Normally when a new head coach takes over at a major college football program, it’s expected there will be some roster attrition.
Tuesday, the expected again happened to the Florida Gators football program.
For the fourth time since Will Muschamp replaced Urban Meyer as UF’s head coach, a player has decided to transfer out of Gainesville. The school announced via a press release Tuesday afternoon that running back Mike Blakely has requested, and received, a release from his scholarship so that he may ply his football wares elsewhere.
It’s unknown at this point in time where that elsewhere might be.
“Mike has come to the conclusion that the University of Florida is not where he wants to play football,” Muschamp said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck.”
“Everyone at Florida has been very supportive of me in my time here and I’m thankful for the experience that I had, but I’ve made a decision to continue my college football career somewhere else,” Blakely said in his own statement.
Blakely was an early enrollee but did not participate in spring practice after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. Rivals.com had Blakely rated as the No. 6 RB in the country for the 2011 recruiting class.
If he decides to transfer to another Div. 1-A school, the Bradenton, Fla., native will be forced to sit out the 2011 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.