Justus Pickett leaves Tennessee
Tennessee walk-on running back Justus Pickett is “no longer a part of the football team,” head coach Butch Jones confirmed Thursday. Pickett transferred from Maryland last year and was ruled academically ineligible for the Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Bowl against Iowa after not earning enough credit hours.
“Justus was a walk-on for us, and some academic things have occurred,” Jones said following Tennessee’s practice Thursday inside Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
“When you’re paying for school, you have to make some decisions, so he will not accompany us. He couldn’t, anyway, because of some transfer rules. But he’s no longer a part of the football team.”
Pickett is the latest player to leave Tennessee’s program, following fellow running back Derrell Scott, defensive end Dewayne Hendrix and tight end Daniel Helm.
Pickett’s status was determined “right at the end” of the fall semester, according to Jones. The 5-foot-10, 199-pound running back appeared in eight games and rushed for 64 yards on 22 carries.