Cronkrite to transfer from Florida
Following a frustrating sophomore season, running back Jordan Cronkrite will transfer from the Gators football program and won’t play in Florida’s Outback Bowl matchup against Iowa on Jan. 2, Inside the Gators has learned.
Moving forward, this unsurprising move is one that should benefit both parties. Florida already has plenty of depth at the running back position, with Jordan Scarlett and Lamical Perine emerging in 2016, and Mark Thompson and 2017 commit Malik Davis also set to compete for carries next season.
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"We wish Jordan nothing but the best and will do everything we can to support and assist him and help him get what he wants,'' Gators head coach Jim McElwain said in a school release.
Ultimately, Florida’s running back-by-committee approach was a frustrating one this season for Cronkrite, who exited the spring as the Gators’ first-string running back before losing grasp on the job in fall camp. Cronkrite missed some action during fall practices due to a concussion he sustained in one of Florida’s scrimmages.
Through the first half of the year, Cronkrite didn’t see a great number of touches and split opportunities with Scarlett, Perine and Thompson. The running back-by-committee rotation created some tension between Cronkrite and the Gators staff.
In late October, Cronkrite was away from the team during Florida’s 24-10 win against Georgia in Jacksonville, but eventually he rejoined the squad and decided to finish out the remainder of the regular season as well as Florida’s 54-16 SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Now, Cronkrite will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next destination.
As a sophomore, Cronkrite rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries while catching 20 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in 11 appearances. A four-star running back in the 2015 class, Cronkrite rushed for 157 yards and three touchdown on 44 carries as a freshman while catching six balls for 89 yards – including an impressive 41-yard haul for a touchdown at South Carolina.
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