Jessamen Dunker will transfer from Florida, Will Muschamp announces

Offensive lineman Jessamen Dunker will transfer from Florida, Gators coach Will Muschamp announced at a Wednesday meeting with media.

Muschamp: Jessamen Dunker will transfer

— Richard Johnson (@RagjUF) April 24, 2013

Dunker made headlines in January, when he was arrested for grand theft auto (really grand theft scooter) and suspended indefinitely by Muschamp. It sounds like Dunker's leaving because of that, at least in part:

"He felt like he needed a fresh start and I support him." -- Muschamp on Dunker "We support him and hope for the best for him."

— Scott Carter (@GatorZoneScott) April 24, 2013

Muschamp on Dunker: "He's got some pretty well-documented off the field issues and he needs a fresh start."

— Julie Quittner (@JQuittner) April 24, 2013

But it should also be noted that Dunker was regarded by many as a bit of an outsider in a Florida locker room that has seemed more mature and composed in recent months. There's this Robbie Andreu tweet...

Dunker transfer is no surprise. I've heard from several sources that he did not fit in real well with the rest of the team.

— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) April 24, 2013

...and there were comments calling Dunker "kind of a shithead" and "not a stand-up citizen" in Inside the Gators' Parting Shots series ($), so it's possible that Dunker's departure is related to being a misfit in Muschamp's new football culture as well as his arrest.

Despite those character concerns, Dunker was likely to get a shot to play as a rotation lineman with the Gators if he made it made into Muschamp's good graces and onto the team, and his departure leaves Florida with more space to fill with big bodies up front.

It's likely that Florida will try to take an extra offensive lineman in the 2014 class to make up for the loss of Dunker.

Update: Dunker's statement, via GatorZone:

Jessamen Dunker on his decision to transfer "I’m looking for a fresh start. I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve had here to (cont.)

— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) April 24, 2013

Dunker cont "with Coach Davis and the entire Gator coaching staff"

— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) April 24, 2013