[Shondue]

Florida running back Adam Lane plans to join the Eastern Kentucky football program, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

The Gators granted the sophomore release from the program Sunday morning, with first-year coach Jim McElwain saying the Winter Haven, Fla., native "has some family issues that he is dealing with and wants to be closer to home."

Lane has texted former teammates since then regarding his plans to join the Colonels at the Richmond, Ken., university, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in the NCAA's FCS Subdivision, where he will be immediately eligible.

The 5-foot-7, 222-pound athlete rushed 16 times for 109 yards and a touchdown Jan. 3 in the Gators' 28-20 defeat of East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl, en route to the game's MVP honors, after managing just 72 yards on eight attempts to that point in his freshman campaign.

:flame::flame::flame: