Rhiannon Potkey

Knoxville News Sentinel

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee redshirt freshman offensive lineman Venzell Boulware is academically ineligible and will miss the Music City Bowl.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

“Venzell is a great young man. He will be better for it and he has still practiced and has had one of the best bowl practices that we had,” Jones said. “But due to academics, he will not be available.”

Boulware didn't pass enough hours for the fall semester to remain eligible. He will be able to return to the team for spring practices. Jones said Boulware is the only Tennessee player impacted by an academic issue for the bowl game.

The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Boulware played in seven games this season, making three starts at guard. His third start came in the regular-season ending loss to Vanderbilt.

Jones met with Boulware and is confident he will learn from his mistake.

“He has a great mother and a great foundation and he understands. Going back and (asking) where did we go wrong? How do we make things better,” Jones said. “And the thing is, what I like about him, he’s been very realistic and upfront and we all know he’s a great person. Like I said, it’s just like your children. Sometimes it takes something like this, and he will be better for it and I know he’ll bounce back.”

Jones said Boulware’s absence won’t have a major impact on the offensive line rotation when Tennessee (8-4) plays Nebraska (9-3) on Dec. 30 (TV: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. EST) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

“It doesn’t really change much obviously. I think another individual who has had a very good two weeks of bowl preparation has been Jack Jones," Jones said. "I think Jack Jones has really done a very good job, and then obviously getting Dylan Wiesman back as well, who had to miss a couple of games with injuries. Having him back has helped us in moving forward.”

Home for the Holidays: The Tennessee players were allowed to return home to visit their families after the team finished practice on Tuesday.

The players will return to campus on Saturday for a light practice and have a Christmas Eve team dinner. The Vols will practice in the afternoon on Christmas Day and leave for Nashville on Dec. 26.

“I thought it was important to let them go home for a few days and be around their families and then we will come back,” Jones said. “Our game plan is in place, so if we had to play the game tomorrow we’d be able to do that.”

Although the players had a short break from football before they began bowl preparations, they were still in the midst of studying for finals. Jones hopes by giving them a rest from both football and academics the Vols will be fully rejuvenated.

“I do think it’s very beneficial. First and foremost our football program is based on family, so for them to be able to see their families (is beneficial). But I do think they need a mental break as well,” Jones said. “They have been going. It’s been a long, long football season and when you tie in the rigors of academics - exams and everything that goes into it - then being here while nobody else is on campus, kind of having a pro mentality now where it’s all football. I do think that you need time to clear your mind, relax, enjoy your family and I expect to see an even more energized football team when we come back on the 24th.”

Nebraska Quarterback Quandary: Tennessee has been preparing to face two Nebraska quarterbacks. Senior starter Tommy Armstrong has been hampered by a hamstring injury and his status for the bowl game is in doubt.

Backup Ryker Fyfe has been taking most of the first-team reps with Nebraska during bowl preparations.

“Well it is a challenge, but both quarterbacks are very, very talented and you have to prepare for both, you watch video on both,” Jones said. “And again, it just gets back to your habits in practice and your style of play. Just overall execution - the details, the communication - to me that’s what it’s all about.”

Athletic Director Search: Beverly Davenport was approved as Tennessee’s new chancellor last week and is tasked with hiring a new athletic director to replace Dave Hart, who is retiring.

Despite the impending change at the top, Jones said his relationship with Hart has remained status quo.

“Nothing has changed,” Jones said. “He was at practice today. He is in my office just like normal, so there has been no change.”

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