Vols' Todd Kelly Jr. in altercation with girlfriend, hospitalized after fall from 30-foot wall

Tennessee senior safety Todd Kelly Jr. got into an altercation with his girlfriend early Friday morning that ended in Kelly falling from a wall and being taken to the hospital, according to an incident report from the Knoxville Police Department.

Kelly wrote in a post on his Twitter account Friday afternoon that he's "doing well" after falling and injuring his knee.

At 3:40 a.m. Friday, a Knoxville police officer responded to a call at the Landings Apartments in the 900 block of Riverside Forest Way.

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Kelly's girlfriend, Lauren McDaniel, told police that she and Kelly had been at Hanna's Cafe, a bar on Cumberland Avenue. Kelly started "a minor altercation" in the bar while McDaniel was talking to a male friend.

McDaniel got Kelly out of the bar and back to his apartment, where they got into a verbal altercation, according to the report.

"Kelly began punching cabinets, fridge, and busted a glass bottle against a wall in the apartment" and "punched a hole in one of the walls," while McDaniel was attempting to gather her stuff and leave the apartment, the incident report states.

McDaniel wound up on the ground, she and Kelly's roommate, who was in the apartment, told police.

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"During the course of the argument, ... Kelly 'took' McDaniel to the ground. McDaniel stated that she was kind of pushed to the floor, but not thrown," the report states.

Kelly's roommate, former Bearden High School basketball player Isaiah Campbell, told police he called former UT football player Chris Weatherd to help calm Kelly.

The argument continued before the girlfriend exited the apartment, and Kelly followed her outside and told her "he was going to kill himself," according to the report. As McDaniel walked to her car, she heard "a thud," and she saw Kelly screaming in pain at the bottom of a 30-foot retaining wall, according to the report.

Campbell, said he saw Kelly climb a rail to get on top of the wall before going off the edge, according to the report.

Kelly sustained a laceration to his head and said he hurt his knee, according to the report. He told police that he and his girlfriend were involved in a verbal altercation and were distancing themselves when his girlfriend came at him, according to the report.

McDaniel told police that she and Kelly had been drinking. The report states that Kelly "appeared to be significantly different."

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The girlfriend had no visible injuries, according to the report. No arrests were made. Kelly was transported to the UT Medical Center for treatment.

"I know there have been some rumors circulating about my recent hospital visit," Kelly wrote in a note he posted on Twitter. "In an unfortunate turn of events, my knee that has been recovering for the last three months gave out on me and resulted in me slipping and falling. I'm doing well, and I'm so blessed and fortunate to have a fan base like you. Most importantly, I am looking forward to returning next season. Go Vols!"

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Earlier in the day, Kelly wrote: "Thanks for the prayers, God can do anything! Appreciate the love and support."

A UT team spokesman declined comment Friday when asked about Kelly.

Kelly played in only two games during the 2017 season due to a knee injury, and he underwent season-ending surgery on Oct. 3. He applied to the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver, giving him a fifth year of eligibility.

Kelly led the Vols with 71 tackles in 2016. The Webb School of Knoxville graduate made seven tackles last season, giving him 153 for his career.

Kelly is expected to contend with returning starters Nigel Warrior and Micah Abernathy for a first-team safety spot.

News Sentinel staff writer Brittany Crocker contributed to this story.