Recently departed Florida tight ends coach Ja'Juan Seider took the time Thursday evening to leave a message for the Gator Nation.

Seider opted to leave Florida when offered the Penn State running backs job after initially being retained by new coach Dan Mullen. However, Mullen attempted to retain Seider by allowing him to coach tight ends at UF, while Mississippi State assistant coach Greg Knox came with Mullen to Florida to handle the running backs.

That didn't sit particularly well with Seider, sources told GatorBait.net, but Seider was grateful in his farewell message.

"Thanks for all the love, support and memories here at UF," he wrote on Twitter. "You welcomed my family & I with open arms and have never been anything but first class.

It was always a dream of mine to coach in the Swamp & I am honored to have had that privilege. UF will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Got nothing but love for ya!"

His departure after one year leaves Florida with a backfield that has plenty of Seider's fingerprints on it.

He helepd effectively coach freshmen Malik Davis and Adarius Lemons into strong rookie campaigns and also helped sign a pair of new backs in Dameon Pierce and Iverson Clement.

Seider left them the following message in his note:

"To my boys: keep grinding, keep chasing, and keep proving everybody wrong. The sky is the limit. Go run the SEC.

"Farewell Florida. It's been a fun ride."

His former players appear to be handling the news of his departure relatively well, too. Clement, a recent early enrollee, tweeted support for Seider on Thursday evening.

"Go get that bag," he wrote, "it's all understandable and business."

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Contact Thomas Goldkamp by 247Sports' personal messaging system or on Twitter at @ThomasGoldkamp.