Transfer Week Continues: RB Mike Blakely Quits Gators

Right on the heels of (deep breath here!) transfers out of Missouri, Miami, UNC, Ohio State, and Georgia comes the latest dash of attrition to our simmering boredom bouillabaisse of spring: True freshman running back Mike Blakely is leaving the Florida Gators before even going through fall camp.

Chatter on reasons for his departure centers currently around his fit for Urban Meyer’s spread schemes as opposed to the pro style favored by Charlie Weis and underlings. Blakely will presumably apply for a waiver to play immediately at another I-A program, but where he’ll land is anyone’s guess. A Rivals four-star prospect out of the delightfully-named Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., he held over a dozen offers from major programs, but only took one official visit to Auburn before signing with UF.

What does this mean for the future at Florida? Next to nothing, really. The Palm Beach Post points out right off that this is the fourth player to leave the program this offseason, but that’s actually quite a low number to lose in a transitional period with a new head coach. And SB Nation’s Alligator Army is optimistic about the store of tailbacks remaining in Will Muschamp’s stable:

Besides the players currently ahead of Blakely, remember, Florida has commitments from Mike Jones and Mike Davis, who would both have competed with Blakely for playing time in 2012 and beyond.