GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 18: Darius White #8 of the Missouri Tigers cannot complete a catch in the end zone as Jalen Tabor #5 of the Florida Gators defends during the first half of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Jalen Tabor's mom says her son was forced to defend himself in practice scuffle

Preseason scuffles are pretty common too.

Florida All-American cornerback Jalen Tabor and sophomore tight end C'yontai Lewis were suspended by coach Jim McElwain earlier today (Wednesday) under seemingly mysterious circumstances.

RELATED: Jim McElwain suspends Jalen Tabor

It seems those circumstances are a little less mysterious now as ESPN's Brett McMurphy reports that the two were in a fight and that's what led to the suspension.

RELATED: We know why Tabor and Lewis were suspended now

Apparently it was pretty serious too as there was some blood involved.

Tabor's mother claims that her son was acting in self-defense:

Tabor admitted to getting into the scuffle and seems a bit baffled as to why he was suspended for it:

Scuffles happen in preseason camps all the time and some coaches actually encourage it to get their players fired up. It's pretty common in the NFL and players are rarely suspended or even fined for it. It seems pretty crazy that McElwain would suspend his best player, even if the suspension comes against a cupcake team at the start of the season.

Florida opens up the season against UMass on Sept 3 and the Gators will be starting the season without their leading returning cornerback and tight end now.