Florida Football: Antonio Callaway gets plea deal on possession charges

Florida football’s wide receiver Antonio Callaway pled no contest in a hearing this Monday for a recent run-in with the law.

On Monday, Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway pled no contest to possession charges. He was fined $301. In a previous post, we talked about the incident.

On May 13, 2017, Callaway and a friend, Kendrick Williams, a 40-year-old Gainesville resident, were stopped in the latter’s SUV for a seatbelt violation. The police smelled marijuana, and Callaway was found with a small amount — seven grams — in his pocket. The charge is a misdemeanor in the State of Florida.

While the plea is the standard for first offenders for this type of charge, Callaway is far from innocent. He was suspended last spring following Title IX sexual battery allegations, and Callaway was found not guilty following a hearing. It does seem that the young lady that accused Callaway might have exaggerated about being detained and about her level of intoxication.

There are, nonetheless, a few issues with the previous case that are unsettling. The school hired a UF football booster to adjudicate the battery hearing. It could even be deemed a conflict of interest. The other issue here is that Callaway freely admitted to drug use on the evening in question.

Callaway told judge he was high at time of encounter and was "so stoned I had no interest in having sex with anyone."
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) August 12, 2016

Marijuana use is banned for all student-athletes by the NCAA, although drug testing is only enforced prior to major events such as bowl games. According to NCAA strictures, a positive drug test is supposed to be punishable by suspension for half a season.

This seems harsh for the minor charges levied against Callaway, particularly in light of the legalization of medical marijuana in the Sunshine State. However, it wouldn’t be too harsh to require that he should be some drug counseling at the very least, as well as being subjected to random drug testing.

Callaway has immense talent — there is no denying that. Now a junior, Callaway has amassed 89 catches, 11 touchdowns, and 1,399 yards for the Gators. Half a season’s suspension would be hard on the team and seems punitive. However, someone on the Florida coaching staff needs to have a “Come to Jesus” talk with him before something far worse occurs.

Florida head coach Jim McElwain has not stated whether he will suspend Callaway for the season opener against Michigan.

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