Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell was arrested on Aug. 8 on charges of driving with a suspended license and speeding, according to a Knoxville police report obtained by Knox News.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 20.
Brazzell, 21, is UT’s top returning wide receiver. He had 29 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns last season. His biggest moment was catching the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to beat Alabama last October.
But Brazzell hasn’t been a full participant at practice this preseason because he is rehabbing an unspecified injury.
At about 8:57 p.m. on Aug. 8, police clocked Brazzell driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone in a black Dodge Charger across the Henley Street Bridge in downtown Knoxville near UT campus, the KPD report said.
Police said Brazzell produced a U.S. passport, but he told the officer that he didn’t have his driver’s license with him. The officer then checked motor vehicle records, which revealed that Brazzell’s license was suspended for failing to appear in court in Blount County on Aug. 15, 2024, according to the report.
Due to Brazzell’s history of not appearing for court, according to the report, he was placed under arrest.
“We are aware of the traffic stop involving Chris Brazzell II and have no further comment at this time,” a Tennessee spokesperson told Knox News on Aug. 10.
Chris Brazzell, a redshirt junior from Midland, Texas, transferred from Tulane to Tennessee in 2024. His brother, Colin, is a redshirt freshman walk-on defensive back for the Vols. Their father, Chris Sr., played three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver for the New York Jets (1998-99) and Dallas Cowboys (1999-2000), and seven seasons in the Canadian Football League (2001-07).
How Chris Brazzell arrest could impact Tennessee football
Tennessee has not commented on potential punishments for Brazzell like lost playing time. But his arrest comes at an uncertain time for UT wide receivers.
The Vols have only seven scholarship wide receivers on their 2025 roster. Just three of those have played in a college game, led by Brazzell.
And those three experienced wide receivers have been out or limited by injuries during preseason practice. Brazzell has been sidelined in every practice, although he’s worked out individually with athletic trainers during his rehab.
Redshirt freshman receiver Mike Matthews has been limited by a minor injury. Redshirt freshman receiver Braylon Staley is out with an unspecified injury.
UT has leaned on freshmen and walk-ons at wide receiver in preseason practice.
That’s added a degree of difficulty for quarterbacks Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre, who are competing for the starting position despite getting few practice reps with the team’s best receivers.
Tennessee plays its season opener against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30 (noon ET, ABC).
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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