Warren missing workouts

According to the Florida State registrar's office, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound tight end was enrolled at Florida State as of Tuesday afternoon.

Florida State's sports information department also confirmed that he is enrolled.

The St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday — with Warren's mother, Deirdre as the source — that her son had "resigned from all his classes."

"As soon as the story is ready, I'll have it for you," she told the Tallahassee Democrat for Wednesday's editions.

Brandon Warren, who earned freshman All-America honors after catching 28 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown, is not speaking with reporters, and his voicemail was full Tuesday evening.

Deirdre Warren had a cancerous kidney removed in 2005, although the Democrat reported in January that her cancer has not returned.

The newspaper also reported that Brandon Warren spoke with Seminoles recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach John Lilly over the weekend about leaving the program, and that FSU would likely not release him from his scholarship.

As of Tuesday, he had not officially asked for such a release.

Rumors of a potential transfer to Tennessee have swirled since the freshman first mentioned the possibility before Florida State's Emerald Bowl appearance in late December. Warren picked the Seminoles over the Vols in January of 2006.

Last Friday, when rumors that Warren was leaving Tallahassee surfaced again, a source close to the situation told the News Sentinel that Warren's transfer to Tennessee was "a huge possibility."

Just last week, Warren said on the News Sentinel's daily radio show that he was homesick at times, but that he hadn't thought much about returning to Alcoa.

"I've talked with Mom, and her health is — she's pretty good," he said. "I think I'm going to be (at FSU), but I haven't really been thinking about it."

Because Warren is enrolled at Florida State, he can return to class any time. He has until the end of next week to withdraw from school without receiving grades. According to Florida State, Warren is in good academic standing.

Warren would have until April to apply to Tennessee for summer classes and until June to apply for fall admission.

Should he leave Florida State without finishing this semester, he would be in violation of his national letter of intent, which would likely force him to apply to the NCAA for a hardship waiver.

If the waiver were denied, Warren would not be eligible to play or receive an athletic scholarship until the 2008 school year, leaving him three years to play two.

Warren started nine games for the Seminoles at tight end last season, and was expected to work some at defensive end this spring.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.