The University of Tennessee said Tuesday it would monitor freshman football player Lee Smith’s possible involvement in an alleged sex and grade-fixing scandal at Powell High School.

Smith, who enrolled at UT in June after signing a full athletic scholarship with the Vols in February, swore in an affidavit dated Tuesday and obtained by the News Sentinel that he did not have a sexual or inappropriate relationship with Powell assistant principal Kim Kallenberg.

Kallenberg, 36, was placed on administrative leave with pay July 14, while Knox County Schools’ human resources department investigates allegations she had a sexual relationship with a student and tampered with several students’ grades.

While Smith signed the affidavit, it is unclear whether the allegations of sexual misconduct and grade changing are related.

"This is the first we’ve heard of the situation," UT athletic department spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter said. "At this time, we do not have plans to investigate, however, we will continue to monitor the situation.

"If we saw any proof that there had been some academic tampering we would look into it."

Should the university find reason to investigate, the school would convene its Athletics Admissions Committee. That group would include members of the admissions staff as well as Todd Diacon, a faculty representative and chairman of the UT athletics board who also heads the history department.

The committee would look at Smith’s transcript and conduct its own interviews with Smith and other involved parties.

Smith’s father, Daryle Smith, said his son was not involved. He also said that Lee Smith scored a 25 out of a possible 36 on his ACT.

"You can’t fix the ACT," said Daryle Smith, an assistant coach at Powell who played on the offensive line at UT from 1984-86 and later in the NFL. "He’s a local kid. There’s all kinds of rumors (about Lee)."

The younger Smith transferred to Powell from Central before his junior year. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end finished the 2004 season with 387 yards on 24 receptions and six touchdowns. He recorded 36 tackles and five sacks as a defensive end.

As a senior, he had 19 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns and 42 tackles with three sacks. He was also a standout basketball player at Powell.

Smith’s high school football coach said he was not aware of any academic trouble involving his star athlete.

"I was never concerned about Lee qualifying," said Larry Stephens, who resigned as football coach in January and no longer teaches at the school. "We monitored him just like we did our other seniors, making sure they got their stuff done. I was never aware there was anything out of line in that area at all. We were always told he was on track."

In 2005, Tennessee investigated concerns with then-freshman defensive back Demetrice Morley’s transcript, regarding his involvement with University High School in Miami.

In that instance, UT sent its associate athletic director for compliance, Brad Bertani, to investigate University High and submitted a report to the SEC, which in turn forwarded the findings to the NCAA.

The NCAA recently listed University High on its list of schools that have not been cleared for use in determining initial eligibility.

Morley, who was one of 14 Division I athletes named in a New York Times story about the south Florida correspondence school, remained eligible during UT’s investigation and did not miss any playing time.

Smith is eligible to participate in drills when fall camp begins Aug. 4.

Dave Hooker contributed to this report.

Drew Edwards may be reached at 865-342-6274.