GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- Florida football loses a starter to the transfer portal.
Gators Territory has been able to confirm that offensive lineman Chris Bleich has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal and is no longer with the program.
Not a premium subscriber? Use "GT30" and receive FREE premium access for 30 days!
“Coach Mullen will address that more tomorrow and just we support Chris and everything he’s doing," offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator John Hevesy told reporters on Tuesday evening. "I mean, there’s things going on, but Coach Mullen will say more tomorrow.”
The redshirt freshman started eight of nine games at right guard - missing the South Carolina game due to blisters on his foot. However, in recent weeks fellow redshirt freshman Richard Gouraige slowly saw his snaps grow.
Against Georgia, the Tampa native took over from Bleich early in the matchup and did not return.
"He did a pretty good job," Gators head coach Dan Mullen said about Gouraige's play against the Bulldogs. "We’re looking at those, I think you look the two, other than the two young guys on the O-line, the two freshmen on the O-line are growing, developing and they’re getting reps and they’re going to be good in the future. We try to not put too much on individually on either one of them. They’re both developing nicely. I think Richard’s doing a really nice job because we ask him to play multiple positions for depth purposes. I think it’s going to really help him out long term.”
With Gouraige being bumped up from the sixth man on the line, a true freshman is now in line to be the next man up.
"To me, Ethan White steps up and again Ethan’s been having great practices," said Hevesy. "It gives him opportunities, next guy in, get up and go.”
