Former Tennessee defensive end Dewayne Hendrix broke his silence on his decision to transfer. The O’Fallon, Ill., native told the Belleville News Democrat that he didn’t enjoy his experience with the program and that a lack of playing time wasn’t the deciding factor.

“I just wasn’t happy,” Hendrix said Tuesday. “I was happy with my playing time, I just didn’t like it here. It just kept getting worse as the season went on.”

Hendrix’s former O’Fallon High School coach, Brandon Joggerst, told the newspaper that he spoke with his former defensive end on Friday and again on Saturday.

“He said it just didn’t feel like the right fit,” Joggerst said. “It wasn’t one incident it didn’t sound like, he just wants to find a fresh start. It caught me off guard pretty much like everybody else. It basically sounded like he wasn’t happy.”

Hendrix was a four-star prospect entering his freshman season. He severed as a backup to fellow freshman defensive end Derek Barnett, who started in every game for the Vols in 2014. Hendrix, who chose Tennessee over Missouri during his recruitment, says he hasn’t made a decision on where he’ll transfer.

“I’m considering everyone right now. My options are wide open,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix must obtain a release from Tennessee before being able to speak with other schools. Even with a release, he will need to sit out a year if he transfers to another major Division I school per NCAA rules and would have three years of eligibility remaining.