With the news that J.R. Hemingway has been granted a medical hardship redshirt, and the season well in the rear-view mirror, it’s as good a time as any to update the scholarship count. I finally got around to removing Sam McGuffie, Carson Butler, and Avery Horn. All the freshmen who were able to redshirt (to the best of my recollection) have been moved back a year in eligibility, and the seven early-enrolled freshmen have been added as well.

There are still a couple possible changes pending on the basis of Andre Criswell and LaTerryal Savoy’s 5th year scholarships, Brandon Graham’s final decision on the NFL, and any other possible attrition.

As of now, the Michigan roster breaks down like this:
13 Seniors
18 Juniors
16 Sophomores
19 Freshmen
19 scholarships remaining for the 2009 class.

Visit the Eligibility Chart to see all the details.

Posted under Football

The “Inside the Play” feature for this week will be slightly delayed because we’re having trouble getting the video together. It will probably make its grand appearance on Saturday (or even Sunday). Sorry about that, and I’ll try to avoid a situation like that happening in future weeks.

This afternoon, Paul will post the podcast, in which I talked to Dan Kukla of The Miami Student. Maybe it will assuage a few fears about this weekend’s games.

Also, Coach Rodriguez announced at his press conference yesterday afternoon that the Taylor Hill transfer is indeed going to happen. Also reported is that Marcus Witherspoon will not join the team this year (or ever). Eligibility Chart updated accordingly.

Ed. Note: I think there are only 19 scholarships available so far, but math tells me 20. Am I missing on somewhere (nested note: I’m not counting Sheridan or Lopata, et al, who will have renewal on a by-year basis).

Posted under Blog News

Michigan currently has 20 slots to fill for the 2009 recruiting class (9 unused in ’08, plus 11 players losing eligibility), with pretty good likelihood of that number increasing.

Current scholarship players

*Unused redshirt

Total – 76

Possible new scholarships:
Nick Sheridan
Mark Moundros
KC Lopata
Lopata and Sheridan have been granted scholarships, but the redshirt seniors will only use them for one year.

Possible early entry:
Carson Butler
Brandon Graham

Possible unrenewed 5th:
Andre Criswell
LaTerryal Savoy

Possible other departures:
Adam Patterson
David Cone
Adam Patterson
Avery Horn
Zion Babb

Update 9-4-08:
Removed Taylor Hill (transfer) and Marcus Witherspoon (non-qualifier).

Posted under Personnel

Current scholarship players

*Unused redshirt

Total – 79

Possible new scholarships:
Nick Sheridan
Mark Moundros
KC Lopata

Possible early entry:
Carson Butler
Brandon Graham

Possible unrenewed 5th:
Andre Criswell
LaTerryal Savoy

Update 2-7: New recruits added.
Update 3-30: Justin Boren removed.
Update 6-27: Marques Slocum removed.

Posted under Personnel

Redshirts used/not used:

2007 Eligibility Expiration:
Jamar Adams
Chris Graham
Michael Hart
Chad Henne
All of these players have played this year, and will not be able to redshirt. Therefore, all 9 players with 2007 eligibility expiration will graduate this year.

2008 Eligibility Expiration:
Kevin Grady
Brandon Harrison
Brandon Logan
Mario Manningham
Austin Panter
Terrance Taylor
Kevin Grady has not played this year, and will likely redshirt unless there is a huge problem with healthy running backs later in the year (more on that later). His eligibility will likely be moved back to 2009 expiration. All other players will remain at 2008 eligibility expiration.

2009 Eligibility Expiration:
Justin Boren
Carlos Brown
Stevie Brown
Greg Mathews
Brandon Minor
Adam Patterson
All of these players have played extensively this year, and none will be eligible to redshirt.

2010 Eligibility Expiration:
Zion Babb
Artis Chambers
Toney Clemons
Marrell Evans
Vince Helmuth
J.R. Hemingway
Brandon Herron
Avery Horn
Mark Huyge
Ryan Mallett
James Rogers
Renaldo Sagesse
Steven Threet
Ryan VanBergen
Donovan Warren
Steve Watson
Martell Webb
Michael Williams
Troy Woolfolk
Babb and Chambers have played this year, but probably not enough to be ineligible for the Trademarked Michigan “injury” redshirt. Chambers’s status is more up in the air because of his academic issue. Clemons, Helmuth, Hemingway, Mallett, Rogers, Sagesse, Warren, Webb, and Woolfolk have played enough (and late enough in the season) that they will not be able to redshirt.

This leaves Evans, Herron, Horn, Huyge, Threet, VanBergen, Watson, and Williams who are likely to redshirt (Threet has to because it is his transfer year).

If you notice anything wrong with what I’ve laid out here, please let me know.

Posted under Personnel

Johnny Sears removed from the eligibility chart, as he has been removed from the team, per Lloyd’s Monday press conference. In all honesty, Sears was a pretty bad corner anyway, so if this affects the team, it will be in a positive way, by giving Donovan Warren more playing time. Sears had all the physical tools, but couldn’t put the game together mentally, likely because he killed half of his brain cells doing drugs. This video was made in honor of his shitty performance in the App. State game, but now I think it applies in even more contexts.

The number of scholarships for the 2008 recruiting class grows larger once more in this, the year of infinite attrition.

Posted under Personnel

MGoBlue has posted the 2007 football roster.This means we know all the incoming freshman numbers, not just those that were available from the spring game (or able to be guessed).

The freshmen are numbered thusly:

Warren #6
Mallett #15
Clemons #17
Hemmingway #21
Babb #26 (WR)
Woolfork #29
Rogers #30 (DB)
Helmuth #32
Evans #33
Horn #34
Chambers #38
Williams #40
Molk #50
Van Bergen #53
Herron #58
Webb #80
Watson #81
Slocum #91
Sagesse #95

Mallett, Chambers, and Helmuth were already known from the spring game; it had been rumored Warren would be #6 and Clemons #17.

Other item of note: Absent are Schifano, Patilla, and McKinney. Are they off the team? They will remain on the eligibility chart pending further confirmation.

Posted under Personnel

Cobrani Mixon is gone gone gone…

He’s transferring, either to Kent State or Cincinnati. Teh Facebooxz provides this evidence: “Cobrani is done with michigan this is his last night eva….”

This opens up one more scholarship for the future, giving the 2008 recruiting class a magic number of 18 for now. See the chart here (or any time by clicking on “important posts” in the sidebar)

Posted under Recruiting

This is based on the Spring Roster with the addition of Adrian Arrington. I only accounted for 74 scholarships (out of 79). The maximum is 85, but 3 scholarships were for the players who have since been dismissed, one was for Forcier, who be wit dem Cardinal now, and one for
mixon, who be wit dem Falcons. McKinney and Schifano have both quit the team. The status of Quinton Patilla is up in the air. This discrepancy of 5 should mean that there are more scholarships for the next recruiting class than many think (for next season, they will probably be given to some senior walkons). More walkons will be added before the season.

9-17-07 Johnny ears booted for dat herb.

Current scholarship players

*Unused redshirt – Threet must use his redshirt in 2007.

Total – 59 + 17 Fall freshmen

Unused Scholarships – 10 (7 from Germany, Richards, Forcier, Mixon, McKinney, Schifano, Sears)

Possible big trouble – Arrington, as yet unforeseen misbehavers

Possible Early entry – Manningham, Arrington, Taylor

Possible Transfer Candidates – C. Brown

Unrenewed 5th Candidates – Gallimore, DeBenedictis, Dutch

Posted under Personnel