The Florida Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) will be without two key players this week when they host the Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at 3:30 on Saturday.
Sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor and sophomore quarterback Treon Harris were all suspended for “choices they made.”
“They were choices, not suspensions,” McElwain said. “Other guys will need to step up.”
This is the first time that Tabor has been suspended this season. Tabor has played in every game this season, has one interception that he returned for a touchdown against ECU, 10 tackles (one for a loss) and four pass breakups.
The suspension of Tabor will put additional pressure on Florida’s secondary, a unit that was finally back to full strength against Kentucky. With a talented wide receiver group coming into town, Vernon Hargreaves and Quincy Wilson won’t have much time to tap out for water and will likely have to play just about every snap on defense this Saturday.
Harris was suspended for the LSU game last season before being reinstated when sexual battery charges against him were officially dropped. Harris started the season opener, completing 14-of-19 pass attempts for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Harris came off the bench against ECU, throwing for just 58 yards on 5-of-8 passing. The sophomore did not play against Kentucky in the Gators first road and conference game of the season. While Will Grier started and played the entire game against Kentucky, Jim McElwain maintained that Harris was in the gameplan and could have played. The Gators will not be afforded that luxury this weekend.
With Harris suspended that means redshirt freshman Will Grier will receive the start against Tennessee and Vanderbilt transfer Joshua Grady will be his backup. Grady has attempted just one pass this year, a three-yard completion against New Mexico State, and has spent most of the fall working out with the receivers.
The Gators will host the Volunteers at 3:30 p.m. with CBS broadcasting the game nationally. It will be the Volunteers Southeastern Conference opener and they will be trying to win their first game against the Gators since 2004.
I’m no rocket scientist, but what I do know is this news doesn’t sound all that good. Geez. Two pretty important guys. Was it -Crab legs? Weed? Poontang? Being late for a meeting? Skipping class? Cocktailing. Underage drinking…I wonder what it was?
Scout team might see some primetime action if this keeps up…
GO GATORS!
It was for weed…
Tabor refused the drug test while Harris failed his refusal equals suspension must have been recent considering neither is by any means fat enough to store thc content for a significant duration of time
Nick not to be a nit picker but you mentioned it was Jalen Tabor suspended and proceeded to shortly after write Taylor tough loss nonetheless
Shouldn’t say Taylor. Thank you, fixed now.