How Many Florida Football Players Were Arrested When Urban Meyer Was Coach

As portrayed in the FX/Hulu series American Sports Story, numerous players from the University of Florida football team of 2008 were taken into custody. As Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL great and standout tight end who was found guilty in 2015 of killing semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, Josh Rivera plays the lead role in the American Sports Story cast. A rudimentary grasp of Aaron Hernandez’s complex background, turbulent family life, and fast track to becoming a Florida Gator prior to joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010 can be gained from the first two episodes of American Sports Story. Hernandez is one of the NFL players and coaches that are portrayed in American Sports Story.

American Sports Story recounts the height of University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer’s tenure, during which he guided the Gators to consecutive national championships in 2006 and 2008. The University of Florida boasts one of the top collegiate football teams in the nation as well as maybe one of the best rosters of all time, but the organization’s image was put in risk when a few players had actual run-ins with the law. Hernandez got into a bar fight with other players over an unpaid $12 tab, and he was one of the guys jailed. In a Gainesville shooting, he was also questioned, but as American Sports Story portrays, he was never charged with a crime.

American Sports Story References 21 Florida Football Players Who Were Arrested

American Sports Story references 21 players on the 2008 University of Florida football team, including future NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton, who stole a laptop and faced several felony charges. As depicted in the series, head coach Urban Meyer was forced to deal with these numerous arrests as they not only jeopardized the futures of his very talented football team but the entire University of Florida football organization at large. Meyer is called to meet with the President of the university to answer for these various unlawful actions done by his players and justify his decision to keep them all on the team instead of cutting them.

What Each Florida Football Player Was Arrested For

The felony charges against numerous University of Florida players were reduced to misdemeanours or withdrawn entirely. Even while possession of marijuana, violence, and theft accounted for the majority of the arrests, certain particular cases were more serious or peculiar. Carlos Dunlap was accused of DUI in December 2009 after dozing off at a stop sign. In September 2010, Chris Rainey was accused with felony stalking. After being accused of felony domestic abuse in November 2008, Jacques Rickerson was cut from the team right away. Not all Florida Gators experienced legal problems, as American Sports Story shows. Hernandez was not the only one.

Player	Year	Charge(s)	Result
Dawayne Grace	2005	Battery, theft, disorderly conduct	Suspended indefinitely, community service
Jon Demps	2006	Cannabis possession	3 game suspension, community service
Avery Atkins	2006	Domestic battery	Suspension, charges dropped
Jacques Rickerson	2007	Cannabis possession	1 game suspension, charges dropped
Dustin Doe	2007	Resisting arrest	Charges dropped
Ronnie Wilson	2007	Assault, battery, carrying a concealed weapon	1 year suspension, 100 hours community service
John Curtis	2007	Violation of probation	Case dismissed
Dorian Munroe	2007	Felony theft	Charges dropped
Brandon James	2007	Purchase & possession of cannabis	Charges dropped, 1 game suspension
Tony Joiner	2007	Felony theft	Charges dropped, removed as team captain
Jermaine Cunningham	2007	Battery	Charges dropped
Aaron Hernandez	2007	Assault (as a juvenile)	Charges dropped
Ronnie Wilson	2008	Cannabis possession	Charges dropped
Jamar Hornsby	2008	4 Misdemeanors for using a stolen credit card	Dismissed from team, community service
Ronnie Wilson	2008	Assault and battery	Dismissed from team, charges dropped
Jacques Rickerson	2008	Felony domestic violence	Dismissed from team, probation
Cam Newton	2008	Felony burglary	Suspended for rest of season
Riley Cooper	2009	Failure to comply with a police officer	Charges dropped
Carl Johnson	2009	Violation of restraining order	Charges dropped
Torrey Davis	2009	Driving with a suspended license	Dismissed from team
Marquis Hannah	2009	Burglary, battery	Dismissed from team, case dismissed
Janoris Jenkins	2009	Resisting arrest	Charges dropped
Dustin Doe	2009	Driving with a suspended license	Suspension, probation
Carlos Dunlap	2009	DUI	1 game suspension, community service
Gary Brown	2010	Battery	Dismissed from team
Frankie Hammond Jr.	2010	DUI	Suspended, scholarship revoked
Matt Elam	2010	Minor in possession of alcohol	Fined
Soloman Patton	2010	Minor in possession of alcohol	Fined
Chris Rainey	2010	Felony stalking	Dismissed from team, rejoined in 2012