Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When the Gators suspended seven players on Sunday afternoon for the season opener against Michigan, fans shared their disbelief on social media that junior receiver Antonio Callaway was among the group.

A magnet for the wrong kind of headlines during his career at Florida, Callaway is a gifted player on the field who often steps in mud off it.

Florida head coach Jim McElwain addressed his latest disappointment in Callaway's questionable decision-making on Monday.

"I'm telling you, man, when you talk about the disappointment piece, I saw these strides, right, and then sometimes you take a step back," McElwain said. "Yet, I'm sure he's not the only that's done that, and yet it's my responsibility to keep teaching. As with all our players … they know I support them. And yet they're always going to pay for their choices."

Callaway, defensive linemen Keivonnis Davis, Jordan Smith and Richerd Desir-Jones, plus true freshmen Kadeem Telfort, James Houston IV and Ventrell Miller are all suspended for the Michigan game.

Whether the suspensions go beyond one game or what Callaway's status is after the Michigan game remain uncertain, but McElwain faced multiple questions about having to stand in front of a room of reporters again to answer questions about another Callaway misstep.
 

"It's not just Antonio. It hurts," McElwain said. "It's my responsibility, and I've said before, the thing you really get out of coaching and the thing that really means so much, are those phone calls you get five, 10, 15, 20 years down the road from guys that maybe had made some mistakes along the way. I don't know if this will be one of those, and yet the instances that I've gotten those, about guys that actually have families that have said, 'Thank you.' Time will tell."

Callaway and McElwain share a close connection to Florida's back-to-back SEC East championships in McElwain's first two seasons. Callaway is the only player in school history to score a touchdown via a reception, run, pass, kickoff return and punt return.

Entering his junior season, Callaway has an opportunity to be a high draft pick in next year's NFL Draft with a standout season.

Asked specifically if there is a limit on how many chances he'll give Callaway, McElwain responded: "Absolutely, and yet at the same time, the individual circumstances, they'll be handled and dealt with for the severity that it is. As I said, the one thing I will do is I'll continue to help. I'll continue to be there. I'll continue to support. But obviously the consequences, you make your own bed. …  I'll never turn my back on anybody. That's not what it's all about."
 
For now, Callaway and the six others are suspended from team activities, including practice.

"You take something away that really means something to them," McElwain said. "The one thing, it doesn't matter who you're disciplining, what is it that really means something to them? In this case, their ability to not be around the team. They're not, obviously, going to go play in one of the greatest places, stadiums, there is on national television. Those are things that hurt.

"I'm very disappointed and at the same time, swift and quick action was taken. Anything further from there, obviously, we've got a lot of time now between then and whatever the next thing is."