Florida offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker found himself in legal trouble at the beginning of this year when he was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. Shortly thereafter, he was suspended indefinitely by head coach Will Muschamp.
On Tuesday, Muschamp announced that Dunker informed him this morning he was transferring from the program. Where the redshirt freshman will go was not clarified.
“He felt like he needed a fresh start and I support him,” Muschamp said. “We support him and hope for the best for him.”
The decision was apparently some time in the making.
“I’m looking for a fresh start,” Dunker said in a statement. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve had here to play with Coach Davis and the entire Gator coaching staff.”
Dunker was pulled over by police in January for riding a scooter that wasn’t tagged. The scooter was determined to be stolen by police, though Dunker’s attorney, Huntley Johnson, claims his client said he bought the scooter for $600 and was not aware that it was stolen. He was released from jail the day following his arrest.
A former four-star recruit for the Gators, Dunker was initially expected to compete for playing time this year before his legal issue set him back.