Florida Gators suspend Jordan Scarlett, Rick Wells indefinitely
Jim McElwain’s Florida Gators will be even more short-handed against Michigan than they thought after Jordan Scarlett and Rick Wells were suspended.
What would the first full weekend of the college football season be without suspensions just days before kickoff? Worry not, the SEC is good for providing high drama before kick off. It’s a tradition unlike any other. On Wednesday, the Florida Gators announced they’ll be without running back Jordan Scarlett and wide receiver Rick Wells for the foreseeable future.
This early season setback is no small hurdle. Michigan is one of the better teams in the country and the short-handed Gators squad will face a tougher challenge ahead without their leading ball carrier in addition to the other suspensions affecting the squad. Earlier in the offseason, leading receiver, Antonio Callaway, and others were suspended for at least the season opener.
Scarlett’s the number one option in the Florida rushing attack. Last season he led the Gators with 889 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. His absence will mean increased contributions from sophomore Lamical Perine. In 2016 Perine was second on the team with 421 rushing yards.
Head Coach Jim McElwain has announced that Jordan Scarlett and Rick Wells are suspended from all team activities.
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 30, 2017
The loss of Wells is less of a blow. You’ll know his name eventually. He’s a six-foot, 205-pound redshirt freshman who was unlikely to see much action against the Wolverines.
Mark Long of the Associated Press says that this newest wave of suspensions is linked to the debit card scandal that has sunk its teeth into the Florida program.
Gators RB Scarlett and WR Wells also involved in the debit card scam that has seven others suspended for opener vs Michigan
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) August 30, 2017
There are not a lot of details about what exactly the scheme was, but we do know that criminal charges were not filed. When announcing the first round of suspensions, head coach Jim McElwain said the players made extremely disappointing decisions.
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Are the suspensions finished? We still have about 70 hours remaining before the Wolverines and Gators do battle. Stay tuned. Florida and Michigan kick off from AT&T Stadium in Dallas this Saturday at 3:30 pm ET.