Former University of Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna, who was arrested in November 2022 on five child pornography charges, will continue his college football career at UAB. Kitna, the son of ex-NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, will play under head coach Trent Dilfer, another former professional quarterback.
The arrest of Jalen Kitna made headlines last year, but the charges were later dropped. Despite the initial media attention, UAB and the Department of Athletics conducted extensive due diligence and investigations into the case. Head coach Trent Dilfer personally reviewed the facts and had candid conversations with Jalen and his parents. Based on the thorough investigation and Jalen’s personal growth, Dilfer believes that Jalen has learned valuable lessons and will show great character as a member of the UAB community.
In a statement to ESPN, Dilfer said, “UAB and the Department of Athletics have performed extensive due diligence, and I have personally looked at the facts of this case and the thorough investigation, and I’ve had candid conversations with Jalen and his parents. I firmly believe Jalen learned valuable lessons and will carry himself well and show great character as a member of our community. Otherwise, he would not be at UAB.”
Jalen Kitna also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue his college football career at UAB. He acknowledged his past mistakes and the naive decisions he made, expressing deep regret for them. Kitna pleaded no-contest to second-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges related to those decisions. He stated that he has learned from his mistakes and is committed to personal growth and improvement.
Following his arrest, Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the University of Florida football team where he served as the backup quarterback. However, the charges against him were dropped in July, and he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors. Kitna served six months’ probation as part of the plea deal.
Jalen Kitna’s father, Jon Kitna, also had a successful career as an NFL quarterback. Although Jon Kitna and Trent Dilfer were never teammates, they both started games for the Seattle Seahawks.
It is important to note that Jalen Kitna’s case highlights the need for thorough investigations and due diligence when dealing with serious allegations. The decision to allow Kitna to continue his college football career at UAB was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the facts and conversations with those involved.
