The Willie Taggart era at South Florida will begin on Wednesday when the Bulls open spring practice. Unfortunately three players, including the No. 2 leading receiver from 2012, will not begin spring with the program.
Taggart announced Monday that wide receiver Terrence Mitchell, running back Bradley Battles and former Florida wide receiver Chris Dunkley have been indefinitely suspended for unspecified reasons.
"They could be back. They have to do something, do what it takes to get back out there," Taggart said of the group via the Tampa Bay Times. "They can be back. They're not just going to get on this team. You don't just get on this team any kind of way. They have to make sure they're doing their part on this football team."
Dunkley has been suspended from the team since September because of a domestic battery violence charge. The ex-Gators wide receiver, already sitting out 2012 due to transfer rules, has since entered a pre-trial intervention program. This announcement does not appear to indicate any change in his status. Battles has missed games due to suspension in each of the last two seasons, totaling just 59 rushing yards in his three-year career.
Mitchell emerged as a dangerous special-teams threat in 2010, moving into a wide-receiver role and catching 31 passes for 414 yards in 2012. Taggart had previously indicated that Mitchell will move to defensive back, a position in which the Tampa native excelled in high school.
The Bulls will end spring practice with the annual spring game on April 13 in Raymond James Stadium.
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