Tennessee D-Lineman in assault charge

Tennessee defensive lineman Alexis Johnson was arrested for domestic assault on Wednesday night and has been suspended by the team.

According to The Tennesseean, Johnson was charged with “one count of aggravated assault and one count of false imprisonment after authorities say he attacked a woman he’d been dating”.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel said, quoting a warrant: “The victim, who previously dated Johnson on two occasions, told police she was “play fighting” with him in the living room and the bedroom of his apartment sometime between 3-5 a.m. Sunday when the horseplay turned violent, according to arrest warrants. The episode escalated when the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Johnson placed his hand around the victim’s throat, repeatedly choking her to the point that she could not fight back and felt she was going to pass out, warrants state. A witness said Johnson “appeared to be really punching her,” and that the victim’s lip was “busted.”

The warrant added: “The defendant attempted to repetitively touch and kiss her and she repeatedly stated that she did not want to have sex with him,” the warrants state. “(The) victim attempted to leave the bedroom and said the defendant blocked the door prohibiting her exit. While doing so, the defendant stated, ‘You think I won’t (expletive) you up?”

Johnson- a former four-star recruit- hasn’t actually played a down for Tennessee, after spending the last two years in a community college.