#UCF football’s Antwan Collier arrested on illegal gun charge

Following a traffic stop early Thursday morning involving nine University of Central Florida football players, five of them did not make the trip to Houston for the Knights-Cougars game Saturday. The incident resulted in defensive back Antwan Collier being arrested for carrying a firearm without a license.

In addition to Collier, defensive back Brandon Moore, defensive linemen Kenny Turnier and Randy Charlton and linebacker Eric Mitchell did not join the team for their victory over the Cougars, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Today’s about the guys who were here on this trip,” UCF head coach Josh Heupel told reporters when asked about the arrest Saturday.

Collier, who was said to be apologetic and confused throughout the arrest, was charged with driving without a license and carrying a firearm without a license.

“UCF Athletics officials are aware of the matter involving Antwan Collier. We have no further comment as we learn additional details about the situation,” UCF spokesman John Heisler said Friday in response to questions about Collier’s status with the football team.

According to a UCF police report, officers noticed two cars that appeared to be racing, going 75 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone near the Orlando campus. Collier was driving while cornerback Aaron Robinson, Mitchell and Moore were identified as passengers.

Police officers reported that they smelled marijuana inside the car and upon searching the vehicle found a backpack on a passenger-side floorboard with a “loaded AR 15 semi-automatic rifle with a magazine inserted” and a “Glock pistol with an extended magazine.”

Additionally, police found loose ammunition rounds and extra parts of the weapons, per the report. Mitchell had a valid concealed carry license and the firearms were placed in the trunk of the car. According to Florida law, carriers are allowed to possess firearms on a college campus if they remain locked in the trunk of a vehicle while it’s parked.

Collier informed police that he had a third gun, a handgun, under the driver’s seat. He told officers that he had a concealed carry license, but police could not confirm it existed. Colliers also said he had an identification card and intended to get his license, but he did not have one with him.

UCF body-cam video shows Colliers telling an officer he had taken a concealed carry class and earned a certificate, which is just short of earning a license.

“I got my certificate. Oh my God, what is this? Oh my God. Sir, I don’t understand,” Collier said while crying.

According to the police report, a group of five people whom campus police identified as football players caused a stir at the scene by shouting insults at the police. The passengers involved were apparently calm and pleaded with the officers not to arrest Collier, before eventually losing their composure and joining in on the jeers.

Collier was the only person arrested during the incident. Per the Orlando Sentinel, this is Collier’s third traffic incident in Orange County. He previously was cited for driving with a learner’s permit without a licensed driver in the car on two separate occasions in December 2017 and May 2019.