Florida suspends Teez Tabor, C'yontai Lewis for opener
Florida announced Wednesday that star cornerback Teez Tabor - who requested to have his name changed from Jalen in early August - and tight end C'yontai Lewis have been suspended for unacceptable behavior.
The ban stems from a fight between the two players in practice, a source told ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
Neither player will suit up in the Gators' season opener versus UMass. The team didn't state whether the suspensions could extend beyond the first week of the season.
"Both C'yontai and (Teez) will not be involved with the team or practice due to behavior that is not acceptable,'' head coach Jim McElwain said.
"By no means are these bad guys and yet consequences have been handed down. We will not look the other way when it comes to breaking of team policies. I want to echo what I said earlier, these are both fine young men who will learn and be stronger from their actions. They will also be suspended for the first game. There are life lessons in everything we do. We will be better because of it and no one person is bigger than the Florida Gators."
Tabor, a returning first-team All-SEC defender, started nine games last year and notched 40 tackles to go with four interceptions and 18 pass breakups. He's expected to be one of the top cornerbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft, though off-field antics have been problematic throughout his college career.
Tabor was suspended for last season's matchup versus Tennessee for a reported violation of team rules, and the brash junior has also ruffled feathers with his propensity to trash-talk opponents.
Lewis, meanwhile, saw action in nine games last year and recorded four receptions for 75 yards and a pair of scores.