Who is Jalen Kitna of the University of Florida and why was he arrested?
If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that the allegations that the young QB faces are as disturbing as they are sad.
The reports coming out of the University of Florida are disturbing to say the least. Indeed, the University’s loss of their quarterback is actually the least of the concerns involved in the situation.
Florida QB Jalen Kitna arrested for child pornography
According to reports, Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna was arrested on Wednesday on felony counts of child pornography. As per records from Alachua County Jail, Kitna was booked at 3:20 p.m. ET and has been suspended indefinitely from the Florida football team.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the news involving Jalen Kitna,” a team spokesperson said in a statement. “These are extremely serious charges and the University of Florida and UAA have zero tolerance for such behavior. Jalen has been suspended indefinitely.”
What do we know about Jalen Kitna’s situation?
The Gainesville Police Department advised that they executed a search warrant at Kitna’s residence after tips indicated that a Discord user had distributed an image of child sex abuse. It is understood that the GPD will seek to charge the now former Florida player with multiple second-degree felony counts of possession and promotion of obscene material.
Who is Jalen Kitna?
As a redshirt freshman, Kitna had only played four games this season as the primary backup to Anthony Richardson. During those games, the 19-year-old threw 14 passes including 12 which he completed in the Gators’ 52-17 victory over FCS Eastern Washington. Considered a decent prospect, Kitna was expected to compete for the starting quarterback job in 2023, with chatter suggesting that Richardson would leave early for the NFL Draft. Prior to his time in Florida, Kitna played for Burleson High School in Texas. A three-star prospect in the Class of 2021, he chose Florida though he had received offers from Boston College, Tennessee and Colorado. Incidentally, Kitna is the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, who played more than a decade in the NFL with several different teams. A truly troubling end, to what could well have been a successful career in football.