Florida’s 27-member 2010 recruiting class dwindled to 18 on Tuesday when two more players announced their intentions to transfer.
Safety Josh Shaw and defensive end Lynden Trail plan to leave the Gators, coach Will Muschamp said in a statement Tuesday.
Both four-star recruits according to Rivals.com, Shaw, a defensive back from Palmdale, Caif., and Trail, a defensive end from Miami, were part of the Gators’ No. 2-ranked recruiting class in 2010. But both struggled to crack the depth chart once on campus.
Shaw appeared in 11 games at Florida, including 10 this season. He started one game during his career and recorded 22 tackles. He missed the Furman game on Nov. 19 to return home and be with his ailing grandfather.
“I have enjoyed my time at Florida but I feel like I need to be closer to my family right now,” Shaw said in the statement.
“This is not a football decision, this is a family decision. I need to be with my family.”
Meanwhile, Trail did not play in two years at Florida. Early this season, Muschamp said Trail needed “to play better” if he wanted to see game action.
“I have decided that I would like to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” Trail said in the statement.
“I want to thank the fans and Gator Nation for their support. I’ll always be a Gator at heart.”
Before the team announced the transfers Tuesday afternoon, a post on Trail’s Twitter account suggested he was leaving the program.
“GATORNATION I LOVE YALL AND LOVED ALL YALL SUPPORT I LOVED THE COACHES MY TEAMMATES AND THE STUDENTS HERE ONCE A GATOR ALWAYS A GATOR <3,” Trail posted.
The pair joins tight ends Gerald Christian and Michael McFarland, wide receivers Robert Clark, Chris Dunkley and Adrian Coxson, as well as safeties Jonathan Dowling and Jordan Haden as 2010 signees who have transferred from Florida since Feb. 2010.
Shaw and Trail are also the 10th and 11th players to leave the Gators since Muschamp was named coach last December, joining Christian, Clark, Dunkley, McFarland, running back Mike Blakely, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, wide receiver Javares McRoy and linebackers Chris Martin and Dee Finley,.
“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 the statement.
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org.
