A key Tennessee Vols player will miss the first half of UT’s game against UTSA next Saturday due to the scuffle that broke out at the end of the Florida game on Saturday night.
Vols defensive limeman Omarr Norman-Lott, a transfer from Arizona State, won’t play in the first half against UTSA after being suspended for throwing a punch at a Florida player.
Three Florida players have also been suspended for the first half of the Gators’ next game.
Vols cornerback Kamal Hadden was not suspended for his role in the scuffle. Hadden was seen “squared up” with Florida offensive lineman Micah Mazzaccua. But it was apparent from the TV broadcast of the game that Hadden was simply protecting himself after trying to break up the fight.
Hadden posted a message to Instagram immediately after the game telling his side of the story.
The scuffle started after Vols head coach Josh Heupel called a timeout with nine seconds to play ahead of the Gators’ fourth down play. Florida quarterback Graham Mertz took the snap on fourth down and tried to kill time in the backfield before taking a knee. Mertz was hit by Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas, who tried to miss Mertz once the quarterback was in position to take a knee.
Thomas explained his view of what went down on Monday at the Knoxville Quarterback Club (via GoVols247).
Thomas was initially called for targeting on the play, but it was overturned which means he won’t miss the first half against UTSA on Saturday in Knoxville.