Vols suspend last season's leading rusher Coker indefinitely

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee tailback LaMarcus Coker, the team's leading rusher last season, has been suspended indefinitely.

Coach Phillip Fulmer did not specify Tuesday what Coker had done to earn the penalty.

"He must fulfill some obligations to the program and to me before he can return," Fulmer read from a prepared statement after practice. "I have tried, as has the administration, to work with him, but at this time he must help himself."

The sophomore led the Vols with 696 rushing yards his freshman year, even though he was sidelined for two games by an injured knee. He was competing for time with junior Arian Foster and sophomore Montario Hardesty.

Coker, who had a pair of touchdown runs for more than 80 yards each last season, was suspended for several practices last December for undisclosed reasons.