Florida has reportedly dismissed defensive back John Huggins from the Gators football team. Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel was the first to report with multiple outlets confirming the report.

A former 3-star safety out of Daytona Beach, Florida, Huggins was a class of 2018 signee under Dan Mullen. He played in a backup role as a freshman and impressed during 2019 spring practice.

Huggins, who had absent from Florida’s fall camp due to what the staff called a “family situation,” was in the headlines after reporters, most notably Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times, uncovered that he had been suspended for five games during the 2018 season after allegedly choking a tutor. The fact that he was still a member of the team led to more public scrutiny for Mullen and the Florida program. Huggins was the fifth member of the team accused of domestic violence since Mullen became head coach.

On the field, the dismissal of Huggins makes an already thin Gators secondary even thinner. Following spring practice, 4-star freshman DB Chris Steele transferred from the program. Veteran reserve defensive back Brian Edwards transferred after he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery. Those charges were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence. In fall camp, another veteran defensive back, CJ McWilliams, tore his Achilles and will be out for the season.