Faison was reportedly arrested early Saturday morning by UT police near the Cumberland Ave, Strip on campus, and booked into the Knox County Detention Center at 6:20 a.m. He becomes the fifth UT player arrested in four separate incidents occurring over a period of three weeks.
In a news statement released by the University,.Phillip Fulmer has already handed down a two-game suspension, and indicated other in-house punishment would be administered.
"Vince has embarrassed himself and his team," Fulmer said in the statement. "We expect all our players — scholarship or walk-on — to be good citizens.
"Any breaking of a law is serious. DUI is a very serious offense. Vince will be suspended for two games and required to undergo alcohol evaluation and counseling in addition to other internal punishments.:
Faison, who turned 27 last month, originally signed to play football at Georgia in 1999. However in June that year he was drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 20th pick in the first round, and inked a seven-figure deal. He spent the better part of nine seasons as an outfielder in the minors, mostly at the AA level. A good glove with plenty of speed he lacked the arm to play center or right field and didn’t hit for enough power to be a regular in left.
ESPN the Magazine reported the 6-foot. 200-pound Faision had impressed Tennessee coaches with his speed and athleticism during winter workouts, and is slated to get repetitions in the secondary.
Jimmy Hyams, of the Sports Animal, was credited in the News Sentinel report with breaking the story on the air Saturday afternoon.