KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 06: A general view of the Tennessee Volunteers taking the field before the start of their game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 6, 2007 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Tennessee set to get back big time defender after being cleared by judicial panel

The Vols' defense just got even better.

Tennessee thought it might be without JUCO transfer Alexis Johnson this season because of an arrest in mid-February. He was charged with aggravated assault and false imprisonment after allegedly choking a female victim and holding her against her will.

RELATED: Alexis Johnson has one charge dropped, another reduced

Two months later, a judge reduced the aggravated assault charge and completely dropped the false imprisonment charge. The defensive tackle had been indefinitely suspended from the team, but it seems that the way has been paved for him to play at Tennessee. Johnson has been cleared by a Tennessee Student Judicial Panel who came to its decision on Wednesday.

RELATED: Alexis Johnson suspended from team after arrest

Head coach Butch Jones still has to give the word on Johnson's suspension from the team, but it very much looks like he will be in the fold for this season. The 6'4", 295-pound DT could be another huge piece along the defensive line on a team that's already stacked with Kahlil McKenzie, Jonathan Kongbo, Shy Tuttle and Corey Vereen.

 

[h/t CollegeFootballTalk]