Florida football: Offensive lineman Chris Bleich leaving Gators, report says
Recently, Florida football offensive lineman Chris Bleich started seeing his time on the field get less and less. Now, he’s decided to go elsewhere because of it.
Florida football offensive lineman Chris Bleich has decided to move on from the Gators.
The redshirt freshman has placed his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal and is no longer with the Florida football program, 247Sports originally reported.
Bleich had been giving way to fellow redshirt freshman left tackle Richard Gouraige in the last two games.
Additionally, left guard Brett Heggie has moved to the right side, leaving room for Gouraige at left tackle.
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According to 247Sports, Gouraige started in place of Bleich at South Carolina as Bleich had blisters on his foot. Bleich returned to the starting lineup against Georgia but was replaced by Gouraige after the first three series of the game.
It’s no question the Florida football offensive line has struggled in helping the running game get off the ground this season.
Anchored by one senior, center Nick Buchanan, the Gators are 107th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 128.9 yards per game on the ground — second-worst in the Southeastern Conference, ahead of Vanderbilt.
Bleich was listed at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, but like the rest of the offensive line, struggled to get off the ball quick enough and get a solid enough push on the line to give running backs the ability to find holes.
But, Bleich, from Plymouth, Pennsylvania, was viewed as one of the players to replace four offensive linemen who graduated last season.
However, now Bleich will test his luck in the transfer portal and Florida football will be left to work with five linemen from the 2019 class and the four committed from the class of 2020.
Next. Gators still have a lot to look forward to. dark
No. 10 Florida will host Vanderbilt at noon Saturday, Nov. 9 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.