QB Schaeffer leaving Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Quarterback Brent Schaeffer is leaving Tennessee after being suspended from the team this month following his arrest.


Schaeffer, who would have been a sophomore this fall, will leave school at the end of the spring semester. He had been charged with misdemeanor assault stemming from a dormitory fight with a student.


Coach Phillip Fulmer said Friday the decision was a "mutual agreement" in "everyone's best interest." Schaeffer's family in Florida declined to comment and the player could not immediately be reached.


Schaeffer and fellow freshman Erik Ainge vied for the starting job last year but both were injured and didn't finish the season. Schaeffer broke his collarbone in a game at South Carolina in October.


He became the first true freshman to start at quarterback in a Southeastern Conference opener since 1945. He started the next two games before Ainge took over, but then Ainge separated his shoulder. Rick Clausen finished the season as the starter.


All three were to compete for the starting job this spring until Schaeffer was suspended.


Schaeffer, fast and elusive, finished the season 18-of-37 for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 33 times for one touchdown.


Schaeffer and receiver Bret Smith were arrested April 10. Part of Schaeffer's involvement was caught on tape by a video camera in the dorm lobby. A police report said Schaeffer picked up Quantavios Emerson, who had been arguing with Schaeffer's girlfriend about a cell phone, threw him to the floor, then hit Emerson while he was down.


Eleven Tennessee football players have been either arrested or cited for crimes ranging from aggravated assault to underage drinking since February 2004.

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Good call Hawaii. This kid was a stud at Deerfield Beach High. In his senior year in 2003 he passed for 2,177 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for another 397 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, taking the Bucks to the Class 6A state semifinals.

Even though Schaeffer has to sit out a year if he transfers to another D-I school, he still has a redshirt available so he can still play for three more seasons. He would be a nice fit into Schnelly's offense.

sign'em up……..