Six Florida football players were involved in a May 28 confrontation on campus and must face the student conduct board. Two Gators brandished Airsoft guns resembling assault rifles, according to a campus police report.
The group of players, including senior tight end C'yontai Lewis, top receiver Tyrie Cleveland and incoming freshman quarterback Emory Jones, were not charged following a UFPD investigation. Police referred the matter to the Dean of Students Office, according to a statement from UF.
Coach Dan Mullen said was made aware of the incident and immediately began to follow campus protocol. In such matters, this includes education and undergoing a student code of conduct review that potentially could impact a player's role on the team.
Citing federal student privacy laws, UF would not discuss the status of the code of conduct reviews.
"This has been an opportunity for us to educate our players about the dangers and negative perceptions that can occur when conflict arises, and how important honesty and good decision making is," Mullen said in a statement.
This is the second incident to surface this week involving the off-the-field behavior of Mullen's team.
Incoming freshman Justin Watkins, a top Gator recruit, was suspended from team activities indefinitely following his arrest for allegedly hitting his girlfriend. It was Watkins' second arrest in 10 weeks and led to four charges, including third-degree felonies for false imprisonment/kidnapping and domestic battery by strangulation.
According to the UFPD report, the incident in late May stemmed from a confrontation outside Keys residential complex between several players and a local gambler, Devante' Zachery, better known as "Tay Bang."
Lewis and Zachery reportedly had been friends. Per the report, a rift occurred when Zachery, 21, complained about losing bets he placed during the 2017 Gators' 4-7 season that led to the ouster of coach Jim McElwain.
Zachery and his friends were outside the residence hall when confronted by the football players. Zachery's group soon drove away in vehicles while yelling, "We coming back strapped," according to the report.spherical plastic projectiles
One player told police upon its return Zachery's group wielded a baseball bat and pointed a red laser at the chest of one player. Another member of the group said, "Come any closer, I'll spray you."
Meanwhile, Zachery told UFPD one football player had an assault rifle. It actually was an Airsoft gun, which has a plastic body and shoots spherical plastic projectiles. UF receiver Kadarius Toney's gun resembled an AR15 and the orange tip was painted black to resemble a real rifle, the report stated.
Defensive tackle Kyree Campbell also had an Airsoft gun.
Everyone involved scattered at the sound of police sirens. Players initially denied involvement when asked by police.
Ten Gators were questioned and nine were involved in the incident, according to the report. Six players were recommended to UF's Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution department.
Toney and Campbell were recommended for having guns, while Cleveland, Jones, receiver Rick Wells and tight end Kemore Gamble were recommended to the board for lying to UFPD officers.
Zachery has been banned from UF's campus for three years.
This is not the first time Cleveland and Wells have been involved in incidents involving Airsoft guns. In July of 2016, each was charged with criminal mischief for discharging a weapon that caused property damage at the Keys Complex.
Both players eventually were suspended for the season opener. The Gators will begin the season the Sept. 1 at home against Charleston Southern.
