GAINESVILLE, Fla. _ When the Florida Gators open preseason practice Thursday, star receiver Antonio Callaway will return to the field for the first time following his high-profile suspension.
Callaway missed spring drills and was not allowed on campus until June after the university suspended him Jan. 27 for an undisclosed violation of the UF student code of conduct, stemming from an incident in December. The school has declined to provide any further details, citing federal student privacy laws.
The sophomore from Miami was allowed to participate in offseason conditioning workouts and attended classes during the Summer B session.
While Callaway has been cleared to practice, UF coach Jim McElwain would not say during the Gators' media day Wednesday whether Callaway would miss any games due to his suspension.
"There hasn't been any change in the status. He'll be practicing just like we said," McElwain said.
The coach added "there is no timeline" for resolving all aspects of Callaway's code of conduct review.
McElwain said UF first-year freshmen receivers Tyrie Cleveland and Rick Wells, who were arrested after being accused of firing BB guns and causing more than $1,000 in property damage at Keys Residential housing on the UF campus, were "dealt heavy consequences" after the incident and will be at practice Thursday.
Both receivers are represented by Gainesville attorney Huntley Johnson, who also has represented Callaway.
In early March, Johnson issued a news release stating his client should be reinstated because the allegations had no basis. Johnson declined to disclose the allegations against his client.
Callaway's return to practice is critical for a team lacking other proven playmakers on offense and a new starting quarterback.
Callaway burst onto the scene as the Gators' most-dynamic playmaker since UF All-American Percy Harvin. Callaway scored a 64-yard touchdown to beat Tennessee, made highlight-reel one-handed catches at Kentucky and LSU, and scored twice on punt returns
He ultimately set a record for receiving yards by a first-year freshman (678 yards) and averaged 17.6 yards and scored six touchdowns on 66 overall touches.
McElwain opened his media press conference by saying he saw "a lot of good things and a lot of exciting things" about this team.
He said he expected the offense to be much improved and praised the quarterbacks without identifying a new starter
" ... Time will tell and yet there's some really good leadership on this football team and we'll see where that takes us," McElwain said.
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