Antonio Callaway‘s not completely out of Jim McElwain‘s -- or the university’s -- doghouse quite yet, but it appears the Florida wide receiver is working his way toward the door.
Callaway has been suspended not only from the team but from the university since late January for a violation of the Student Conduct Code. In March, Huntley Johnson, a lawyer well-known in and around Gainesville as the go-to attorney for Gator student-athletes who run into legal issues, issued a statement in which he claimed that the allegation against his non-client “has no merit.”
It remains unclear just what Callaway is alleged to have done to merit a suspension in the university’s eyes.
Be that as it may, Callaway is working his way through the process and, according to Johnson in another statement released Tuesday, the player’s suspension has been “modified.” Specifically, Callaway will be permitted to attend classes on campus -- he had been keeping up with his schoolwork online -- as well as allow him to use the football team’s practice facilities.
“We are working through the process that The University has in place to reach a final resolution in this matter,” Johnson said in a portion of the statement. “There will be no further comment at that this time.”
Getting Callaway back for the season would be a tremendous boost for the Gators’ offense.
Last season in his first year with the Gators, Calloway led the team in receiving yards (678) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (four). His 19.4 yards per catch led the squad, while his 35 receptions were good for third.
At the end of the regular season, he was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.