Three suspended for season opener
The Florida Gators will be without three players in the season opener.
The University of Florida Athletic Department announced Friday that starting safety Marcus Maye, starting defensive end Alex McCalister and backup wide receiver Latroy Pittman will miss the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 5 due to an undisclosed violation of athletic department policy.
“They’ll be back with us and they’ll serve their suspension and be ready to roll,” Gators coach Jim McElwain said Friday night. “I’ve never been one of those and never will be one to worry about who’s not there. It gives some guys an opportunity to step up and make some plays and help us down the road.”
Maye started nine games and recorded 62 tackles and picked off one pass last season. McCalister did not start a game but finished with six sacks last season.
The redshirt juniors were expected to start against New Mexico State. McCalister was expected to make his first start in his college career against the Aggies to help fill the void left by Dante Fowler, who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the third overall pick of this year’s NFL draft.
Pittman, a senior, caught 15 passes for 164 yards as a slot receiver last season.
He is expected to be part of the rotation of receivers Florida uses this year. Pittman was also suspended for the first three games of the 2013 season.