Mr2Bits
Gator Fan
Eric Sledge, an Apopka High grad who spent the last two football seasons as a Gator linebacker, has left UF and enrolled this semester at Valdosta State.
Ty Ensor, Sledge’s high school coach at Apopka, confirmed the news Monday afternoon. In a telephone interview, Ensor said Sledge’s place on the field prompted the move.
"The main concern was that they moved him to linebacker and never gave him a chance to play safety or receiver" said Ensor, now the offensive coordinator at Osceola.
Sledge, who took a redshirt during the 2005 season, spent the spring as a second-team linebacker. But a shoulder injury over the summer, and the arrival of true freshmen linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe, made his chances at playing time disappear.
"He tore his labrum in his shoulder, and that made him miss some time," Ensor said. "He missed two-a-days, and when he got back, he was way down the depth cart."
NCAA rules make Sledge eligible to play this fall at Valdosta, a Division II school. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.
New coach David Dean, the former VSU offensive coordinator promoted to head coach Friday, has told Sledge he’ll play either defensive back or receiver, Ensor said. On Florida’s most recent roster, Sledge was listed at 6-2 and 210 pounds.
Sledge will join defensive end Melvin Black, a fellow Apopka alum, at Valdosta.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2007/01/sledge_leaves_g.html
Ty Ensor, Sledge’s high school coach at Apopka, confirmed the news Monday afternoon. In a telephone interview, Ensor said Sledge’s place on the field prompted the move.
"The main concern was that they moved him to linebacker and never gave him a chance to play safety or receiver" said Ensor, now the offensive coordinator at Osceola.
Sledge, who took a redshirt during the 2005 season, spent the spring as a second-team linebacker. But a shoulder injury over the summer, and the arrival of true freshmen linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe, made his chances at playing time disappear.
"He tore his labrum in his shoulder, and that made him miss some time," Ensor said. "He missed two-a-days, and when he got back, he was way down the depth cart."
NCAA rules make Sledge eligible to play this fall at Valdosta, a Division II school. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.
New coach David Dean, the former VSU offensive coordinator promoted to head coach Friday, has told Sledge he’ll play either defensive back or receiver, Ensor said. On Florida’s most recent roster, Sledge was listed at 6-2 and 210 pounds.
Sledge will join defensive end Melvin Black, a fellow Apopka alum, at Valdosta.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2007/01/sledge_leaves_g.html
