Mullen: DB Huggins failed to meet ‘Gator standard’
GAINESVILLE – Two days after he dismissed John Huggins from the team, UF coach Dan Mullen said the sophomore defensive back failed to meet the “Gator standard.”
Huggins had missed all of preseason camp due to what the program called “a family issue.” Last week, Mullen said Huggins and some of his teammates missed a scrimmage to address “different issues, stuff they have to handle personally, stuff they have to handle for me.”
On Saturday, Huggins was dismissed from the team.
Mullen declined to elaborate on what went into the decision, other than saying, “Not living up to what we expect of the Gator standard.”
Huggins was accused of choking a female tutor in October on the UF campus but was not charged with a crime. But Mullen said the 19-year-old from Deltona already had served a previously undisclosed suspension and the issue had been addressed.
Asked what had changed with Huggins’ status since last Tuesday, Mullen said, “It was evolving. There were things we were looking at him having to do. It was a constant process.”
Huggins’ dismissal delivered another blow to the Gators’ depth in the secondary. First-year cornerback Chris Steele transferred in May while junior cornerback Brad Edwards transferred last month.
“Next guy’s got to step up,” Mullen said.
“I’m concerned with the depth on our entire roster. You’re always concerned with the depth on your roster going into the season. I think you see most teams that have great years tend to stay healthy. I think that’s such a huge aspect of it.
“And to me that’s such a huge challenge because you’re trying to control; you’re trying to put guys in good situations to stay healthy. But stuff happens.”
Meanwhile, the Gators’ offensive line is a man down after offensive tackle Noah Banks announced he was retiring from the game due to epilepsy. A former junior-college transfer from Iowa Western, Banks sat out during the spring but returned for preseason camp.
Banks, a redshirt senior, had a minor epileptic episode recently and decided to focus on his health.
“As most of you already know I’ve been living with epilepsy for 6 or 7 years now,” Banks wrote on his Instagram account. “For several years after my first 2 episodes I didn’t experience anything else. Unfortunately within the past year and a half or so it’s seemed to come back around. I sat out this past spring and got cleared in the summer to come back. Unfortunately earlier this week after a normal practice I had another minor episode.”
Banks played in 12 games last season, starting against Idaho, and would have added valuable depth to an inexperienced offensive line.
“He was in the rotation for us,” Mullen said. “That stuff happens. He was excited to come back and I think it just took a toll on him a little bit and just decided it wasn’t for his best, you know, his health, for the long-term and future.”