Report: JUCO DT Alexis Johnson cleared to return for Tennessee

Six months after being suspended indefinitely from all team activities, Tennessee junior college transfer Alexis Johnson has reportedly been reinstated to the team by head coach Butch Jones.

Vols DT Alexis Johnson is back on the team from indefinite
suspension and Butch Jones said he did well academically, per Ryan Robinson

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) August 19, 2016

Ranked as the nation’s No. 3 junior college defensive tackle in 2016, Johnson arrived to Tennessee in January as an early enrollee. Following his February arrest on charges of aggravated assault and false imprisonment, Johnson was suspended from the team. Since that time, both charges have been dropped against him.

Johnson was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, doing only conditioning drills but now looks to be a full-fledged member of the football team once again.

According to defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, Johnson did not show enough Thursday to determine his status, at least from a conditioning standpoint, heading into the weekend:

Bob Shoop said he hasn't seen enough of Alexis Johnson to judge his conditioning. Butch said yesterday he's still working to rejoin team.

— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) August 19, 2016

With Kahlil McKenzie, Danny O’Brien, Kendal Vickers, Quay Picou, not to mention a rehabbing Shy Tuttle and fellow JUCO signee Jonathan Kongbo, all expected to receive playing time at defensive tackle this fall, Tennessee should have the depth up front to bring Johnson back into the rotation slowly if necessary.