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Treon Harris to start for Gators; investigation details emerge

 
Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris runs the ball during the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout loss to Missouri at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. [EVE EDELHEIT   |   Times]
Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris runs the ball during the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout loss to Missouri at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. [EVE EDELHEIT | Times]
Published Oct. 23, 2014

GAINESVILLE — Treon Harris became Florida's starting quarterback Wednesday as embattled coach Will Muschamp tries to salvage the Gators season — and maybe his job — as they prepare for a Nov. 1 game against rival Georgia.

The freshman replaces junior Jeff Driskel as the starter for the Gators (3-3, 2-3 SEC).

"He has a knack for making plays and making some good things happen for our football team," Muschamp said of the Miami native. "We've struggled with production at the quarterback position, and that's been an issue for us, along with others. But that's been a huge issue for us. He's a guy that has a knack for making plays.

Also Wednesday, details of the investigation into a sexual assault complaint against Harris emerged. The Oct. 6 complaint was withdrawn four days later by the accuser, then a UF student. Harris never was arrested or charged.

The University Police Department released 175 pages of documents from the case.

The report details a night of partying, drinking and smoking at Rain, a local nightclub. Football players who were there included Harris, Keanu Neal, Latroy Pittman, Kelvin Taylor, Matt Jones, C.J. Worton, Brian Poole and Marcus Maye, on the night of Oct. 4 following the Gators' 10-9 victory at Tennessee earlier in the day. Harris entered that game late in the third quarter and engineered a fourth-quarter comeback win.

Based on the police reports, the case was conflicting. Witnesses said the woman had a sexual encounter with another man in the backseat of a car after they left the club and drove to meet other friends for a late-night meal, and believed she might have been intoxicated. But other witnesses told police they had seen the woman and Harris walking hand in hand and hugging before heading to Harris' room early Sunday morning and she wasn't impaired.

The woman said she agreed to go to Harris' dorm room sometime around 3 a.m. Oct. 5 to "hang out." Although she lived in the same dorm, she asked Harris if she could spend the night when she became tired. She told police she kept her clothing on except for her boots and earrings, but Harris stripped down to his underwear. According to her, at some point later he rolled on top of her, held her down like a "dead weight," put on a condom and had sexual intercourse with her as she repeatedly told him to "get off."

Harris told police the two had watched some of the LSU-Auburn game together in his dorm room that night and she later texted him letting him know she would be at Rain. He said the two had been friends since both arrived on campus in June. He said the sex was consensual and afterward she asked to spend the night, but he told her he planned to sleep in Sunday. He walked her to her room, then later called to see if she was okay. Later that morning, she called and texted him. Harris texted her, saying: "Don't tell nobody bout nothing." She responded with two texts: "And don't try me, ever again. I wouldn't even come near me if I were yu (sic)."

Harris said his text was intended to suggest they should keep the night private so "nobody would be in my business." His phone log showed a call from the woman on Sunday in which Harris said she called to further acknowledge they should keep quiet about what happened.

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When a police detective told Harris during an interview that the woman had accused him of sexual assault on Monday, Harris replied: "I can't believe this" and also said, "Why didn't she call you Sunday?"

After withdrawing her complaint, the woman withdrew from school and returned home out of state.

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3389. Follow @TBTimes_Gators.