Following a breakout freshman campaign last season, 2016 started off on the wrong footing for Antonio Callaway. After a Title IX investigation kept Callaway away from the team for more than four months, the sophomore wideout eventually rejoined the team during workouts in June but had a lot of catching up to do.
“I wasn’t too much out of shape, but I was throwing up though because I wasn’t eating healthy. I was eating a lot of fast food,” Callaway said. "I learned you can’t take nothing for granted, because like you see, it could be taken away from you in the blink of an eye."
Callaway admits those missed months with the team hurt him during the 2016 season. Although he’s only 34 receiving yards shy of the 700 mark – an accomplishment reached only once by a Gator in the previous six games, by Demarcus Robinson in 2014 – Callaway’s sophomore season has seen its ups and downs.
After starting the year off with two 100-yard receiving performances in his first three appearances, Callaway went without a game of more than 65 receiving yards the rest of the way through. He’s caught at least six passes in a single game just once in his past two months – and he has only one receiving touchdown since the start of October.
Callaway regressed in the punt returning department, averaging just 7.38 yards per return to rank 43rd nationally with no touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the country with 15.54 yards per punt return in 2015, with two touchdowns scored in that department.
“Not the best, but it was pretty good. I could have been targeted more,” Callaway said of his sophomore season. "It’s tough. Every game you’ve got a safety over the corner helping him out, so it’s hard to get the ball.
"This year isn’t over with yet," he added. "We’ve still got Iowa, then I can focus on next year and the offseason."
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Despite the lack of necessary touches, in part due to inconsistent play at the quarterback position, Callaway claims he hasn’t been frustrated this season.
“To be honest, I don’t really get frustrated,” Callaway said. “Because of who I am, you’d think I’d cry over the ball. But as long as our team is winning, we’re producing, I’m good. I’m not a selfish player, I’m good.
“I just come to the sideline and I just tell them what I see. I don’t too much say, ‘Coach, I’m open right here,’ or ‘Coach, let’s do this.’ I just let him do his thing, but I tell him, like, ‘Coach, when we run this, they’re in this defense and this is open.’ I don’t too much say, ‘Coach, I’m open.’ Quarterbacks see different things. I might not see what the quarterback sees.”
A number of Callaway’s teammates, including quarterback Austin Appleby and cornerback Quincy Wilson, had good things to say about the sophomore wideout this week during bowl practices. Wilson called Callaway “one of the best in college football” at receiver, while Appleby also had a heap of praise to deliver to Callaway.
“He’s one heck of a playmaker, and he’s an even better dude. He’s my locker buddy,” Appleby said. “I developed a very, very cool relationship from, you know, he was in and out during the summer time and then when he got with us, the way that he works No. 1. He was a little bit out of shape when he got back with us, and I watched him. I really didn’t know much about him. I just, you know, you know what you hear. You kind of meet your teammates as you go. I didn’t know if he was gonna be a diva or, you know, how the hot-shot receivers are, but that’s anything but what he is.
“You watch this guy run a 40-yard sprint, go catch a ball, run back, run it again. And he’d be puking during the summer, but he’d be puking and dying and then the ball would be snapped, and he’s out. He doesn’t loaf. He doesn’t take a play off. He’s the hardest-working dude out here. And he deserves everything that he gets because of the way he attacks everything. The sky’s the limit for him, and the only person that can get in his way is him. I’m really, really excited about everything that’s in store for Callaway, and I’m definitely a little bummed that I don’t get to keep throwing to him for two more years.”
As currently Florida’s most dynamic playmaker on the offensive side of the ball, Callaway is motivated to make his junior year at Florida in 2017 count – and to improve upon this past season.
"I can’t do nothing but get better," Callaway said. "I won’t allow myself to fall any shorter."
DRAFT-ELIGIBLE JUNIORS DISCUSS DECISIONS
A number of Florida’s draft-eligible third- and fourth-year players, including cornerbacks Jalen “Teez” Tabor and Quincy Wilson, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, offensive tackle David Sharpe, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive back Duke Dawson, and punter Johnny Townsend, have big decisions to make. However, none of them have announced their intentions as of yet, with the Jan. 16 deadline a couple weeks away.
Three of those players, Tabor, Wilson and Sharpe, told reporters they plan on announcing their decisions once the Outback Bowl is completed.
Asked whether he’s received feedback from the NFL yet on his grade, Tabor replied, “No, I haven’t done any of that yet. I’m just going with the flow right now, enjoying this process, enjoying this bowl game. It could be the last with my teammates, so I’m just soaking it all in.”
Added Wilson: “Not yet, I haven’t. of course I’m sure you know I requested my grade but I haven’t made any decision. … A lot, a lot of conversation. A lot of people helping me out on what I should do.”
Wilson said his choice is a personal one and won’t be determined on what any of his teammates decide. However, the fact that Wilson’s younger brother, 2017 commit Marco Wilson, will join the team next season is “something I’m thinking about also,” he added.
“It’s definitely important,” Wilson said of the bowl game. “Every game is important to put on good film. I always want to be proud of what I put on film and that’s what coach says. I’m just going out there ready to play my ‘A’ game.”
Asked whether he’d look forward to leading the offensive line next year, Sharpe replied, “Definitely. I haven’t really made my decision yet, so whatever that holds."
“A little bit," Sharpe added on whether he’s received feedback from the NFL on how he grades. “I haven’t really been focusing on that right now. I’ve been here with my guys focusing on this game.”
For Tabor and the others, Monday’s matchup against Iowa presents him with a golden opportunity to put out more good film.
“I'm a pretty confident guy in my ability,” Tabor said. “I feel like I can play with anybody at any level. I feel like I'm one of the best at my position in pro, college, high school, whatever. I'm just perfecting my craft. … This is a perfect opportunity. That's how I looked at it when I first, when we first got the bowl game. It's just another opportunity to show who I am and what I'm about."
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