There has been a lot of talk today with the news that running back Mike Blakely will be transferring out of the University of Florida.
The story first reported by Josh Newberg and then followed up by Greg Auman and Adam Adkins states that freshman running back Blakely from Bradenton, Florida will seek a transfer out of Florida.
The 5'9" 195-pound runner and former 4-star recruit didn't play this Spring for the Gators and will seek a hardship waiver from the NCAA in his transfer, but the probability that the NCAA will grant the hardship waiver is slim. He will either have to sit out a season or play a season at a junior college before he can enroll at a division I college.
Coach Kinnan from Manatee High School was Blakely's high school coach and has stated USF is in the picture. The Bulls recruited Blakely out of high school, but he preferred to play for an SEC school. The bad blood between Holtz and Kinnan during the Brian Carnes debacle seems to be gone and the two sides are back talking.
So what are the real chances Blakely transfers to USF and follows in the footsteps of Darrell Scott and Dontae Aycock? The chances are high at this stage. There are rumors that Blakely wants to play closer to home, which would make USF ideal, but he also wants to play in a spread system, but USF is going more pro-style. He would have to sit out a season if he transferred to USF and would play one season with Scott and Murray.
He has 3 years of eligibility as well.
It will be hard for Blakely to get a transfer to another SEC school (per Greg Auman) even though he favors Auburn and South Carolina is a possible place he could land (Josh Newberg). USF is in the mix for Blakely and the talk surrounding the talented running back will only increase until the NCAA makes a decision on his hardship waiver and if UF will grant the transfer to a possible SEC school.
Blakely has been released by UF under the conditions that he doesn't transfer to another SEC school, Florida State, or Miami. He likes USF, UCF, Iowa State, FIU, Temple, and Clemson
ReplyDeleteBlakely would have four years of eligibility, not three.
ReplyDeleteBlakely told The Alligator yesterday that he is leaning toward going the JC route and then coming back to the SEC. BUT...
ReplyDeleteHomesickness was one of the top reasons he left Florida. USF is definitely in the race for him. He really liked Auburn and Clemson coming out of high school so they will push, but the Bulls will be in the race.
Just to follow up on Anons comment. Mike would have four years left as a RS-Fr for the 2012 season.
ReplyDeleteI think after he takes a good hard look at the JUCO route (2 years lost) to get back to the SEC will be a tough pill to swallow. I like our chances.
Thanks for the eligibility catch. The JUCO route seems to be the only way he can get back into the SEC because UF won't let him simply leave to a rival school. He listed several schools, like Temple, FIU, etc as possible locations, but not sure his interest level if he wants to stay in SEC. USF is a big option for him at this stage, but nothing is clear yet.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't he only lose 1 year if he went JC? Cam only lost 1.
ReplyDeleteHe would lose 1 year, but he could play right away in the JUCO level unlike Scott and Aycock and their transfer to USF.
ReplyDeleteYeah that's what I meant. Someone above said he would lose 2 if he went JC. I believe he would only lose 1, but like you said he would be playing at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHe's got 2 big things to weigh...1) does he really want to return to the SEC like he has said he might, or 2) does being close to home override that.
I like USF's chances as well as anyone's right now. It shouldn't take too much time though. If he's coming to a FBS school, they'll want him there ASAP. Hopefully in time to enroll in the summer.
It is up in the air right now. He could be close to home, would miss a full season on the bench and then play one season in the backfield with Scott and Murray (if they stay through senior season) if he went to USF. He could go to a JUCO level program, play a season, then transfer to an SEC school. I don't see him going to another small school like FIU.
ReplyDeleteMe either. I can't imagine those smaller places really have much of a chance.
ReplyDelete