Florida WR Deonte Thompson occasionally says something that does not entirely make sense. Here is another installment.
Last month at SEC Media Days, Thompson was one of three players coach Will Muschamp chose to represent his program and speak to reporters. When Thompson, from Belle Glade, was asked about his friend Janoris Jenkins, from Pahokee, getting kicked off the team for a pair of marijuana-related arrests, he offered this thought:
“It’s out of Coach’s hands. It’s not Coach’s decision. It’s not in Coach’s hands no more. It’s higher than that. The university has rules you have to abide by and everyone has to abide by. I’m pretty sure if it was up to Coach, he wouldn’t be gone.”
Thompson’s implication is that one of Muschamp’s superiors ordered him to dismiss Jenkins, his best player. If that is what Muschamp conveyed to his players, it veers somewhat from the press release he issued in April.
“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.
Even as a first-year coach, it seems unlikely kicking Jenkins off the team was anyone’s choice other than Muschamp’s. The interesting part is whether he’s telling his players the same thing he’s telling the public.
Regarding Jenkins, who now is at North Alabama for his senior year, Thompson said they have been in contact since the dismissal. Thompson is not worried about his long-time friend rebounding from his missteps.
“He’s going to be all right. He’s a good kid. Just wrong place, wrong time.”
