transfers
keith heitzman

Keith Heitzman Also Transferring Comment Count

Brian

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[Eric Upchurch]

Also via his instagram. Like Bellomy and Hayes, Heitzman has a degree and fifth year to play elsewhere. He moved to tight end last year in an effort to get some blocking at that position but didn't play much; with the rest of the TE corps returning plus one or two recruits and Bunting coming off a redshirt he didn't figure to get more playing time this year.

Current scholarship count remains fuzzy since there are a number of walk-ons who may or may not have earned a full-time gig. Our current assumption is that both Glasgows are on scholarship but Joe Kerridge and Kenny Allen are first-in-line types who aren't figuring in Michigan's recruiting plans. If that's the case, Michigan currently stands at 15 slots.

Comments

IndyBlue

January 30th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^

I get the feeling it's usually guys like this that wouldn't really get playing time anyway.  This normally wouldn't be news (unless of course you're a fan of the team).  The Wilson situation was a little different since he was a starter and could have returned to NC State and remained the starter.  If I recall correctly, his coach kind of pushed him out after Wilson spent the summer playing baseball instead of football.

Joined: 09/13/2008

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teldar

January 30th, 2015 at 5:40 PM ^

I think the coach was trying to put the pressure on him because he wasn't sure if he was going pro in baseball or coming back to develop a little more in college for the NFL. So there was some push, I think. The coach didn't get the answer he wanted soon enough and told him to take a hike. Mistake. 

Joined: 07/14/2009

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MI Expat NY

January 30th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^

I don't think it's more of a thing than it has been in the past.  You used to just see these guys show up for a year at FCS or DII to complete their eligibility.  There was proablably a little seen press release from the school announcing their departure.  

The Russell Wilson type transfer obviously is more common now, but that comes from the rule change, as others have noted.  

Joined: 07/24/2008

MGoPoints: 8641

Tater

January 30th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^

We are paying more attention and it is happening more.  It shows up in any national media you read, too.  

I like this because everybody wins.  The player has his degree and a shot at going somewhere he can start without having to wait a year.  The school gets another scholly for recruiting.  

Good luck to Keith.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

bronxblue

January 30th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^

Makes sense; good he got his degree and he'll get a chance to compete somewhere else.

It does seem like an uptick recently, but perhaps most kids didn't realize it was as easy in years past.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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west2

January 30th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^

transfers and attrition in general seems much more calculated compared to RRs first recruiting class.  Obviously harbaugh is not pushing anyone out but it seems to be the somewhat predictable process of players seeking better opportunities to play in their final year of eligibility.

Joined: 01/23/2011

MGoPoints: -998175

jericho

January 30th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^

I do think you are seeing a little bit of a culling of the herd here.  I'm sure that Jim is not telling them to leave, but all the people who have left were going to struggle to even see the field.  Jim knows what it takes to build a kick butt program, so it's nothing personal to have a straight forward conversation with the fourth string QB or the fourth string TE and encourage them to seek their fortunes elesewhere.  Done with tact and appreciation for their past hard work this isn't a bad thing. It needed to be done.

Joined: 07/04/2009

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M_Born M_Believer

January 30th, 2015 at 5:15 PM ^

I agree that while JH is certainly not pushing anyone out the door (all 3 are getting their degrees), he has recruited and sent out offers to maximize this class with players he wants to bring in. Given the timing of these announcements, I am optimistic (hopeful) that we will be receiving plenty of LOIs on Wednesday morning. 

My guess (only a guess, nothing more) is that these transfers are being released because the staff feels confindent that they are going to get some of the kids they want.  Otherwise they would just offer the scholly back to each of these 5th year players

Here's to hoping.........

Joined: 11/11/2009

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bluebyyou

January 30th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^

Would it surprise anyone if we lose a few more kids after the spring game? I have the feeling that what Harbaugh is going to do to toughen this team will be one notch below SEAL training.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18566

ST3

January 30th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^

congrats on the rare septuple-post.

Heitzman moving on surprises me more than Bellomy. I thought he did a reasonable job at blocking TE. Is Bunting really a threat to his playing time? I thought it was just between him and AJ Williams, and I always felt more comfortable with Heitzman out there than AJ. Not sure why. Oh yeah, I know why, it's this blog's constant complaining about AJ that did it.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52559

ST3

January 30th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^

As I understand it, tight ends come in two flavors, the blocky types and the pass-catchy types. It's great when they come in the same person. If Harbaugh is going to play two tight ends, it's likely going to be Butt and someone else. Bunting and his frying pan hands are the most likely to me, but he's 30 pounds lighter than Heitzman, at least on the '14 roster. I don't remember Hill well enough to say he was clearly ahead of Heitzman before he got hurt. Shallman wasn't ahead of Heitzman last year, I don't see why he'd move ahead of him automatically. Just because you don't project to get much PT, I don't understand why you would go somewhere else where you have to start all over again. Dakich was going to redshirt this year. Yeah, I know, different sports, but depth - experienced depth - is a valuable commodity. 5th year senior leadership also ought to count for something. And like others have said, he could have flipped back to the defensive side. I'm just surprised by his move more than the others. Actually, Hayes' decision also surprises me because I thought he was a valuable 3rd down back and is the kind of guy Harbaugh would use with Stanford as a counter to the Toby Gerhart types.

Joined: 09/11/2010

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SeattleWolverine

January 30th, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^

As a sort of tangent, these 5th year transfers are one of the reasons why I am not as bothered by the burning of redshirts as some other people are. I mean I understand that some of the recent redshirts were burned for little in return and those may not have been wise. Some folks like many OL should redshirt. But with the 5th year transfer rule, you're also potentially risking losing whatever first year production you get from a player by banking it for that 5th year when the player can easily choose not be around. Not just in terms of contributing during games, but as far as leadership or being another practice player too. Redshirts still have value but it is less than it used to be now that 5th years are no longer under "team control".

Joined: 11/07/2012

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MI Expat NY

January 30th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

That's always been the case though.  Now they're just announced as these 5th year transfers whereas before, guys who would be expected to make little or no contribution in their 5th year were given a slap on the back, thanked for their contributions, and pushed out the door, hopefully with their degree in hand.

If a freshman isn't going to make a contribution his first year on campus it is still in everyone's best interest to see him redshirt.  

Joined: 07/24/2008

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