A University of Tennessee football player charged with aggravated assault was free on bond Monday, but his status with the team was unclear.

Marsalous Johnson, a 20-year-old defensive back from Smyrna, was charged Sunday night in Putnam County after he allegedly pointed a toy weapon at another driver on Interstate 40 near Cookeville.

The other driver turned out to be an off-duty law enforcement officer.

Johnson, a red-shirt freshman expected to provide depth at cornerback this fall, appeared in court Monday where his case was continued until Sept. 6.

He was released on a $10,000 bond.

A second UT player, Rico McCoy, an 18-year-old linebacker from Washington, D.C., was in the car with Johnson but was not charged.

UT coach Philip Fulmer said Monday afternoon that he wanted to look into the matter before making any decision on possible disciplinary action.

"We're looking at it as a very serious matter," Fulmer said.

UT's football team is set to report to campus Thursday, and practice begins Friday.

The Vols open the 2006 season at home on Sept. 2 against California.

The complaint against Johnson was filed by Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Hoover.

According to the document, both Johnson and Hoover were traveling east on I-40 when Johnson allegedly became upset with Hoover, who is also a part-time Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer.

Hoover, who was driving a Red Ford F-150 pickup, said that Johnson was following him too closely and then became upset when the deputy had to brake for slowing traffic in front of him.

The complaint states "(Johnson) became upset because he had to slow down and pulled alongside (Hoover's) vehicle in the right lane and pointed what appeared to be a weapon" at Hoover and his passenger.

The complaint goes on to state that after Johnson's vehicle was stopped, officers found a black plastic toy Uzi under the passenger seat.

According to a Putnam County Sheriff's Department incident report, obtained by The Associated Press, Johnson stated that the deputy slammed on his brakes in an attempt to get Johnson to rear-end his truck.

Johnson said he pulled up beside Hoover's truck and yelled at him but said he did not point anything at Hoover, according to the incident report filed by Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy James Patterson.

"They (Johnson and McCoy) both denied having any weapons or pointing anything at the other driver," the report states.

Johnson admitted he owned the black plastic Uzi found beneath the passenger seat of his car but told officers he forgot it was there, according to the incident report.

Two other UT players, Marvin Mitchell and Jim Bob Cooter, are suspended indefinitely after being arrested in incidents earlier this year.

Mitchell, a senior linebacker expected to be a starter, was suspended after being arrested for disorderly conduct last spring.

Fulmer has indicated, however, that he expects Mitchell to be on the field for the season opener, according to Tiffany Carpenter, public relations director for UT's Athletics Department.

Cooter, a senior quarterback, was charged with DUI in June, and UT officials have said he will not be eligible for the opener.

Randy Kenner may be reached at 865-342-6305. Sports writer Mike Strange contributed to this story.