Tennessee native Zach Stewart was supposed to fulfill the dream of playing for the Vols after signing with the program back in 2015.

But according to a report from VolQuest.com, the former offensive lineman has given up football after a family tragedy.

Stewart was packed and ready to go to Knoxville last year when his world was rocked by the sudden passing of his mother, Laura, at 42 years old.

He took some time away from football to grieve with his family. And given some time to reflect, he has decided that he will not return to the game.

“A lot of people will say I’m wasting an opportunity but I worked for it, that opportunity, and it’s mine to do with,” Stewart said. “I don’t know if anyone would do anything different than I’m doing.”

Stewart told VolQuest that he still has been working out in anticipation of a return to the gridiron, but his head and heart were no longer in it.

Plus, he acknowledged that it doesn’t take long for SEC speed to pass you by if you’re away from it for too long.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones told VolQuest that Stewart will always be considered a Vol, even though he never put on the uniform as he once planned.

“I can’t say enough about him and his family,” said an emotional Jones. “That’s a young man that’s always on my heart, and he’ll always be a Vol. Just reaching out to him and seeing if there’s anything we can do for him or his family, because they mean the world to us.

“Just everything they’ve been through and also that great community rallying around his family. I’m forever grateful for the time I’ve spent with his mother and again, I just can’t say enough about him and his family.”

Stewart’s mother was a middle school teacher in Coalfield, where he starred as one of the state’s top linemen.

He reportedly plans to go into the teaching profession, just like his parents.