson and Monterey Police Officer Chad York responded to the call, with York pulling Johnson over.

"He (Johnson) again denied pointing a gun at Deputy Hoover," Patterson wrote.

York, however, found the "black, plastic toy Uzi," under the passenger seat of Johnson’s vehicle.

Johnson told officers it belonged to him but said he had forgotten it was under the seat.

McCoy also told officers no one had pointed anything at the other driver.

Johnson appeared in Putnam County Sessions Court on Monday where his case was reset to Sept. 6. He was released on a $10,000 bond.

Randy Kenner may be reached at 865-342-6305.