Demarcus Robinson now has another opportunity.
After being suspended prior to Florida’s 27-2 loss to Florida State on Saturday for violating an undisclosed team rule, the team’s seniors decided to let him return to the team, UF coach Jim McElwain said.
The wide receiver practiced on Wednesday, but McElwain said his availability for the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against Alabama is still up in the air.
"As I’ve said before, he has come a long way," McElwain said.
"But he still has a long way to go to understand it’s not OK to make choices that hurt your team."
This was Robinson’s fourth suspension since coming to UF as highly touted prospect out of Fort Valley, Georgia.
Robinson was also demoted to third string for the East Carolina game on Sept. 12 for skipping a team meeting.
After a breakout sophomore year (53 catches, 810 yards, seven touchdowns) that saw him earn third-team All-SEC honors, Robinson’s production has regressed this season.
He still leads the team with 47 catches, but has just 505 yards and two touchdowns.
His 10.7 yards per catch ranks fourth out of the six UF players with at least 15 catches.
Robinson’s numbers have dropped significantly as of late as well.
He failed to record a catch in two of his past four games he’s played.
Despite his inconsistency this season, Robinson’s presence allows other pass catchers — most notably freshman receiver Antonio Callaway and sixth-year senior tight end Jake McGee — to find open seams and make plays.
"Sometimes the greatest lessons in life are when things are taken away from you," McElwain said, "and you’re no longer enabled."
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UF's Demarcus Robinson (left) eludes defenders after catching a pass during Florida's 9-7 win against Vanderbilt on Nov. 7, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
