HOOVER, Ala. -- Gators coach Will Muschamp, speaking to reporters at SEC Football Media Days on Wednesday morning, announced that sophomore tight end A.C. Leonard has decided to transfer.
Muschamp said he met with Leonard on Tuesday.
"Obviously he made a mistake there in the winter,'' Muschamp said. "He has decided to transfer. He had a set of criteria that he needed to work [on] to work his way back on our football team. He and I both set down and decided it would be better off for him to transfer.
"I don't know where he is wanting to go. I'm going to talk to him further about it. But there is a mutual decision. Sometimes it doesn't work and it wasn't working in this situation, so he needs to move on."
Leonard played in nine games last season as a true freshman, catching eight passes for 99 yards. His best game came in the regular-season finale against Florida State when Leonard hauled in three receptions for 65 yards.
Projected to get more playing time this season, Leonard's off-the-field troubles derailed his career in the offseason and he missed all of spring practice while suspended.
With Leonard no longer part of the team, Jordan Reed is the Gators' most experienced tight end.
Others who could move into more prominent roles in the wake of Leonard's departure include sophomores Clay Burton and Tevin Westbrook, both former defensive players moved to offense in the spring, and incoming freshmen Kent Taylor and Colin Thompson, ranked the top two tight end prospects in the nation by multiple recruiting services.
