Florida Football: Antonio Callaway, six others suspended against Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines just got it a whole lot easier in the season opener against Florida football, since the Gators suspended seven players.

The Florida Gators will be without possibly their best player in their huge season opener against the Michigan Wolverines. Superstar wide receiver Antonio Callaway and six other Gators are suspended for the first game of the season.

According to Sports Illustrated, only two of the seven total players suspended against Michigan was likely to actually start in that game. The other player that was likely to start that got suspended is junior defensive end Keivonnis Davis.

In 11 games played last year, Davis notched 27 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. However, redshirt sophomore defensive end Jabari Zuniga is still the starter at defensive end on the right side of the line, the place where Davis got most of his playing time in his first two seasons.

The other players that are suspended for the first game are: freshman left tackle Kadeem Telfort, redshirt freshman defensive end Jordan Smith, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Richerd Desir-Jones, and two freshmen linebackers in Ventrell Miller and James Houston. The defensive line depth will be the thing hurt most by the suspensions, outside of losing their best receiver.

Callaway has had trouble with suspensions since he first joined the Gators three seasons ago. Moreover, this move of suspending Callaway comes as no surprise after his arrest earlier in the year.

According to an Orlando Sentinal article published back in May, Callaway should have been suspended for the Michigan game anyway due to his arrest while hanging out with a 40-year-old criminal. Poor decisions continue to cost Callaway and his ability to get time on the field.

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In 12 games last year, Callaway caught 54 passes for 721 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 75 yards in Florida’s 2016 bowl game loss against Michigan. Considering how tough of a test this game was going to be anyway for the Gators, losing seven players will not help their cause.