UT walk-on is arrested

Faison, suspended two games, is fifth player charged since Jan. 11

By Drew Edwards

Originally published 04:16 p.m., February 2, 2008
Updated 08:59 p.m., February 2, 2008

Tennessee's off-the-field woes continued this weekend with the arrest of walk-on defensive back Vince Faison for driving under the influence.

On Saturday, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer suspended the 27-year-old Faison, a former first-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, for two games this season.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Faison is the first of five players charged by police since Jan. 11 to be suspended.

"Vince has embarrassed himself and his team," Fulmer said in a statement. "We expect all our players - scholarship or walk-on - to be good citizens.

"Any breaking of a law is serious. DUI is a very serious offense. Vince will be suspended for two games and required to undergo alcohol evaluation and counseling in addition to other internal punishments."

Faison was arrested by UT police early Saturday morning and was booked into the Knox County Detention Center at 6:20 a.m. He has since been released.

No details of the incident were immediately available Saturday, and a UT police report will not be available until Monday. Jimmy Hyams of The Sports Animal, which broke news of Faison's arrest Saturday afternoon, reported that Faison was arrested near the Cumberland Avenue Strip on campus.

Faison enrolled at UT in January after a nine-year career in baseball's minor leagues. He is projected to play defensive back when the Vols begin spring practice March 11.

The Vols have been busy making the police blotter during the past three weeks.

Freshmen wide receivers Gerald Jones and Ahmad Paige were charged with possession of marijuana on Jan. 11 while hosting a recruit on his official visit.

UT police arrested freshman tailback Daryl Vereen on Jan. 21 for public intoxication after responding to a fight call outside a campus residence hall.

Last Saturday, Knoxville police arrested junior All-SEC offensive lineman Anthony Parker for disorderly conduct at an off-campus apartment.

Faison was one of the top-rated football recruits in the South while at Toombs County High School in Lyons, Ga. He signed a football scholarship with Georgia before the San Diego Padres made him the 20th overall pick of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft.

He spent 2007 with the Midland RockHounds, the Class AA Texas League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. He also played with minor-league affiliates of the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners after spending six seasons in the Padres organization.