Lee Smith, who was dismissed from Tennessee’s football team after a drunken driving charge on Aug. 2, has transferred to Marshall.

The former Powell High School star joined the team for Thursday’s practice after being accepted to the school in Huntingdon, W.Va., according to Marshall assistant athletic director Randy Burnside.

Smith, who is 6-foot-6 and 245-pounds, also considered Louisville, Auburn and Virginia Tech before choosing Marshall. Several schools contacted Powell and expressed interest in Smith, who could play tight end or defensive end.

Smith will not be placed on scholarship immediately. Instead, he will walk on.

"We were aware of him coming out of high school,’’ Marshall coach Mark Snyder told the Charleston Gazette on Thursday. "He’s a good player. We’re willing to give him a second chance if he keeps a commitment to me.

"He’ll be paying his way here at first and, if he keeps his nose clean, then we’ll put him on scholarship. We want to see if he’s learned a lesson. If so, we’ll put him on scholarship in January and he’ll be ready to roll next year."

Smith will have to sit out one year of competition meaning he’ll be eligible next fall as a redshirt freshman, as per NCAA rules. He was eligible for financial aid immediately thanks to UT coach Phillip Fulmer, who gave Smith an unconditional release from his letter of intent last week.

Marshall plays at Tennessee on Sept 23. In 2009, Tennessee plays at Marshall on Sept. 5 and the following year Marshall plays at Tennessee on Sept. 4.

Smith would have even been allowed to pursue a career at another SEC school, which Fulmer doesn’t typically allow.

Obviously, Fulmer’s relationship with the Smith family played a significant role in his decision.

Fulmer coached Smith’s father, Daryle, the former UT and NFL offensive lineman who is an offensive coordinator at Powell.

Smith was also given an unconditional release because he had not practiced as a Vol. He enrolled in summer school classes in June.

Smith, 18, was arrested Aug. 2, a few days before the start of preseason practice, after a campus police officer saw him driving on the sidewalk.

He was at the center of a Knox County Schools’ investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with suspended Powell vice principal Kim Kallenberg.

Kallenberg was exonerated of the allegations earlier this month. She is still being investigated for inappropriate conduct and grade tampering.

Smith won’t be the only East Tennessee player who has found his way onto Marshall’s roster. Smith’s former Powell teammate, Zane Bruhin, is a redshirt freshman offensive lineman. Senior kicker Ian O’Connor is from Halls and junior offensive lineman John Inman is from Webb School.

One of Marshall’s most-prominent football alumnus is New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, who played at Webb.