FGCU Center Eric McKnight Transferring To Tennessee

(Courtesy of Linwood Ferguson)

Florida Gulf Coast transfer center Eric McKnight is headed to Tennessee, according to Ben Frederickson.

The 6'9" redshirt junior averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game in 23 contests for FGCU. The former Iowa State transfer was suspended for the first twelve games of the season due to a violation of team rules.

He just graduated from Florida Gulf Coast with a degree in communications and will be eligible to play immediately, according to ESPN.

"This might sound crazy, but I've always kind of wanted to be a Vol. Growing up near there, it was just kind of a childhood dream to play for Tennessee," McKnight said in a GoVols247 bolt. "I'm not from Tennessee, but I'm from near there, and I've always seen them be successful, and I've known Coach (Donnie) Tyndall. It was just a honor for them to call me."

Contrary to earlier releases from FGCU, the Eagles kicked McKnight off the team after multiple violations of team and school rules. The twelve game suspension to start the season stemmed from a violation prior to Dooley's arrival while his departure from the program came from a violation following the 2013-14 season.

"If he hadn't violated team rules he would have been back," Dooley told the news-press. "It was something separate from the 12 games. It was after the season."

McKnight becomes the second former Eagle to land on an SEC roster, as it was reported that ex-FGCU guard Christophe Varidel will be transferring to Alabama.

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