Josh Heupel gives latest on Jaylen McCollough

Josh Heupel provided the latest on Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough, was was listed on the Knox County arrest report charged with aggravated assault on Sunday, per VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs. 

McCollough is in his fourth season as a starting safety for the Volunteers, and has recorded 23 tackles so far this year. He has played all 40 games since the beginning of his true freshman season in 2019.

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“No, I don’t,” responded Heupel, asked for an update on McCollough. “We learned of it really late yesterday. As we gather more information, I’ll have more for you. … We’ll have a conversation based on the facts of it and go from there.”

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the police report states the incident occurred Sunday afternoon at 3:28 p.m. ET. A man said he had been drinking with friends at an apartment complex when he went to retrieve items from his vehicle. He returned to the building and went to the wrong apartment, knocking on McCollough’s door instead of his friends’.

When no one answered, the man stated that he stepped inside the apartment. He immediately realized it was the wrong one and apologized, turning to leave before being pursued by an unknown male, presumed to be McCollough. 

The man said he apologized once again, but also told McCollough he “didn’t have to be a (expletive) about it.” The man then tried to leave, but was struck in the face and fell down a staircase before losing consciousness. He later regained consciousness as he said a male and female helped him to his feet.

Police said when McCollough returned to the scene, his right hand was in bandages, with blood showing on his hand, according to the report. The report also described the other man as having a bloody, swollen mouth and missing teeth when they arrived, and said police discovered blood on the staircase.

McCollough was taken into custody and did not answer any questions at the scene. He is the third Tennessee player to be arrested for assault in the past two months.

On Sept. 11, offensive lineman Savion Herring, a junior college transfer, was arrested on a charge of domestic assault. On Aug. 21, linebacker William Mohan, a Michigan transfer, was arrested on a charge of felony aggravated domestic assault. Both players were dismissed from the team.

A former four-star recruit in the 2019 class, McCollough ranked as the No. 165 overall player and No. 19 safety according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Throughout his career with the Volunteers, he has accumulated 141 tackles (10 for loss), two sacks, three interceptions and 12 passes defended. 

The news comes less than a week before the No. 6 Volunteers are set to take on No. 3 Alabama in Knoxville, and puts McCollough’s status in serious doubt. Kickoff for that game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this article.