Tennessee
TSU was about to name new president before Tennessee lawmakers ousted board. What now?
At 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, the board of trustees at Tennessee State University sat down to meet William E. Hudson, one of three finalists to be the next president of the historically Black school. They had plans to meet with a third and final candidate the next morning as they neared the end of the search process.
But most, if not all, of them couldn’t have imagined how quickly the search would get turned on its head.
The board’s Thursday morning meeting came after nearly two months of uncertainty over whether the board itself would be ousted by a bill carried by Republican state lawmakers. But there was still hope for the board’s survival, this time in the form of a compromise proposed by House Democrats to retain half of the trustees.
Despite the uncertainty, the board was determined to stick with its original timeline for a search as longtime President Glenda Glover prepared to retire at the end of the academic year.
They planned to appoint a new president in April, marking the first time the 112-year-old university would choose its own president with an independent board. That board was first established by state law in 2016 under an initiative pushed by former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.
Call to action: As Tennessee State University board is vacated, leaders weigh what’s next
As the trustees met with Hudson, however, talks over the compromise fell apart and the House passed a bill that vacated all the board members, matching the already-passed companion Senate bill.
The bill passed just hours after the release of the long-awaited results of a forensic audit of TSU, commissioned last year by lawmakers. While the audit found no fraud or wrongdoing on the university’s part, it did point to continued management issues and an unsustainable increase in scholarships that spurred housing shortages.
After board members came out of the meeting with Hudson, they heard the news.
“It just shocked me to death,” said Bill Johnson, a professor who was serving as the board’s faculty trustee.
Johnson said he and other board members received a text message around 6 p.m. from the school’s general counsel telling them Gov. Bill Lee had signed the measure into law. Lee also named eight new appointees. A new faculty trustee, elected by TSU faculty, and a non-voting student trustee will later round out the 10-member board. The bill’s language indicated that vacated board members, including Johnson, would not be eligible for reappointment. All eight of Lee’s new appointees are TSU graduates.
The newly ousted members were told not to come to their meeting the next day with the final presidential candidate.
Read more: Republican lawmakers vacate full Tennessee State University board over Democratic objections
The state’s actions have stirred confusion and controversy as lawmakers, university leaders, students and the presidential candidates alike seem unsure of what’s next. Johnson sees the move as an affront to his colleagues and the school and said it jeopardizes the presidential search, among other things.
“If you were a presidential candidate for a university, would you accept a job from an entirely different management group that hasn’t met you?” Johnson said. “We’ve got a serious problem.”
What the TSU board ouster means for its presidential search
Johnson said the board was ready to select the new president within days — if not hours — after the final meeting they never got to attend.
Now, a week-and-a-half after Lee signed the bill into law, more questions than answers remain: Who’s in charge of the board’s affairs right now? When will the new board take power? What does the change mean for the presidential search?
As of Monday afternoon, the governor’s office had not responded to repeated requests to answer those questions.
“They left us with a rudderless ship,” Johnson said.
While the board members do not need to go through an official confirmation with the state legislature to begin their work, Lee it responsible for calling their first meeting. New board appointee Dwyane Tucker said he believes that meeting will happen sometime in late April, with Lee presiding, but that a final date has not yet been set.
A spokesperson for TSU said they had received no information about the presidential selection process. Attempts to reach the other newly appointed board members were unsuccessful.
The now-ousted TSU board established a 30-member presidential search committee made up of faculty, administrators, trustees and community members and hired an outside firm for the national search.
In March, it announced three finalists: Michael Torrence, Charles J. Gibbs and Hudson. Torrence is the president of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee. Gibbs serves as CEO of the national 100 Black Men of America. Hudson is the vice president of student affairs at Florida A&M University, a public, historically Black school in Tallahassee, Florida.
As of Monday, Hudson said he had also not received any communication since the state vacated the previous board.
Meet the appointees: Gov. Bill Lee names new TSU board after House vote
Johnson, who is also a tenured professor at TSU, believes the legislature’s swift action was a direct response to the board’s impending announcement of a new president. The forensic audit’s main purpose was to find whether there was evidence of fraud or wrongdoing by university leaders. The audit found none. Instead, Johnson said it showed sloppy bookkeeping, at worst. The whole ordeal has left him feeling angry and frustrated.
“It’s a targeted assault,” Johnson said. “It’s intentional. It’s blatant. It’s disgusting — and it’s not in the best interest of the state of Tennessee.”
A loss of institutional knowledge
Obie McKenzie, another former board member and a TSU alumnus, added his voice to growing concerns from university leaders, students and former board members about the loss of institutional knowledge that comes with the board’s removal.
“In any business situation, historical data and historical information is very important to the transition process,” he said. “In my humble opinion, you unnecessarily penalize the student population because of the disruption.”
Although McKenzie has not heard from any of the newly appointed board members, he said he’s willing to help any of them who come to him for advice.
“I trust they have as much love for the institution as I do,” he said.
The state has vacated and reconstituted a university board before.
Up until 2016, oversight of TSU — along with schools such as Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University, the University of Memphis and the state’s community colleges — fell to the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The FOCUS Act gave TSU and the other four-year schools under Board of Regents control new, independent boards. Haslam made eight initial appointments to the board and Lee reappointed all but two of them.
A year after the FOCUS Act, Haslam then moved to rein in the University of Tennessee’s sprawling, 27-member board and replace it with an 11-person board. Haslam sought to preserve institutional memory by re-appointing four of the trustees from the dissolved board. The legislature, however, insisted on a fresh start and rejected those nominees.
It’s not clear when lawmakers will hold confirmation hearings for the newly appointed TSU trustees.
A mission cut short
Throughout hearings on the now-passed legislation and the former board’s final meeting last month, members said they wanted more time to finish their work.
In his time on the board, McKenzie was part of the team addressing TSU’s housing needs.
“When you don’t have solid housing when you’re going to college, it leaves you feeling like a second class citizen,” he said. “I wanted to this to be my legacy before I stepped off the stage.”
In 2023, TSU was forced to lease hotels for students when it ran out of space in dorms after a large enrollment increase. That lead to criticism from the legislature, two audits and ultimately the bill that vacated the board.
McKenzie, among others, also pointed to $2.1 billion in state underfunding revealed by U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Education findings released last year. He said criticism from state leaders over a lack of infrastructure at TSU is unfair in light of the shortfall in state funding.
$2.1 billion: The Biden administration says TSU has been underfunded. Here’s what that means.
The state underfunding of the school is something Shaun Wimberly Jr., a TSU senior who was serving as a student trustee until the ouster, has also emphasized. While he was happy to see that all the new appointees are TSU graduates and is hopeful to work with them in the future, he said the fight over underfunding is far from over. He helped host a news conference at the Tennessee Capitol last week alongside other TSU and civil rights leaders.
“We’ve done enough begging in my opinion,” Wimberly said at the event. “Now is not the time to be requesting. It is our time to take what is ours.”
With OTAs and minicamp now behind us, all we have before the preseason gets underway is training camp. The Titans will enjoy the next month off before getting started with camp in late July.
This time of year is always fun because you get to see a few players come out of nowhere and work their way into the roster discussion. You also get to see if the young players have made progress, and we get a good idea of what the depth chart is looking like. Today, let’s go over eight players who were winners at camp and four who didn’t have the best showings.
Winner: Cam Ward | QB
Cam Ward has to be considered a winner. The quarterback faced a ton of criticism for his performance at OTAs, and if he had gone out and had a bad showing at minicamp, you can just imagine what the talking points would be.
Luckily, Ward looked much more relaxed and efficient during minicamp. On Tuesday, Ward made a few very nice throws, including a sidearm touchdown pass to Gunnar Helm that I’m sure everybody has seen by now. On Wednesday, Ward showed off his chemistry with Wan’Dale Robinson and Chimere Dike, in particular, as both guys caught several passes.
I think we saw what we needed to see from Ward this offseason. He’s a young passer learning a new offense, it’s not crazy to think there are some kinks to work out.
Winner: Tyjae Spears | RB
It seems like many forgot about Spears this offseason. After the talk of Jeremiyah Love around the draft and Nicholas Singleton being added, it seems like not many were expecting big things out of Spears.
However, Spears has done nothing but impress this summer. The Tulane product looks as explosive as ever and had a couple of really nice runs. Spears also caught some passes and mentioned that he actually wants to get even better as a pass-catcher. Spears did well enough this summer that Robert Saleh already said Spears and Pollard will be the bellcows. That has to be a win.
Winner: Xavier Restrepo | WR
Xavier Restrepo was the most productive wide receiver on the team this offseason. The receiver had more catches than any other pass-catcher and legitimately looked like an NFL-caliber player. Restrepo also had probably the most impressive catch of the summer on Wednesday. That’s really saying something, too, considering this receiver room is incredibly deep.
I still think Restrepo still has an uphill battle to make the final roster, but it would have been very difficult to have a better couple of months than Restrepo has had.
Winner: Chimere Dike | WR
Someone who definitely WILL make the roster is fellow receiver, Chimere Dike. Dike was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro as a rookie thanks to his special teams prowess, but he showed off his talent as a wide receiver too this summer.
Dike caught a ton of passes during minicamp and finished behind only Restrepo in total catches this offseason. He offered plenty of value already as a returner, so if he can give more on offense as well, watch out.
Winner: Austin Schlottmann | C
Austin Schlottmann was signed this offseason, and at the time, the deal didn’t exactly make a ton of headlines. It was expected that Schlottmann would be battling for the starting center job with several other players, but it already seems clear that the veteran is the leader for the job.
Schlottmann was made available to the media, which usually is a good sign that the player is in the team’s plans. Teammates and coaches have praised Schlottmann’s leadership and familiarity with Brian Daboll’s offensive system. Schlottmann looks primed to step into the largest role of his career in a system he’s familiar with.
Winner: Pass Rushers
There are several defenders on the line who deserve praise. This defensive front made life hard for the offensive line, especially on Wednesday. Truman Jones, Earnest Brown, Jacob Martin, and Jermaine Johnson II were all credited with would-be sacks on Wednesday.
This is another group that didn’t seem to have the best depth, but looks much better now. The line was able to dominate even without Jeffery Simmons and Femi Oladejo, too, which is more impressive.
Winner: Alontae Taylor | CB
Alontae Taylor was a big-ticket addition for the Titans and is expected to play a crucial role in 2026. Taylor missed some time at OTAs, but if there were any worries about that, those should be put to rest now.
At minicamp, Taylor showed why the Titans valued him so highly. The veteran is talkative and always seemed to be around the ball. The defender almost came down with an interception on Tuesday on a nice play and then had another nice pass breakup on Wednesday. Jim Wyatt noted that Titans fans will love Taylor’s “scrappy play and feistiness.”
Winner: Keydrain Calligan | CB
Keydrain Calligan isn’t a name that was on many radars a month ago. That’s changed now, as the depth corner took full advantage of his opportunities at OTAs and minicamp. Calligan came down with an interception and had several pass breakups over the last few weeks.
I was worried about the corner depth, and I’m still not thrilled with it, but Calligan has made me feel better. The former undrafted free agent also has some versatility and can play safety as well. Perhaps nobody more helped their chance to make the roster than Calligan.
Loser: Hendon Hooker and Will Levis | QB
I didn’t want to just pick on Will Levis, as Hendon Hooker was also underwhelming. Both passers had a perfect chance to impress, considering Mitchell Trubisky missed the first part of OTAs, and neither were able to do so.
There was probably no scenario where Levis or Hooker earned the QB2 spot, but with a good offseason program, they could’ve forced the Titans to keep a third quarterback. Instead, the young passers were either bad or mediocre for the majority of the offseason. I don’t see a scenario where either quarterback is on the final roster.
Loser: Kalel Mullings | RB
As I mentioned above, Saleh has already appointed Pollard and Spears as the team’s top running backs. Rookie Nic Singleton should also factor in as well, but there’s likely going to be four running backs on the roster. This meant that Mullings seemingly entered the offseason with a great shot to stick.
Unfortunately, Mullings didn’t take advantage of his opportunities. Michael Carter, who is also competing for a spot, made more plays, and Julius Chestnut probably has the edge due to his special teams prowess. Mullings still has time, but it would have been nice to have seen him do more this summer.
Loser: Femi Oladejo | EDGE
It feels bad to put Oladejo here because injuries are unavoidable. However, it’s objectively disappointing that Oladejo wasn’t able to do much this offseason. The young pass-rusher missed minicamp with an unspecified injury, missing out on valuable offseason reps.
Oladejo has a shot to fill an important rotational role this year. After losing most of his rookie season, it would have been nice for him to get some hype going this summer. Instead, we’ll head to training camp still not knowing what to expect from Oladejo.
Latrell McCutchin Sr. | CB
I was very high on McCutchin when the Titans signed him right after the draft. McCutchin has good size for the boundary and had a ton of pass breakups in college. With the lack of depth the Titans have at corner, I thought McCutchin had a great shot to make the team.
Instead, McCutchin has been overshadowed by Keydrain Calligan and Micah Robinson. I had McCutchin making the roster over those two originally, but if the season started tomorrow, I’d have the rookie behind both. McCutchin needs a strong camp and preseason to avoid landing on the practice squad.
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Tennessee
Tennessee Titans’ Star Jeffrey Simmons Addressed Health and Contract Concerns on Wednesday
The Tennessee Titans wrapped up minicamp on Wednesday and will now head for a summer break. Before heading out, several players spoke with the media. Jeffery Simmons was one of those, and the veteran revealed he’d been managing an elbow issue for years before deciding to address it this offseason.
“That’s the reason why I’ve been wearing a brace, you know? Probably, what, two and a half years to where I wasn’t even able to straighten out my right arm,” Simmons said.
“So to just be able to get that cleaned up… I feel good. I don’t think it’s gonna be a big difference from last year because, like I said, it’s already years in the past… I mean, I played with the brace, and [I might] play with the brace this year, who knows? But at the same time… I feel great. My body feels good, I’ll be ready to go. I’m gonna get back to training camp and hopefully this year continue to keep getting better as a player.”
Let that sink in. Simmons just put together the best season of his career while unable to fully straighten his right arm. That’s absurd.
Big Jeff Speaks: Dollars and Cents
Simmons also made it abundantly clear he’s not interested in any noise on the contract front.
“I think the biggest thing is, since I got to Tennessee, this organization has been nothing but good to me. We’ve been on the same page since I got here. So when it comes down to the contract, I [let] everything play out,” Simmons said.
“Since I got here, I don’t think we [missed] a [beat] in the front office. Me and Ms. Amy, everyone been on the same page. And whenever [it’s] time to talk contract… I know my agent… they’re going to work together to make sure it’s done the right way.
That’s a veteran who knows exactly where he stands — and trusts the people around him to handle the business side.
“One thing when it come down to that contract, we know how messy it could get. And that’s not what I’m looking for, especially going on year eight… This organization been nothing but good to me. So I’m not so focused on the contract right now. Like I said, my goal this offseason is, let me go work my tail off and get ready for training camp.”
The Scariest Part for the Rest of the AFC
Here’s where it gets fun. It’s going to be fascinating to watch how defensive guru and new Titans’ head coach Robert Saleh chooses to deploy Simmons — especially alongside his new running mate, John Franklin-Myers, who signed a three-year, $63 million deal in the spring.
Simmons is legitimately one of the best defenders this organization has ever had. In 2025, he racked up a career-high 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 67 tackles. He’s an absolute monster. For his career, he’s now at 42.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
Pairing a player at the peak of his powers with a legit interior running mate, under a head coach whose entire reputation is defensive violence? It’s not a stretch of the imagination to now call Jeffery Simmons arguably the best defender in the AFC. And if he played all of last season with one good arm? Look out.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says a Kingsport man was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after an investigation found that he trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Chattanooga to Sullivan County for distribution.
A release says Aaron Tyshawn Jackson, of Kingsport and formerly of Chattanooga, was sentenced Wednesday to 288 months behind bars by a U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
Jackson is set to serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.
The release says a federal jury in February convicted Jackson of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
He was also convicted of two other drug-related offenses.
Evidence presented at trial showed Jackson purchased large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Chattanooga for years, and distributed the drugs in Kingsport.
TBI says Jackson was pulled over on October 22nd, 2024, following what they say was a trip to Chattanooga to purchase drugs.
Jackson was in a vehicle with three other people when police attempted to stop the car.
When officers activated their lights and sirens, TBI says Jackson told the driver to “drive,” and a pursuit followed, ending in a crash.
The release says the vehicle reached speeds in excess of 120 mph before the collision.
Authorities said Jackson threw a duffel bag out of the window while fleeing.
The bag contained more than 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine and 11 ounces of fentanyl.
Agencies involved in the joint investigation included the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Chattanooga Police Department, and Etowah Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and AnCharlene Davis represented the United States.
TBI says the case was part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on illegal immigration enforcement, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
Depend on us to keep you informed as we learn more.
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