The Florida Gators suspended seven players, including Antonio Callaway and Jordan Smith, indefinitely before the season ever began for allegedly misusing school credit cards. At this point nine football players are facing allegations of having done so, and three are reportedly facing felony grand theft charges as the investigation wraps up, per Trey Wallace and Oliver Connolly of The Read Optional.
“Antonio Callaway, Jordan Smith, and one other player are to be charged with felony grand theft, with the possibility of further misdemeanour charges being tagged on, according to a lawyer representing one of the players. It’s anticipated that the other six players will also be charged, but only three players have hired legal counsel thus far,” reads the report.
Callaway was Florida’s leading returning receiver from last year before being suspended. Head coach Jim McElwain reportedly lamented how much these suspensions have hurt his team’s locker room, CBS Sports’ Brad Nessler conveyed during Saturday’s game.
Back in mid-August when the suspensions occurred, he expressed disappointment in the choices that led to them but would not elaborate on what they were being suspended for.
“We have a small group of players that have made some choices that are extremely disappointing,” McElwain said in a statement. “Action has been taken — they have missed some practice and will miss the Michigan game. We will use this as a learning opportunity and we will have some players step up as we move forward.”
Now we obviously know why these players were suspended, and that their actions could have some severe legal ramifications. Wallace and Connolly are also reporting there are “several players” being investigated for a separate credit card fraud case.
Charges are expected to be filed in the first case as early as the end of this week, per the report.