Tennessee Dismisses Janzen Jackson

In a remarkable reversal, Tennessee has dismissed star safety Janzen Jackson. The school included this carefully crafted statement from Derek Dooley:

"Our program has devoted a tremendous amount of energy, resources, support, and care in an effort to help Janzen manage his personal challenges," said Dooley. "I will always be there to help him as a person, but there comes a time when a player's actions preclude him from the privilege of playing for the University of Tennessee football team.

"Although I'm disappointed with this outcome, we will never compromise the long-term organizational values and goals we maintain here at Tennessee."

Jackson originally left school back in February due to "personal issues", though he was always expected to be back by fall practice. He was reinstated in July, which coincided with his registering for classes. While he has been in trouble before, as he was a part of the infamous armed robbery that involved a pellet gun and a Prius, the school never characterized his more recent times off the team as punishments. He left the team briefly in December before the Music City Bowl in addition to his more prolonged leave through the spring and summer.

It's still unclear what Jackson's "personal issues" are, as the school has never said what they are and no leaks have come out to describe them. Clearly those issues were with something that violates normal decorum and/or behavior. Hopefully he can find a way to get on the right track somewhere else, because he's a very talented player who could have a bright future when he gets his life in order.

UPDATE

Former Tennessee player and current Knoxville radio host Jayson Swain reports that a failed drug test is why Jackson was dismissed. I didn't want to speculate, but that was my guess as it's the explanation that would explain the entire timeline the best.