NFL Draft prospect, ex-Florida Gator Caleb Brantley charged with battery

Former Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Brantley has been charged with battery on Sunday, only days before the 2017 NFL Draft.

Former Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Brantley was poised to be a day two selection in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. Though he wasn’t a first-round pick coming out of Florida, he played a premium position of defensive tackle, likely going in the second round this spring.

However, we should expect Brantley to fall considerably in the upcoming draft next weekend. This is because the former Florida standout has been charged with battery after striking a female back on April 13.

Tampa’s 10 News WTSP’s Ryan Bass first broke the news. Alligator Sports’ Patrick Pinak later tweeted out a picture of Brantley’s police report that said Brantley knocked the woman unconscious and “displaced a tooth.”

Since NFL teams will not have had enough time to investigate this domestic violence issue before the upcoming NFL Draft, expect Brantley’s stock to plummet considerably. He would have to be at best a day three selection after news of him being charged with the crime.

Brantley did spend the last four years in Gainesville as a member of the Florida football team. He had one year of eligibility remaining, having used a redshirt. However, Brantley opted to forgo his redshirt senior season to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

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This incident will cost Brantley dearly both in terms of finances and in reputation. He had two weeks to keep his nose clean before the biggest weekend of his life. Many NFL teams will now almost certainly take him off their draft board entirely as they gather as much information about this incident as possible before the draft begins April 27.