Tennessee athletic director Danny White has released a new statement regarding the NCAA’s investigation into the Vols’ football program.

White’s statement is in direct response to a statement put out by the NCAA on Wednesday. White claims the NCAA leaked information to the media about this investigation earlier this week.

The statement also says NCAA investigators “moved the goalpost” on the investigation after it didn’t find any NIL-related violations following a review of coach and personnel phone records. It also contends that the NIL guidelines were written by the NCAA — and not its membership schools — which directly contradicts the public statement made by the NCAA on Wednesday.

“We need to be spending our time and energy on solutions to better organize college athletics in the NIL era — something that NCAA leadership failed to do back in 2021,” White’s statement reads in-part. “Student-athletes, prospective student-athletes, coaches and administrators across the country deserve better, and I refuse to allow the NCAA to irrationally use Tennessee as an example for their own agenda.”

Here’s the statement in-full:

A significant legal battle appears to be brewing over this matter. Attorney Generals from Tennessee and Virginia filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA earlier this week.

Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman has also been very outspoken on this matter. Plowman blasted the NCAA in a letter regarding this infractions case earlier in the process.

This investigation is reportedly centered on Tennessee’s recruitment of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Iamaleava is a former 5-star prospect who is an active member of Tennessee’s program and is expected to start for the Vols at quarterback this fall.

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