NEDERLAND — Nederland coach Larry Neumann confirmed Monday Tavian Mayfield and Jalin Johnson are no longer apart of the Bulldogs team.
Neumann first told The News the incoming seniors were not with the team in May but both had a chance to come back once fall practice started.
Mayfield and Johnson were not at the Bulldogs first practice Monday and Neumann said their Nederland careers are over.
The full reason as to why the two were not with the Bulldogs was not released. Neumann said in May Mayfield and Johnson were suspended for disciplinary reasons that do not deal with football.
“I am disappointed to say Tavian Mayfield chose to miss a significant portion of our offseason behind false pretense,” Neumann said. “By that action he forfeited his privilege of being a part of the 2016 Nederland Bulldogs football team.”
Mayfield, a defensive selection of the Port Arthur News Super Team in 2015, was in line to be the starting quarterback of the Bulldogs. He played defensive back and receiver both his sophomore and junior years.
“I’m disappointed in it and so is the coaching staff and I am sure his teammates are disappointed in it,” Neumann added. “Just like everyone else we try to establish our team in our offseason and build that foundation. Our mission now is for this football team to define itself by the people that are here and not the ones that aren’t.”
Nederland went 8-4 last season and shared the District 22-5A championship with the Port Neches-Groves Indians. The Bulldogs lost 63-30 in the second round of the playoffs to eventual Class 5A Division I state champion George Ranch. George Ranch defeated Lake Ridge 56-0 in the state final.
Neumann did not hide behind his disappointment in the two players lost for the season. He expected both Mayfield and Johnson to be a big part of the 2016 season.
“Choices are made and sometimes the consequences are severe,” Neumann said. “I wish for myself I could have done more to keep them from making bad choices. I believe the entire coaching staff feels the same way. I am sure their teammates feel the same. Like I said, now we want to be defined by the guys who did the things to be ready for this fall and are totally committed to our cause. We are proud of those guys.”
The Bulldogs starting quarterback job is now going to come down between junior Marshall Lange and sophomore Blaysin Fernandez.
Neumann said Johnson, an all-district defensive back as a sophomore in 2015, never returned to the program after losing his spot at the end of last school year.
“His status he left program what has already been documented and he never regained his status for being a player,” Neumann said.
Neumann also reported incoming senior offensive lineman Jakoeby Sonnier moved from Nederland to Sulphur, La. over the summer due to a death in his family.
“My thoughts and prayers are with him,” Neumann said. “I support him 100-percent. He feels this is right for him and wish him nothing but the best.
“There is no doubt the impact Tavian, Jalin and Jakoeby would have had on this football team would have been positive. We know this football team has what it takes to overcome it. We will see how it goes in the future.”
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Gabriel Pruett: 721-2436. Twitter: @PaNewsGabe