Senior defensive tackle Danny O'Brien was dismissed from the Tennessee football program on Monday for a “violation of team rules,” according to a release from UT media relations.

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Tennessee senior defensive tackle Danny O'Brien

The Tennessee release didn’t disclose the reason for O’Brien’s dismissal but said it was “unrelated” to his scary-looking injury from the ninth-ranked Vols’ 45-38, double-overtime loss at eighth-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday in College Station.

O’Brien — a starter and one of the Vols’ team leaders and most popular players in the locker room — left Saturday’s game on a stretcher but ultimately flew back to Knoxville with the team after being examined at a local hospital.

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“Defensive lineman Danny O'Brien has been dismissed from the Tennessee football team for violation of team rules,” the release stated. “This news is unrelated to the injury he suffered against Texas A&M. However, should he require any additional care, it will be provided by the University of Tennessee.”

Tennessee hosts top-ranked Alabama on Saturday at Neyland Stadium in a 3:30 p.m. Eastern game that will be broadcast by CBS.

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