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Antonio Callaway grateful Cleveland Browns took chance on him in 2018 NFL Draft

Former Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway is grateful the Cleveland Browns took a chance on him in the 2018 NFL Draft.

CLEVELAND -- Antonio Callaway did not know if teams would look past his off-the-field issues and take a chance on selecting him in the 2018 NFL Draft, but early on in the fourth round, his phone rung and the Cleveland Browns were on the other end.

Believing they had the necessary structure to help troubled players get beyond their problems, the Browns looked beyond the indiscretions, traded up in the fourth round and selected a wide receiver general manager John Dorsey feels was a top pass catcher in his class.

“I questioned it a little bit, but I just kept my faith up, praying on it and leaving it in God’s hands,” Callaway said at rookie mini-camp.

“I was young. I was immature. I was just living in the moment. I had to grow and learn from my mistakes. I am past those.”

In just two seasons at Florida, the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Callaway caught 89 passes for 1,399 yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally, Callaway was a playmaker in the return game, as he ran back 56 punts for 653 yards and two touchdowns, as well as six kickoffs for 176 yards and one touchdown.

Callaway was the first player in Florida history to score a touchdown five different ways, as he caught seven, returned two punts and one kickoff for scores, threw for one on his only career pass attempt and rushed in another during the 2016 season.

“I agree with John 100 percent,” Callaway said of Dorsey’s opinion that he was one of the top two receivers available in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“Some of my choices that I made in my past caused me to fall a couple of rounds. I have learned from them, moved on and became a better person and learned from mistakes day by day. Taking it day by day still, growing and maturing.”

Credit: Logan Bowles
Wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) hurdles a defender during the University of Florida's Spring Game on April 7, 2017.

Although Callaway has game-breaking skills between the lines, he brings plenty of off-the-field concerns with him to the NFL.

Callaway was suspended for spring practices in 2016 during a sexual assault investigation. He was later cleared of three charges by a Title IX hearing officer.

In July of 2017, Callaway pleaded no contest to possession of drug paraphernalia, and then, was suspended for the entire 2017 season when it was discovered that he used stolen credit card information to make purchases at the school’s bookstore.

Additionally, Callaway had a diluted test sample at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, which, under league rules, counts as a failed test.

“I did not intentionally do it,” Callaway said. “I take responsibility for my test.

“That was a wake-up call. Like I said, day by day. Today, I am still getting better as a person, as a player, as a man and as a father. I have a (three-month old) daughter.”

Credit: Kim Klement
Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) avoids South Carolina long snapper Drew Williams (47) during a kick return in the first half of a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.

In order to provide for his family and get his off-the-field life going in a positive direction, Callaway has changed who he is spending time around away from the game, including working with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

“He reached out to me on Twitter,” Callaway said. “I connected with him like that. Basically just been mentoring me, telling me that I have too much talent to let it go to waste. Where we are from, Miami, Fla., people rarely make it out. I am one of the few to be able to say I was blessed to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns.”

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