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Florida freshman football player arrested

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•06/04/25•

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Florida helmet
Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; A Florida Gators helmet sits on the field before a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

A freshman player for the Florida football team was arrested over the weekend, Gators Online has confirmed. The player, who is 17, was taken to the Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center. 

Because he is still a minor, the juvenile center will not disclose his name or arrest report.

According to the Gainesville Sun, which first reported the news, the player was arrested on a third-degree felony charge of false imprisonment (dating violence) after an alleged altercation on June 1.

UF released a statement on Tuesday night about the arrest, via a team spokesperson.

“We are aware of the situation with one of our student-athletes. We will continue to gather facts, cooperate with and monitor the legal and administrative processes.”

The Sun has obtained the arrest report, which said there was a physical altercation between the alleged victim and the accused over a cell phone. The alleged victim accused the player of choking her, blocking the doorway so she couldn’t exit the room and throwing her phone, the police report said.

After being read his Miranda Rights, the accused denied choking the victim and preventing her from leaving the room, according to the report. He admitted to police that he threw the victim’s cell phone. The report states that arresting officers noticed lacerations and wounds on the alleged victim’s face.

The maximum penalty for false imprisonment in the state of Florida is up to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000. 

The Gators welcomed 19 true freshmen from their 2025 recruiting class to campus in January as early enrollees.

Florida’s second arrest this offseason

This marks the second arrest involving a UF football player this offseason. Florida cornerback Dijon Johnson was arrested last month on felony drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop in Tampa, Fla.

Johnson filed written pleas on May 7 of not guilty on all charges while waiving his arraignment appearance, according to Hillsborough County court records. 

UF coach Billy Napier addressed Johnson’s arrest on May 27 at SEC Spring Meetings.

“I think we’ve established what we expect from the players,” Napier said. “But nobody’s perfect, and they love football and I think that creates opportunities to teach a lot in terms of how to be someone that’s respected, and to be accountable. We’re hopeful that these guys will do a lot more than just be football players.

“So while we have them, let’s do our part to try to use the game of football. So far, so good. I hate it when any of them have issues but that’s part of it when you’ve got 117 teenagers, early 20s running around. But in general, you’ve got to pick the right ones too, that’s part of it. Recruiting, evaluating, it’s all part of the program.”

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