Josh Heupel reacts to the Jimmy Calloway incident, ejection

During Saturday’s victory for Tennessee over the Akron, Volunteers wide receiver Jimmy Calloway was ejected in the third quarter for punching a Zips defensive back multiple times while their helmet was on. The Vols’ wideout was in the locker room before the ejection was officially announced, because it was crystal clear what he did and Calloway immediately knew he was going to be tossed from the game.

Of course, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel wasn’t happy with the situation, as he reacted to the moment during his postgame press conference.

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“Just disappointing, because it takes away from the rest of the football game,” Heupel stated, speaking of his reaction. “It’s not who we are or what we stand for in any area of our program. He’s disappointed too, in what happened. A teachable moment for every body. Can’t do it.

“We’re not going to be able to do that and beat good football teams here as we get into conference play. Can’t do anything that takes away from the team, that hurts the team.”

Moreover, the scuffle was instigated to a degree by Akron defensive back Tyson Durant, who put his hands up in Calloway’s facemask following a Tennessee running play. Calloway was heated and threw several punches at Durant with his helmet on, landing a few of them.

Check out the play here, where Calloway and Durant get into a scuffle that ended with Calloway being sent back to the locker room.

Jimmy Calloway what the hell did I just watch? 💀 pic.twitter.com/wUp2O0ufg3

— Caden Davis (@CadenDSports) September 18, 2022

On the night, Calloway finished the night with two catches for 20 receiving yards before walking to the Tennessee locker room. We’ll have to wait and see what other potential discipline he could face in the future.

In 2021 as a sophomore, Calloway hauled in five catches for 84 receiving yards and a touchdown. As a freshman for the Vols in 2020, he saw action on both special teams and at wideout. 

As a high school prospect, he was one of the highest-rated athletes in the country. Calloway was rated as the No. 42 wide receiver in America, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2020 cycle. He was a track and field star at Morrow High School (Morrow, Georgia) and was clocked at 10.7 in the 100-meter dash.

Tennessee won the game with Akron in blowout fashion, 63-6, so the ejection had little to no effect on the outcome of Saturday night’s game. Tennessee signal-caller Hendon Hooker once again shined, completing 14 of 18 passes for 298 yards, while tossing in two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Vols’ wide receiver Jalin Hyatt had a monster performance, hauling in five catches for 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this article.