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Florida Gators WR Antonio Callaway cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession

 
Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) high-fives fans while taking the field for warmups before a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) high-fives fans while taking the field for warmups before a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Published May 19, 2017

Florida star receiver Antonio Callaway's up-and-down career took another off-the-field hit with a misdemeanor marijuana possession citation early Saturday morning.

The Gainesville Police Department said it stopped a black Mercedes SUV for a seat belt violation just before 1 a.m. An officer smelled marijuana and found seven grams of the drug in Callaway's pocket, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

Callaway and another man in the car, 40-year-old Kendrick Williams, claimed ownership of another 5.4 grams found in the vehicle, the documents said. Williams has a long criminal history with more than a dozen arrests in the state for complaints ranging from drugs and guns to battery and vehicle theft.

Speaking to reporters Thursday before an alumni event in Clearwater, coach Jim McElwain would not specifically address whether the incident jeopardizes Callaway's status for the Sept. 2 season opener against Michigan.

"We'll get everything handled," McElwain said. "I'm just really disappointed."

Callaway, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound Miami native, is one of the Gators' top offensive talents and one of the best returning receivers in the SEC. In his first two seasons, Callaway recorded 89 catches for 1,399 yards and seven touchdowns. He's the first player in school history to score a rushing, receiving, passing, punt return and kickoff return touchdown in a career.

ESPN already has pegged him as a potential first-round NFL draft pick next year if he chooses to leave school after his junior season.

This is the latest off-field and marijuana incident involving Callaway. He was suspended from school last offseason as UF investigated a sexual assault accusation from December 2015. During a university code of conduct hearing into the Title IX case, he admitted to being "so stoned I had no interest in having sex with anyone." In August, he was cleared of the sexual assault allegation.

UF's substance-abuse policy calls for counseling on the first positive test for marijuana and a suspension for the second, but that does not apply to criminal citations or other admissions of guilt. McElwain, however, previously suspended running backs Jordan Scarlett and Mark Thompson because of similar citations.

The Gainesville law firm Johnson and Osteryoung will represent Callaway. A court date is scheduled for June 19.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report.