Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who stepped on the face of a Vanderbilt punter returner during Saturday’s game, has been suspended by the SEC for the first half of the Volunteers’ upcoming bowl game, league commissioner Greg Sankey announced Wednesday.
In the fourth quarter of Tennessee’s 28-10 victory in its regular-season finale, the senior wideout stepped on Vanderbilt’s Justice Shelton-Mosley after tackling the punt returner.
Along the sideline, Shelton-Mosley lost his helmet during a scuffle and was on the ground when he got stepped on.
He grabbed his face with both hands after the incident. Both teams got involved in a fight along the sideline and on the field. Neither Jennings nor other players involved in the fracas were penalized.
However, a conference video review determined Jennings committed a flagrant personal foul that resulted in his suspension, according to NCAA Football Playing Rule 9-6-2.
It states that “if subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game.”
After the game, SEC Network analyst D.J. Shockley, who worked the broadcast, tweeted, “This was an inexcusable action and has no place in college football. One of the worst things I’ve seen in a long time.”
Jennings leads Tennessee in catches (57) for 942 yards with eight touchdowns this season.
“Commissioner Sankey shared his perspective on the actions in question, we had a long conversation about the matter, and we will honor the suspension,” Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer said in a statement. “Jauan has been nothing but outstanding for our team and program this entire season.”
Tennessee’s bowl game and opponent have yet to be determined.
