Florida RB Jordan Cronkrite to transfer: Three things to know

Cronkrite rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown with the Gators this season

Florida running back Jordan Cronkrite has been granted his release and will leave the Gators program.

The sophomore back saw limited time in his two seasons with at Florida, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries this season. Last year, Cronkrite finished with 157 yards and three scores on 44 carries.

1. Cronkrite fell down the depth chart: As you can see in the stats listed above, after receiving 44 carries as a freshman in 2015, Cronkrite was handed the ball only 31 times this year. Cronkrite had more carries than fellow freshman Jordan Scarlett last season, but that all changed heading into 2016.

Scarlett beat Cronkrite out for the starting job and then Cronkrite saw both freshman Lamical Perine and junior transfer Mark Thompson surpass him on the depth chart. He no doubt looked at his next two years in Gainesville and didn't see a lot of carries coming his way.

2. He will have two year of eligibility remaining: The former four-star running back is hoping to enroll at his new school in January, and since he never redshirted in Gainesville, he'll still have two years of eligibility remaining even if he has to sit out the 2017 season due to his transfer. That's the standard practice of players transferring on the FBS level, and while we don't know where Cronkrite will wind up, odds are he'll end up at another FBS program.

The Miami native had offers from other Power Five schools like Miami, Alabama, Louisville and Notre Dame just to name a few before choosing Florida.

3. Florida can absorb the loss: As I glossed over earlier, Cronkrite found himself slipping down the depth chart, and the Gators have other backs on the roster. Scarlett will only be a junior in 2017, Perine will be a sophomore, and Thompson will be a senior.

The Gators also have three-star running back Mark Davis on the way in their current recruiting class, and could add fellow three-star rusher Adarius Lemons -- a former commitment -- as well.

So even without Cronkrite around, Florida will have more than enough options to turn to in the backfield next season.