'Nobody's perfect': Billy Napier comments on Florida football CB's arrest in May
'Nobody's perfect': Billy Napier comments on Florida football CB's arrest in May
Florida football head coach Billy Napier broke his silence Wednesday on the status of junior cornerback Dijon Johnson, who was arrested May 2 in Tampa on multiple charges, including two felonies.
Speaking at the SEC's annual spring meetings, Napier confirmed Johnson remains with the Gators and is currently enrolled in summer classes while working out with the team.
"We'll handle all the discipline internally," Napier said on Wednesday at the SEC Spring Meetings, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "We're gonna let things take their course. We started some of that process with (Johnson) in-house already. He's back in summer school and working with our team."
Johnson, 21, was arrested by the Tampa Police Department late on May 2 and booked in Hillsborough County during the early hours of May 3.
Johnson faces multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance (third-degree felony), possession of a firearm during commission of a felony (second-degree felony), misdemeanor possession of cannabis under 20 grams and resisting an officer without violence (misdemeanor). He was released on an $8,500 bond the following day.
The arrest affidavit, obtained by Swamp247, details that Johnson was pulled over for a minor traffic infraction and became argumentative with officers. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of marijuana and synthetic marijuana in a backpack containing his passport, as well as a loaded Glock 19 handgun.
Despite initial claims that the substance was creatine from the football facility, field tests at the scene tested positive for illegal substances.
Court records show Johnson filed written pleas of not guilty on all charges and waived his appearance at arraignment.
Napier said he hopes the situation serves as a "teachable moment" for the entire team.
"You represent your family, you represent your institution as a whole and then I think the program in general," Napier stated. "And that specific group of players as a team that we've worked hard to create. So over time, we're hopeful that a lot of these things that we talk about stick."
Johnson appeared in all 13 games for Florida in 2024, making five starts and finishing with 27 total tackles, two pass breakups and two tackles for loss. He earned a starting role midway through the season and was a key part of the secondary despite battling an upper-body injury late in the year.
Napier acknowledged that while mistakes happen, the program's culture and evaluation processes are designed to address such challenges.
"But nobody's perfect, and they love football and I think that creates opportunities to teach a lot in terms of how to be someone that's respected, and to be accountable," Napier said. "... But in general, you've got to pick the right ones too, that's part of it. Recruiting, evaluating, it's all part of the program."
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