The Associated Press reported that Johnson was charged with purchasing alcohol for a person underage and resisting arrest while O'Brien was charged with criminal impersonation, resisting arrest and underage consumption of alcohol.
Dontavis Sapp, a linebacker on last season's team whose eligibility has expired, was arrested for resisting arrest and buying alcohol for someone underage.
Nooga.com first reported the arrests.
“We are aware of the situation and are still in the preliminary stages of gathering all facts and information,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said in a statement. “We have very high standards and expectations within our football program at the University of Tennessee, and appropriate action will be taken.”
Johnson, a first-team All-SEC performer last season, led the team with 106 tackles, including a team-best 8.5 tackles for a loss. Sapp was third on the team with 66 tackles — he is out of eligibility — and 8.0 tackles for loss while O’Brien played in all 12 games and recorded 12 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack.
AUBURN SIGNEE ARRESTED
On Wednesday, 4-star defensive back Kalvarez Bessent signed with Auburn.
On Friday night, he was arrested in Nassau County (Fla.) and charged with two felonies related to marijuana possession.
Bessent was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle that was pulled over for speeding Friday night with three other male passengers. After smelling marijuana, Sheriff Bill Leeper told AL.com that the car was searched and more than 200 grams of marijuana was found beneath the car seats.
All the passengers were arrested and face the same charges. Bessent posted a $5,506 bond Saturday and was released.
Auburn is aware of the incident, but not commenting.
Bessent did comment on Twitter, saying “God knows the truth and he is going to stick with me through this if nobody else will!!”
Bessent, who originally committed to Alabama, was ranked the No. 138 overall player by 247Sports.com, 13th-best cornerback and No. 9 player out of Georgia at Camden County High School.
RAZORBACKS HIRE DC
Arkansas hired former NFL assistant coach Robb Smith as defensive coordinator Saturday.
Smith spent the past season as linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent the previous 14 years as a college assistant, including defensive coordinator at Rutgers and at Maine as assistant head coach.
He succeeds Chris Ash at Arkansas. Ash left last month for Ohio State, where he will be co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press
