Florida coach Will Muschamp has been with the Gators for less than a year, but he’s already had 11 players leave the program after two more decided to further their careers elsewhere on Monday.
Redshirt freshmen Josh Shaw and Lynden Trail will transfer from the program following a 6-6 regular season.
“We wish Lynden and Josh the best of luck in the future and we certainly appreciate their contributions to the football program,” Muschamp said in a press release.
Shaw, a safety from Palmdale, Calif., had started one game for the Gators in the 2011 season after playing on a limited basis as a true freshman and ultimately redshirting.
He started the Auburn game and recorded 22 tackles on the season. He did not play in the South Carolina or Furman games this season, and he traveled home to visit his sick grandfather during the Furman game.
“I have enjoyed my time at Florida but I feel like I need to be closer to my family right now,” he said in the release. “This is not a football decision, this is a family decision. I need to be with my family.”
Trail was a redshirt freshman defensive end. Former coach Urban Meyer elected to redshirt him during fall camp of 2010 to add size and weight.
The 6-foot-6, 251-pound defensive end dressed out for the season opener against Florida Atlantic, but had not dressed for a game since.
Muschamp was asked why Trail was not dressing earlier in the year and simply replied: “He just needs to play better.”
A source told GatorCountry.com that Trail had academic issues that the coaching staff was not pleased with, resulting in the decision not to dress him out.
“I have decided that I would like to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” Trail said in the release. “I want to thank the fans and Gator Nation for their support. I’ll always be a Gator at heart.”
Florida currently has 70 scholarship players on the roster, 15 short of the NCAA limit of 85. Four of those 70 players are former walk-ons who were awarded scholarships prior to the 2011 season.
The Gators currently have 11 seniors on scholarship.