The Knox County Sheriff's Office says it is investigating a reported hazing incident at Farragut High School, with numerous students later identified as football players now facing assault charges. Two additional students are facing bullying charges in connection with the same incident, and officials say the investigation is still active.
KCSO confirmed the probe to WVLT, which first reported that numerous students were involved in the hazing and are facing assault charges, while two others face bullying charges tied to the incident. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, KCSO spokesperson Justin Pratt confirmed the investigation but declined to provide further details about the alleged conduct or how many students were involved.
Investigation Remains Active, Few Details Released
KCSO has said the investigation remains active and ongoing, and the station's report notes that deputies have not released specifics about the nature of the alleged hazing or the number of students implicated. Knox County Schools, meanwhile, handles the terms and duration of any school suspensions tied to the case, per the same account — a separate process from the criminal investigation being run by the sheriff's office.
Pratt told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the students were minors and faced potential misdemeanor assault and harassment charges. He said the incident occurred October 30 and was reported to the school November 3; Knox County Schools would determine any suspensions. Questions remain about the specific conduct alleged and the number of students involved.
Hazing Cases Have Drawn National Scrutiny
Farragut's case is one of several recent high-school hazing cases. In Pennsylvania, four former football coaches and six players at Cheltenham High School face criminal charges related to alleged locker-room assaults on a teammate, according to ABC News. District officials there suspended the 2025–2026 football program entirely and canceled the upcoming 2026–2027 season in response.
A separate case in Caney, Oklahoma, detailed in an affidavit reported by KXII, described students holding down another student on a school bus and pulling down his pants. School officials there said the students involved were still attending classes remotely and had not returned to campus for the school year.
Farragut Has Faced Allegations Before
This is not the first time Farragut High School has faced allegations of mistreatment among athletes. Brent and Monica Pelusio filed a lawsuit alleging their son was assaulted by a group of five athletes at the school on September 14, 2021, according to earlier WVLT reporting. There is nothing in the available record tying that 2021 lawsuit to the hazing incident now under investigation.
For now, the scope of the current case — including how many students are facing charges and what specifically is alleged to have occurred — remains unclear, though KCSO has confirmed the investigation is ongoing. Parents and students in the Farragut community are left waiting for more information as deputies continue their work.
