Tennessee's McDaniel pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, accused of hitting and injuring a fellow student during a pickup basketball game, pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor assault in a deal with prosecutors.<br> <br> He was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days but was placed on immediate probation and isn&#39;t expected to spend any time in jail. Knox County Criminal Court Judge Ray Jenkins told McDaniel that he will remain under supervised probation until he pays restitution to the victim.<br> <br> McDaniel was charged with aggravated assault, a felony, after the incident in January and indicted in May after his attorney failed to persuade a judge to reduce the count to a misdemeanor. He could have faced up to six years if convicted under the felony charge.<br> <br> The 6-foot-7, 295-pound McDaniel is accused of hitting Edward Goodrich, a 26-year-old student, at a campus recreation center on Jan. 12. Goodrich testified during a hearing in April that the punch broke his face in four places and doctors had to insert a metal plate to treat his injuries.<br> <br> When the judge asked McDaniel if he wanted to make a statement to the court, the player said, ``I would apologize to Mr. Goodrich, but he is not here.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> McDaniel, a rising junior, made his first career start for Tennessee in the Volunteers&#39; 38-7 win over Texas A in the Cotton Bowl.<br> <br> Coach Phillip Fulmer suspended McDaniel from the team in January, and his future as a Volunteer has remained uncertain.<br> <br> McDaniel is one of 13 Tennessee players who have been either arrested or cited for crimes ranging from aggravated assault to underage drinking since February 2004.<br> <br> McDaniel has been waiting to hear whether he will face disciplinary action from the university.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)