The Daily Times

Former Maryville High School and University of Tennessee football player Aaron David Douglas pleaded guilty Friday to a first-offense DUI charge.

Douglas, 21, Snowshill Way, Maryville, will have to serve 48 hours in jail and will serve the rest of the 11-month, 29-day sentence on supervised probation, Blount County Assistant District Attorney Ryan Desmond said Wednesday.

“He made a physical appearance in Judge (Michael) Gallegos’s court,” he said. “As in the case of all DUI first offenses, we present our agreement, and the court either accepts or rejects it.”

The court accepted the agreement, which also requires Douglas to serve 24 hours of litter pickup, go to DUI school and pay fines and court costs, Desmond said.

Douglas’ lawyer Joe Costner could not immediately be reached Wednesday evening.

The charges stem from a Dec. 24 incident, in which authorities stopped Douglas on U.S. Highway 321 West near Partnership Park South, according to the original Blount County Sheriff’s Office report. Deputies performed standard field sobriety tests, on which Douglas performed extremely poorly. He was unsteady on his feet and uncooperative during the investigation, according to the report.

Former UT Football Coach Phillip Fulmer recruited Douglas to Tennessee from a stellar prep career at Maryville High School that included being twice named Tennessee Mr. Football (lineman). Douglas red-shirted at UT in 2008, but earned a starting role at offensive tackle in the 2009 season under Lane Kiffin, Fulmer’s replacement.

After two coaching changes in two seasons, Douglas withdrew from UT, asking current Coach Derek Dooley for his release in March.

That move caused some controversy over the terms of the release and Douglas decided in May to go to Arizona Western Community College, which would then allow him to transfer to a four-year program with two full years of eligibility remaining.

Douglas committed and signed with Alabama in December.

According to the University of Alabama’s website, Douglas enrolled in classes in January to take spring classes and will be able to participate in spring football practices.

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