Should we be keeping a Graham/Grant NIL watch? 2/25th the "all clear" date?
I think a player has 30 days to transfer after his coach leaves. That makes Feb 25th the "safe" day for Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will J, et al. But I'm not sure if assistant coaches leaving restart that clock.
It happened very quickly with Alabama players. Hopefully every day that brings no news moves us closer to good news. But I became very triggered when Elston left and I doubt I'm the only one refreshing this board and checking X every 15 minutes for potential news. Hopefully Cullen or some other DC gets named soon and quells our nerves. And more importantly quells Mason, Kenneth and the others nerves!
February 7th, 2024 at 4:17 PM ^
They’re not leaving. Literally no reason to think that.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:44 PM ^
Oh boy. What did Mineral King do now? It’s not in the new mod sticky thread. I’m a curious sort.
Edit: And now he's back. So...I'll just blame HUEL.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:04 PM ^
He ranted about Saskatchewan’s GM. Just not surrounding him with the talent he needs.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:18 PM ^
Can't a player just transfer when the spring portal session opens up? I don't see how anything is all clear with any player until then. I am curious if the Grant and Graham talk even has anything to it or if it is just nonsense right now. I mean if they have been contacted about NIL from other teams it is tampering at this point, though I guess I am not naive enough to think it's not a possibility.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:51 PM ^
Grant has been contacted by both Texas and USC per reports. You'd have to imagine there's many more.
If you expect the NCAA to do anything about tampering I have bad news for you.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:59 PM ^
Yeah that is a fair point, so point blank UM better pony up on the NIL front. The key to having a shot at the playoff is clearly having a dominant defense anchored by the defensive front.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:25 PM ^
If the roster can stay intact, I'd say it's more than a shot at the playoff, it's an expectation.
If the full defensive roster returns, I'd say 20 points from the Michigan offense will win just about every game.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:59 PM ^
TP, hmmm work internet is clearly a little funky
February 7th, 2024 at 5:13 PM ^
High profile programs contacting other players in the current state of CFB is not a new or novel phenomenon. If you’re good at football, folks are going to come knocking. Both players have also showed public support and passion for wanting to play for Coach Moore post-CFP but you don’t want to touch on that? I’m not sure why this narrative is being pushed so hard or why fans are freaking out before Moore’s staff is even in place.
Now, if you get reports that Graham and Grant are showing reciprocating interests, continue your freak out.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:34 PM ^
Now that college players are getting NIL, I assume many of them have agents. Is it considered tampering if Texas contacts their agent to let them know they have $2 million for them if they were to become a Longhorn or is it only tampering if they directly contact the player?
Even if agent contact isn’t allowed, I’m sure there are ways to get the message to the player without breaking the rules.
February 7th, 2024 at 11:10 PM ^
Teams techinally can not make contact with players whose name are not in portal no matter what. It is a violation, the problem is it definitely not really being enforced or punished so for all intensive purposes it does in fact seem like a free for all.
February 8th, 2024 at 2:11 PM ^
Only applies to Tennessee, Florida and I’m sure we’ll get in trouble for it whether we actually do it.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:18 PM ^
Very hard to leave at this point given the school year is a few weeks in. Sure it is possible, but also would they improve draft stock by leaving? Probably not. These are champions that can continue to develop under the current coaching staff and be first round picks.
February 7th, 2024 at 6:06 PM ^
that can continue to develop under the current coaching staff
Umm, the new coaching staff?
February 7th, 2024 at 7:34 PM ^
Very hard to leave at this point given the school year is a few weeks in.
Presumably the other programs don't have the same compunction about "playing school".
February 7th, 2024 at 4:22 PM ^
Graham and Grant told me they want me to tell you your post makes them sad and they are crying.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:23 PM ^
No bc they can transfer anytime they want. They’ll both be first round picks next year. This is dumb
February 7th, 2024 at 4:25 PM ^
Will Johnson disrespect
February 7th, 2024 at 4:25 PM ^
No one's leaving now, theyve been in classes for a month. The spring window would be when it happens.
There's no additional window for an assistant leaving.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:53 PM ^
This. If anyone transfers at this point, it will probably be during the spring transfer window. Very few schools would be able to add students this late in the semester. Spring practice will give the new staff time to connect with the roster and hopefully that will be able to reassure any players who were having doubts with the coaching turnover.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:27 PM ^
I did not want to post it at its own thread cause it made me sick to see it, but supposedly Grant had started liking Texas players and coach on social media. I saw this on a fan site so take it with a grain of salt and I hope it's not true at all!!!!
February 7th, 2024 at 4:51 PM ^
people have been saying that for weeks. that's why it's on a fan site. disregard.
February 7th, 2024 at 8:38 PM ^
Sure hope you are right!
February 8th, 2024 at 2:15 PM ^
We are playing Texas next season. Is he also following USC, Washington and Oregon? The Texas board was all giddy as shit and a few posters commented they only wanted “elite tackles”. They can eat a sack.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:28 PM ^
I think because of classes starting already/the hiring of Moore that no one will leave until Spring ball. That provides some time to re-recruit the roster and try to get NIL going.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:45 PM ^
Given the athletic department's philosophy on paying people only after they've proved themselves here, these seem like the people who they should (and had better) be able to pay at much as anyone else will pay them
February 7th, 2024 at 10:39 PM ^
They can enter the transfer portal and commit to another school while they still attend Michigan through the end of the semester. I would assume they wouldn’t be allowed to train and workout at Michigan facilities
February 7th, 2024 at 4:29 PM ^
The whole idea of keeping most of the old coaching staff intact to keep the players here has been imploded. If i was any major institution, I would be committing "minor" violations talking these kids about what they could get if they entered the portal.
The benefit of not engaging in as much "pay-for-play" as some of the other major programs...means you don't have a roster full of mercs for hire. Since NIL wasn't our best selling point to begin with, hopefully we don't lose a lot...but I think when the first one goes...more seem to want to jump from the sinking ship.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:34 PM ^
I would think these guys would want to come back knowing our starting D Line could be one of the best in our history with Moore, Graham, Grant, and Stewart.
Make sure the kids get paid.
February 7th, 2024 at 6:14 PM ^
Proven stars, absolutely pay them appropriately. Don't screw this up.
Our D alone will give us a chance to compete and win a lot of games next season.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:43 PM ^
Don't just complain about it. Do something.
Contribute to the "Those Who Stay" NIL fund to keep our key players home:
(It worked last year to help keep JJ, Blake, Trevor, and Zak here for one more year. We saw how that turned out.)
Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson, et al, are here one more year. They are not going to leave just because we have new coaches coming in, they would be with new coaches anyway if they go somewhere else.
But what they might do is say "If I'm going to play for new coaches, I might as well do it where I can get paid."
So, let's just pay them here where they already are, and make any change not worthwhile for just a year.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:57 PM ^
Agree! I donated $1.99!
February 7th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
Why would they leave? They'll be in the league after this season, no reason to start over.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:53 PM ^
More $$$, if we don't step up and do our part to stay competitive in the NIL arena.
February 7th, 2024 at 6:16 PM ^
Yeah, we don't pay upfront...fine. Now, pay these proven stars their market value. And please don't fuck around with the "transformational vs transactional" bs.
February 7th, 2024 at 5:53 PM ^
I mean, to answer your question, money.
But I agree, if a coach and system have gotten you to this point and you are on the doorstep of the draft, it does seem like you are taking on an unnecessary risk and some uncertainty by playing the free agent market at this time.
I think you can look at it like a player going into a contract year. You want everything to go right and play your best in order to get the best contract at the end of the season. The year before the draft is essentially a contract year.
February 7th, 2024 at 8:40 PM ^
A transfer within the 30 day window of a coach's departure doesn't count against the player. But players now get one consequence-free transfer, so Graham, Grant, and Johnson have one in the bank. Either they want to be here or they can transfer as they please.
February 7th, 2024 at 11:39 PM ^
I think just given the academic calendar it’s unlikely anyone transfers given you can’t really enroll anywhere else in time to play spring football.
We should have the guys through spring football and the new coaches a chance to build relationships between now and then. Our most likely transfers after spring ball are still likely to be guys lower on the depth chart who leave for more playing time.
February 8th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
UM should have plenty of NIL money to pay Will, KG, & Graham with most of the players that were commanding the majority of NIL money last year now gone. If they don’t pony up then they aren’t serious about maintaining their excellence.