Florida DE Carlos Dunlap charged with DUI
December 1, 2009 – 3:04 pm | by wisnuajiCarlos Dunlap arrested, charged with DUI:Gators junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap, the defensive MVP of last year’s national championship game, was arrested by Gainesville Police officers Tuesday and booked in Alachua County jail on a DUI charge.
Carlos Dunlap was released at 9:10 a.m. on his own recognizance after his first court appearance. A court date has not been set.
According to the GPD, Dunlap was found asleep, slumped over the wheel of the car he was driving while it was idling at an intersection.
GPD spokesman Keith Kameg said officers responded to a reckless driving call and found a red 2000 Chrysler stopped at a green light at an intersection near 200 SW 34th St. in Gainesville at 3:25 a.m. ET. The car did not move after the traffic lights changed several times. When police approached the car, Dunlap was slumped over in the driver’s seat.
Kameg said the driver’s side window was cracked and officer Robert Rogers was able to awaken Dunlap, though Dunlap “would only open his eyes momentarily and then fall back asleep.”
Kameg said Dunlap did poorly on a field sobriety test and refused to provide a breath sample and was arrested.
“We are aware of the incident and are currently gathering more information,” Florida spokesman Steve McClain said.
Gators coach Urban Meyer is not expected to comment on the incident until after practice today, at the earliest.
Dunlap, forecast by many as a possible NFL first-round draft pick if he decides to leave after this season, is currently awaiting first appearance this morning.
The North Charleston, S.C., native is tied for the team lead with seven quarterback sacks.
The arrest figures to restart criticism of Florida’s league issues. In the five years Urban Meyer has been the head coach there had been more than two dozen arrests prior to Dunlap’s problems but none during the current season.
The timing could not have been worse for Dunlap and the Gators. Dunlap has been forecast as a likely first-round NFL pick by some experts if he decides to leave school early. Florida (12-0 and ranked No. 1) meets No. 2 Alabama at 4 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta for the SEC title.
The winner will advance to the national championship game and would faced Texas if the Longhorns win the Big 12 title on Saturday, as well.
Florida has plenty of experienced backups to step in if Dunlap is suspended, which is almost certain. William Green, a sophomore from Hoover, Ala., has played in 12 games this fall with one start.
Duke Lemmens, a junior from West Lake Village, Calif., has played in nine games with one start this season. Justin Trattou, a junior from West Orange, N.J., has two starts and played in 11 games despite having a torn biceps tendon. Trattou, however, also plays quite a bit at tackle.
It was Trattou who had a possible game-saving interception against South Carolina with the Gators clinging to a slim lead in the ninth game of the season, an eventual 24-14 win.
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