Former Florida TE McFarland transfers to USF

Posted Aug 5, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Aug 5, 2011 at 07:27 PM

USF has made a late addition to its fall roster, announcing Friday that former Florida tight end Michael McFarland has joined the program as a transfer.

McFarland was scheduled to practice with the Bulls for the first time Friday afternoon, and USF also announced it will seek an NCAA hardship waiver for McFarland, citing a family medical issue, that would allow him to play this season.

McFarland, who redshirted in his only season with the Gators, was rated as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects in the Class of 2010 coming out of Tampa’s Blake High School. Scout.com rated McFarland a four-star recruit, whlie he was listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.

McFarland, listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, is the second player to transfer to USF from Florida in the past few months, joining receiver Chris Dunkley, who joined the team over the summer. Dunkley, also a highly-touted recruit coming out of Pahokee High who redshirted in his only season with the Gators, is sitting out the 2011 season per NCAA transfer rules.

If McFarland’s waiver request is approved by the NCAA, he would have four years of eligibility beginning in 2011. If the NCAA denies McFarland’s request, he would have to sit out the 2011 season and would have three years of eligibility with the Bulls beginning in 2012.