Tennessee Volunteers sophomore cornerback Bryce Thompson was suspended from the team indefinitely pending review of his case after he was jailed on charges of misdemeanor domestic violence.
“We hold student-athletes to a high standard. The safety of all students is our first priority here at Tennessee,” Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said Monday.
The charge stems from an argument between Thompson and a woman at the Knoxville campus’ Stokely Hall on Saturday night, in which Thompson allegedly told the woman he would “slap the (expletive) out of (her).” Other witnesses reportedly told police they heard him threaten to “shoot up the school.”
Thompson and the woman told responding officers they had been in a long-term relationship, according to multiple reports.
The woman said the argument stemmed from her finding false eyelashes in his room. She also claimed that Thompson had punched walls during arguments in the past.
Responding officers found a metal gate that had been unhinged, damaging a wall. Thompson gave conflicting answers as to how the gate had been broken.
Thompson reportedly denied making any threats and was released on $3,000 bond Sunday morning. He faces an initial court date of Sept. 3.
“We are aware of the situation and are waiting for additional information while the appropriate processes take place,” the school told the Knoxville News Sentinel in a statement.
Thompson started 10 of 12 games as a freshman and had been expected to be a starter when the Volunteers open their season against Georgia State on Saturday.