Muschamp dismisses Gators CB Jenkins

Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp has decided to dismiss senior cornerback Janoris Jenkins from the team following a third arrest in less than 23 months.

“After meeting with Janoris Jenkins today, we both felt it was in his best interest to move ahead to the next stage of his career,” Muschamp said in an official statement released by the school on Tuesday. “We appreciate Janoris’ contributions to the University of Florida during his time here and wish him the best of luck.”

Jenkins is facing legal issues stemming from a second arrest for possession of marijuana in less than 90 days. He was first cited on Jan. 23 when an officer spotted him rolling a joint in a nightclub bathroom. After appearing in court, he was ordered to pay $316 in court fees and had adjudication withheld. Jenkins was caught smoking a marijuana “cigar” in his car in a parking lot on Saturday morning. He was issued a notice to appear in court on May 12 for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

He originally decided to return for his senior season and forgo a likely first-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason. Jenkins’s future plans are currently unknown.

Slated to start for the Gators in the fall, his dismissal leaves another open spot on a young Florida defense. Redshirt junior Jeremy Brown and sophomore Cody Riggs will likely be the Gators’ starting cornerbacks when the season begins on Sept. 3.

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