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Published Aug 30, 2017
Scarlett, Wells suspended indefinitely
Andrew Olson
Inside the Gators
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The Gators will be down two more players Saturday against Michigan, as head coach Jim McElwain announced Wednesday afternoon that junior running back Jordan Scarlett and redshirt freshman wide receiver Rick Wells have been suspended from all team activities.

The announcement means the Gators will have 10 players suspended from the Michigan game. Already down their top returning wideout in Antonio Callaway, the Gators now have to face Michigan without their top returning running back. Scarlett recorded 179 carries for 889 yards and six touchdowns last season.

On an unofficial depth chart released Tuesday, Scarlett was the team’s first-string running back. Behind him, sophomore Lamical Perine and senior Mark Thompson were both listed at No. 2. The Gators have two more scholarship running backs, freshmen Malik Davis and Adarius Lemons.

Scarlett spoke to the media on Tuesday and had expressed excitement about the Michigan game being on his shoulders with uncertainty at the quarterback position.

“I’m just going out there looking to play,” Scarlett said. “I’ve already got the mindset in me that coach wants to put this game on my back and the running backs’ back. You know, we’re ready for the challenge. You know we’ve got a couple guys missing on the offense, so we take a big role regardless.”

Wells, a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, has been sidelined by a hamstring. Last year, he and sophomore wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland were caught shooting a BB gun at a campus residence.

According to a source close to the program the new suspensions are related to the misuse of academic funds, the reason for seven other suspensions announced earlier in August.

Both Scarlett and Wells won't travel with the squad to Texas and are both suspended indefinitely.

On Monday, McElwain confirmed that freshman wide receiver James Robinson is suspended for the Michigan game after being cited for marijuana possession last week. Scarlett was cited for marijuana possession his freshman season and missed the Citrus Bowl game against Michigan.

McElwain is scheduled to address the media after Wednesday’s practice at approximately 5:20 p.m. ET.

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