Tennessee running back Quenshaun Watson, who left the team last week to deal with what his high school coach said were personal issues, was not listed on the spring roster released Monday night and is not expected to rejoin the team.
Watson, who played sparingly as a freshman in 2012, is one of seven members of last February's signing class who have since left the program.
Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore are pursuing pro football after spending one year in Knoxville.
Watson, running back Davante Bourque defensive back Deion Bonner and defensive linemen Trent Taylor and Omari Phillips have also left the program.
Leroy Ryals, who coached Watson at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga., told the News Sentinel his former player is "dealing with some things with his family right now."
A 5-foot-9, 175-pound tailback, Watson was praised by coaches for his performance in camp last August, but he got few carries as the fourth-string running back behind Rajion Neal, Marlin Lane and Devrin Young. Watson played in six games, but was rarely heard from in the second half of the season.
Tennessee has two other scholarship running backs on the roster. Alden Hill redshirted as a true freshman in 2012. Tom Smith, entering his third year with the program, played in three games in 2011 but spent 2012 on the scout team.
Tennessee also formally confirmed the arrival of five early enrollees — Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Paul Harris, Lemond Johnson, Corey Vereen and junior college transfer Riyahd Jones.
Unofficially, the Vols now have 66 scholarship players on the spring roster.
Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee football. Follow him at www.Twitter.com/TennesseeBeat.
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Comments » 10
volfaninusaf writes:
I'm not impressed by Kneel but I do like Lane and wish they could find a system for a back like Young. Having said that I would start any running back that we get if he is better than those three and forget about this seniority phooey. That's why Bryce Brown left.
GloryDays writes:
Dooley had some strange fascination with tiny RB's. Watson is not a SEC callibre player, sorry but this is no loss. Coach Jones is trying to restock the roster with his type players who could contribute. Sorry but the Vols needed his scholarship, those are valuable.
plainspeaker1 writes:
Apparently you have forgotten a "tiny" running back by the name of Travis Stephens.
VOLsince68 writes:
Or Charlie Garner!!!
GloryDays writes:
Remeber him well, he was tougher than a piece of shoe leather. He was faster stronger and I am sure he weighed more than 175.
Voltman writes:
I would still take him as a future workhorse slowly working up the ranks as he gets bigger and stronger. Hes already VERY FAST
willblitz4bacon writes:
What kinda name is QuenShaun anyway? What's up with all these weird names! That's like the name Keegan. What tha flip is a Keegan?
Voltman writes:
WTF is a bieber? :)
Vol_In_The_Ville writes:
Travis Stephens hangs on my wall stomping on a Gator. His famous run in the Swamp is also saved on my phone. My favorite UT player of all time!!
SeaBassHauling writes:
I read another article that his h.s. coach was disappointed in his decision....doesn't sound like personal issues to me...? Just sayn
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