Tennessee Volunteers

Florida QB Harris, DB Tabor suspended for Tennessee game

Published Sep. 23, 2015 6:00 p.m. ET

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Florida was dealt a blow ahead of its Saturday rivalry game with Tennessee, as quarterback Treon Harris and defensive back Jalen Tabor were suspended.

Coach Jim McElwain announced the suspensions following practice Wednesday, saying Harris and Tabor made "choices."

"They made choices, and that's the way it goes," McElwain told reporters. "I'm not angry at them at all. It's a choice. Each one of us (has) a choice, and they made a choice to do whatever. It hurts because we've got a lot of guys that really care about this team, and we'll have to have some of the guys step up and play."

Harris and Tabor, both sophomores, were suspended one game for an undisclosed violation of University Athletic Association policy.

Tabor had been listed as a co-starter along with Quincy Wilson at corner. Although Florida is exceptionally deep in the secondary, Tabor's talent level certainly would've helped against an explosive Tennessee receiver corps. 

Embroiled in a quarterback competition with Will Grier all throughout the spring and fall, Harris had been the second-string option the past two weeks. 

Harris and Tabor are the fourth and fifth Florida players suspended this season, joining defensive end Alex McCalister, receiver Latroy Pittman and safety Marcus Maye. McCalister and Maye missed the season opener. Pittman was suspended the first two games.

"I think it's all over the country," McElwain told The Associated Press. "Stuff happens. Improvise, adapt and overcome. In this case, it was a choice and a decision. That's just the way it goes. Somebody else gets to play. That's it. Disappointed? Yeah, but there again, we all have choices and decisions to make in everything we do.

"It wasn't anything we did, the team didn't do. I feel bad for the team is who I feel bad for."

Without Harris, Grier will start against the Volunteers (2-1) and get a chance to play the entire game, the first time this season he hasn't been looking over his shoulder. Former Vanderbilt receiver Josh Grady will serve as the backup and could see playing time in special packages.

"He's going to have an opportunity to run the ship," McElwain said about Grier, via The AP. "We knew we were thin at the position coming in. We only had a couple scholarship guys anyway, so that's the reason we worked some special packages with guys back there, with the quarterback that maybe aren't traditional quarterbacks."

Harris and Tabor provided game-changing plays in last year's win at Tennessee.

Harris replaced ineffective starter Jeff Driskel late in the third quarter and led the Gators on two scoring drives. The first one was set up by Tabor, who sacked Justin Worley, knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble at the Vols 30. Matt Jones ran for a touchdown five plays later.

"A lot of things happen to you as you go. It doesn't matter what organization you're in, you hit some bumps," McElwain told The AP. "Here you go, next, we got to worry about today. We've got to worry about the now. Saturday will come, I promise you. It's on a calendar."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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