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Jalen Kitna started for UAB in its Week 6 contest against Tulane on Saturday afternoon.
Kitna began his career at Florida, but was dismissed from the program after being arrested and charged with multiple counts of child pornography in November of 2022. Per reports, Florida has banned Kitna from its campus until November of 2025.
Charges against Kitna were later dropped after he reached a plea deal with prosecutors. As part of the plea agreement, Kitna pled guilty to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. Per a report from the Associated Press, Kitna did not have to register as a sex offender.
Kitna was not with any college football program in 2023, but committed to UAB last December. UAB head coach Trent Dilfer told ESPN that the university and athletic department performed “extensive due diligence” before deciding to bring him into the program.
“Initial headlines can be hard to get past, even if they don’t hold up to the scrutiny of the legal process over time,” Dilfer said to ESPN after Kitna committed to his program. “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.”
Kitna is stepping in for usual UAB starter Jacob Zeno, who is out with an injury this week. Kitna has not appeared in a game since the 2022 season.
Kitna is the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna. Dilfer and Kitna did not overlap in their NFL careers, but both quarterbacks played under Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
