Florida's Alex McCalister dismissed from team, likely to enter 2016 NFL Draft

Florida has dismissed defensive end/edge rusher Alex McCalister from the team prior to the Gators' Citrus Bowl meeting with Michigan for "an unspecified violation of team rules," Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun reported Saturday.

Andreu also reports a lesser secret: That McCalister had submitted paperwork to the NFL to gauge interest in him as a means of preparing to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. While McCalister could have returned to Florida after submitting paperwork, he appears to no longer have that option.

McCalister, thought of as the Gators' best pass-rusher, missed Florida's last three games after injuring his foot against South Carolina in November. He currently shares the team lead in sacks with Jonathan Bullard at 6.5, though Bullard will obviously have a chance to break that tie in Florida's bowl. McCalister also ranks fifth in tackles for loss, with 9.5, just one more than freshman CeCe Jefferson's 8.5 in 2015. Jefferson and Bryan Cox, Jr. are likely to step into the role vacated by McCalister, though Florida's depth chart for the Citrus Bowl does not have the RUSH position McCalister was listed at in 2015 on it.

Additionally, McCalister was one of three Gators suspended for Florida's 2015 opener against New Mexico State for what the school termed a violation of University Athletic Association policy.