Graduate transfer OL Mason Halter joins Florida Gators, immediately eligible to play

The Florida Gators thin offensive line got a hefty boost on Tuesday when offensive tackle Mason Halter, a three-year starter at Fordham, decided to finish his college football career in Gainesville.

“On the 23rd of June I’ll be heading down to the University of Florida to start my masters degree and fulfill my last year of eligibility playing as a Gator,” Halter wrote on his Twitter account. “Can’t thank the Fordham coaching staff and all my teammates over the year for molding me into the player I am today! Can’t wait to get down to Florida and start grinding with the team #GoGators”

Halter (6-foot-8, 300 pounds), a two-time FCS All-American, originally committed to join Old Dominion for his graduate season and signed a non-binding scholarship agreement with the school, according to the The Virginian-Pilot.

“I think the coaches at ODU were a little upset, and I don’t blame them,” he told the paper. “I signed an agreement and went back on my word a bit. But this was a great opportunity. I could not turn it down.”

Instead, he will contribute to a Florida program that ended spring practice with seven returning linemen (six healthy) and was in desperate need of experienced bodies in its first season under new head coach Jim McElwain.

As a graduate degree-seeking student-athlete who is attending a new program in his final season of collegiate eligibility, Halter will be able to play immediately for the Gators.

Florida has not yet confirmed Halter’s addition.

On the 23rd of June I'll be heading down to the University of Florida to start my masters degree and fulfill my last year of eligibility playing as a Gator! Can't thank the Fordham coaching staff and all my teammates over the year for molding me into the player I am today! Can't wait to get down to Florida and start grinding with the team #GoGators 🐊🐊🐊

A photo posted by Mason Halter (@masonisohio) on Jun 9, 2015 at 12:05pm PDT