2013 Florida Gators football: Sophomore RB Chris Johnson set to transfer

FloridaGamedayr | January 6, 2013 at 3:49 pm | 1 Comment

Florida Gators running back Chris Johnson (32) with a fumbled punt return during the game between the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports)

On the same day the Gators announced that backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett would be transferring out of the program, the program lost yet another player to a crowded depth chart.

[Take an in-depth look at Brissett's decision to leave here]

Sophomore running back Chris Johnson will also transfer schools, according to NBC Sports.

In his two seasons with the Gators, Johnson appeared in all 26 games the team played. However, his usage was almost entirely on special teams.

In 2011, he did not carry the ball at all, only returning one kick for eight yards. In 2012, the 5-foot-9, 202-pounder out of nearby Ocala saw a bit more time in the backfield, but still only managed to garner five rushing attempts for a solid 35 yards.

“Both Jacoby and Chris expressed an interest in transferring and getting a fresh start,” said head coach Will Muschamp in a statement. “We are very thankful for their contributions to the University of Florida and wish them the best of luck.”

Senior and leading Florida rusher Mike Gillislee is set to enter the NFL Draft. However, the opening in the backfield is expected to go to either Matt Jones, the highly-touted recruit who rushed for 275 yards on 52 carries as a true freshman, or Mack Brown, the redshirt sophomore who tallied 102 yards on 25 carries in 2012.

Further confounding Johnson’s efforts is the arrival on campus of Kelvin Taylor, the son of Gators legend and NFL all-pro Fred. Taylor is one of the nation’s most highly ranked prospects and is expected to compete at least for playing right away.

Unlike Brissett, who already has a list of schools hoping to bring him to campus, it is not yet known where Johnson is going to end up.