The Florida Gators opened their spring practices without two key offensive players, Treon Harris and Antonio Callaway. At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Florida head football coach Jim McElwain confirmed the two players would miss some time this spring.
McElwain would not disclose why Harris and Callaway will be missing spring practices and deflected questions on the subject when asked, nor did he say if the players were suspended. McElwain only said the two players had not been with the team since January and were currently focusing on "schoolwork."
"We're without a couple of guys who haven't been with our team since January in Treon and Antonio. They're still doing some schoolwork and that kind of stuff, but they haven't been with us since January, and they won't be with us as we're rolling, so you won't see those guys out there at practice. Guys, that'll be the last we talk about that," he said.
Harris took over at quarterback last season when Will Grier was suspended, but struggled with accuracy and decision-making. A dynamic athlete, he was set to work out as a wide receiver this spring. McElwain allowed that Harris still could convert to wide receiver if or when he returns.
Callaway, on the other hand, may have only caught 35 passes in 13 games as a freshman last season, but showed playmaking abilities at times. He had six games last season with multiple catches and a double-digit yards-per-catch average. He also threw for one touchdown, and returned 30 punts for 435 yards and two touchdowns.
Florida finished atop the SEC East last season with a 7-1 conference record, but lost its final three games: the rivalry match with Florida State, the SEC Championship against Alabama and the Citrus Bowl against Michigan.
McElwain has a strong incoming recruiting class that includes Feleipe Franks, a four-star, pro-style passer who enrolled early to be eligible for playing time this season. Florida's biggest question mark is at QB and last year Grier not only stabilized the Gators at the position, but led them to a 6-0 start.
With Grier suspended for PEDs and transferring from Florida, Franks will compete for the starting role with a pair of transfer students.
