Florida has suspended star cornerback Jalen Tabor and sophomore tight end C’yontai Lewis from all team activities through the Gators’ opener against Massachusetts on Sept. 3, the program announced Wednesday.
The dreaded “violation of team rules” is the culprit here.
“Both C’yontai and Jalen will not be involved with the team or practice due to behavior that is not acceptable,’' head coach Jim McElwain said in a statement. “By no means are these bad guys and yet consequences have been handed down. We will not look the other way when it comes to breaking of team policies. I want to echo what I said earlier, these are both fine young men who will learn and be stronger from their actions. They will also be suspended for the first game. There are life lessons in everything we do. We will be better because of it and no one person is bigger than the Florida Gators.”
Tabor is the bigger loss here for the Gators. A Washington, D.C., native, Tabor earned First Team All-SEC honors from just about every outlet its possible to win them from, and various All-America mentions as well. He totaled 18 pass breakups and two pick sixes last season. The UMass game will mark his first absence as a Gator.
Lewis, a native of Eutaw, Ala., appeared in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He caught four passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Should the pair not plunge themselves further into the doghouse between now and then, Tabor and Lewis figure to return for Florida’s SEC opener against Kentucky on Sept. 10.