QB Tyler Murphy leaving Florida

— -- GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Junior quarterback Tyler Murphy, who started six games for the Gators this season, intends to transfer, the school confirmed on Sunday.

Murphy becomes the latest Gators player to choose to leave the program. Last Thursday,  the school confirmed six players' decisions to transfer.

Under NCAA transfer rules, Murphy, who graduated on Saturday, will be eligible to play next season without sitting out a year.

Murphy threw for 1,216 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in leading Florida to a 2-4 record in games he started. A reserve for each of his three seasons at Florida, Murphy came on in relief of junior starter Jeff Driskel, who broke his leg in Week 3 against Tennessee.

With freshman Max Staver also transferring, Florida will now have just two scholarship QBs on its roster. It does expect to sign top recruit Will Grier, ESPN's No. 2 QB prospect in the nation, in January.

The Gators' other returning quarterback, redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg, started the final three games of the season when Murphy aggravated a sprain in his throwing shoulder. Murphy first hurt his shoulder against LSU on Oct. 12. The Gators lost that game and the final six on their schedule.

Murphy's sister accused the school of covering up his injury. Binghamton basketball player Morgan Murphy expressed displeasure with the timing of her brother's benching in mid-November. She posted on her Twitter page: "Wish they would've done this weeks ago when they realize the severity instead of trying to cover it up & act like he was fine." She later deleted the tweet.

Muschamp insisted the job would "be an open competition" in 2014, but many believe it will be Driskel's to lose. Muschamp has made it clear that he is tweaking the offense -- he's adding hurry-up aspects and might use more spread concepts -- to better fit Driskel's skill set. Of course, those changes also would seemingly fit Murphy.

The school did not make Muschamp available for comment or release a statement, an indication that the coach wasn't on board with Murphy's choice.

Florida lost its final seven games, missing a bowl game for the first time since 1990 and finishing below .500 for the first time since a 0-10-1 campaign more than three decades ago.

Quarterback problems were the biggest culprit this season. The Gators threw just four touchdowns over the final seven games.

Other players leaving Florida include include tight end Kent Taylor, fullback Rhaheim Ledbetter and offensive linemen Quinteze Williams, Trevon Young and Ian Silberman. Murphy and Silberman graduated Saturday and will transfer under the NCAA rule that allows graduate students to play immediately and not have to sit out a year.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.