The loss of Danny O’Brien is significant for Tennessee. Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee will face Oklahoma on Saturday in a key non-conference matchup without defensive tackle Danny O’Brien.
Vols coach Butch Jones announced Wednesday that O’Brien was suspended for at least this week’s game for a violation of team policies. Jones didn’t specifiy when the suspension would end.
After No. 23 Tennessee’s game at home against No. 18 Oklahoma (6 p.m. ET on ESPN), the Vols play host to Western Carolina the following week before opening SEC play at Florida on Sept. 26.
“It’s disappointing anytime you have to do that,” Jones said. “It’s like disciplining your own kids. You hate to do it, but you have to do it. We have standards and expectations. … I feel for Danny. He’s done some very good things in our football program. We’re working with him. We’ll see what happens down the road.”
The 6-foot-2, 301-pound O’Brien started the opener against Bowling Green last week and 12 of 13 games in 2014. He has played in 26 career games and has accumulated 37 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and three sacks. One of the sacks came last week.
Jones expects true freshmen Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle to help fill in at defensive tackle while O’Brien is out.
