By Buddy Martin
SouthernPigskin.com

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Jim McElwains team just became a strong candidate for a 10-win season in 2016 with the news that Antonio Callaway has been cleared to play.

Wherever the needle was projected to land on the Florida Gators 2016 Wheel of Fortune, it just moved a notch closer to the free trip to Atlanta.

Jim McElwains team just became a strong candidate for a 10-win season in 2016 with the news that Antonio Callaway has been cleared to play.

The Gators should be the favorite to win the SEC East. And yes, I think Callaways presence makes that much difference. Ask the Tennessee Vols.

Callaways victory in the courtroom, where he was found “not responsibled on alleged sexual misconduct charges, may have been bigger than the fourth-and-14 reception from Will Grier with 1:26 to play on the touchdown that beat Tennessee, 28-27, last season. This one was more like fourth-down-and-September.

If McElwain gets out of quarterback Luke Del Rio what he expects, Floridas offense will be vastly improved — even if the past-performance numbers dont indicate that. Del Rio just has to do his job and not try to carry the offense.

Ordinarily fans wouldnt get geeked up about a quarterback who has yet to complete his first pass and a wide receiver who caught 35 balls for 678 yards and four touchdown passes last season. However, this promises to be one of the top passing combinations in the SEC.

The long ball is now back in play. Every opposing defensive coordinator must now begin by game-planning first on how to deal with No. 81. He is the most exciting offensive weapon on Floridas roster, if not the entire SEC East because of his game-breaking skills. And I predict he will have an even bigger year in 2016 because he has a quarterback who can get the ball to him.

In translatable terms for football, this is really, really good news for Floridas program.

When you add in Callaways skills as a punt returner and his 435 all-purpose yards, were talking about a 1,000-yard contributor. For an offense that disappeared in the final three games last season, thats a monstrous addition

I know a lot of people are throwing darts at Del Rio with such labels as cnot an SEC starter,d etc. But McElwain doesnt need Chad Kellys arm to make his system work. And Ive seen enough to know that Del Rio fits his system, can deliver the ball on time and has excellent knowledge of the offense. Can he be successful against SEC competition? Well see. I think he can.

Dont judge Callaway by his 2015 numbers. Remember, Treon Harris probably threw a dozen ground balls and a like number of other off-target passes toward the freshman Callaway last season.

McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier both developed heartburn from seeing Florida receivers running free in the secondary who were invisible to the now-departed Harris.

Thats the football part of the Callaway story. We are still left scratching our heads about the Title IX case against the University of Florida in which Callaway was charged with violating three UF student code of conduct rules: causing physical injury or endangering another’s health or safety; sexual assault; and sexual misconduct.

The stigma of sexual misconduct looms darkly over all college football, but we do know that the first-round of the Callaway issue has been resolved for now and a black cloud has been lifted.

If you read between the lines of the statement by Callaways attorney, Huntley Johnson, its easy to predict that there is a key piece of evidence in the possession of Gainesville law office Johnson & Osteryoung, P.A. that most likely would speak to future legal battles.

Round one is over and it went to the accused. There could be numerous legal maneuvers remaining, however, so attorney Johnson wasnt willing to reveal much when I spoke with him Friday afternoon. cJust say you spoke to me,d Johnson said, cand there is more to come.d

While Johnson declined to say what cmored was 4 and understandably so because of legal liability 4 he also suggested I go to a site where I could read the corderd from the hearing officer. I did so and it was clear to me that there is some sort of smoking gun, or at least sizzling evidence, that he could unleash if needed.

However, the attorney for the complainant, John Clune, revealed afterward that they had no current plans to file further suits, criminal or civil.

Meanwhile, there is the black eye that comes with the whole sordid image of sexual misconduct on campuses by football players (see Baylor).

Cleared or not, Callaways image took a hit from his testimony in defense of his claim that “I was so stoned I had no interest in having sex with anyone.d

That sounds a little like a criminal saying, cI couldnt have robbed a bank at that time because I was out in the street stealing purses from little old ladies.d

So there could be future football-rated discipline from McElwain, who told the media, cobviously Im not happyd about the involvement of his two players.

In his behalf, hearing officer Jake Schickel 4 himself a questionable choice as a hearing officer because of his close ties as a Gator Booster 4 said Callaway was “honest, sincere, and presented himself well.d

Which is more than you can say about Callaways conduct off the field.

What may have been a win for Gator football on the scoreboard was not exactly something to be hailed by a hearty round of cWe Are The Boys From Old Florida.”