Overview
- The incident, which occurred Tuesday, began as a post-play scrum involving Jeffery Simmons and Austin Schlottmann before Simmons swung at right tackle J.C. Latham and assistant coach Tanzel Smart intervened to pull him away.
- Saleh stopped practice, cited the team policy that throwing a punch leads to ejection, and had Simmons finish the day working on a side field where he completed his projected reps.
- Simmons signed a large multi-year extension in June and is a focal point of the rebuilt defensive front, but this is not his first practice altercation and prior scuffles were handled less punitively under previous staff.
- Coaches framed the action as an early cultural message that Tennessee will allow aggressive play but will punish conduct that risks penalties, a priority after last season’s penalty-heavy results.
- There were no reports of further discipline or roster moves after the practice ejection and the team returned to training with pads on and a renewed emphasis on disciplined physical play.