Current scholarship count: 106

Are we 100 percent sure Cole Cabana is playing RB?

When does the team need to be at 85?   Is it when Fall Camp begins?   Is it when Spring Ball begin?  Is it the start of the winter term?

I could see player with three full years - or perhaps with 3 1/2 (if they were early enrollees) - graduating in may, and becoming a grad transfer at another school - and, if they redshirted, would still have two years of eligibility.

I don’t have much input to provide on exactly who will be leaving and how all the numbers will end up but every year we end up having someone decide to leave that seems like a big deal. One thing I am confident in is this coaching staffs ability to manage a roster. There will be a surprise head scratcher that may leave and us fans feel like it is a big hit to our roster, but my guess is this staff has a pretty good handle on who is likely to leave. I will also say, I am so appreciative of all the players remaining on our team throughout this long period while the team gets ready for our Semi Championship game. With the open portal, it means a lot that these guys seem all in helping our team win a championship. Go Blue!

I am assuming with NIL tracking this is no longer necessary. 

I also speculate that an Alro Steel slush fund exists to the Recruiting Director to pay those bills.

<insert "Mo Money, Mo Money" gif here>

I get NIL can make be used, but why not allocate those funds to attract more top end talent? Would the 5-10 spots that are added really provide more benefit given those guys likely never see the field?

I believe football and basketball are the only sports with player scholarship limits - every other sport is based on fractions. For instance, baseball and hockey have unlimited roster slots but a limited number of scholarship equivalents, so many players are on only partial scholarship. 

Also, I believe that there are special rules where a player cannot go from recruited/scholarship status down to walk-on in order to circumvent the rules. Once you count toward the scholarship limit, you always do. Unless this has changed recently with covid/transfer/NIL rules.

I am guessing that some of the depth grad transfers are paying their own way (counting as walk-ons and not the limit) and supplementing with NIL money, somehow. For some, the Michigan degree plus football experience plus NIL is worth paying for access to, even over a scholarship elsewhere. If you see a future in football coaching or outside the sport entirely, Michigan has to be a great option. 

Remember, not every player is choosing based on playing time or NIL compensation uber alles. Each situation is unique and so there are a million different reasons to transfer to a school. 

NIL has made scholarships non existent. 

Can’t players get merit scholarships, RMF (grad), GSRA (grad) funding if they meet the criteria and have great grades? 
 

I know that the NCAA has rules, but I feel like prohibiting deserving student- athletes from academic funding undermines the tenets of academic rewards

The lack of a 4 deep on Special Teams concerns me. /s

For NIL why couldn’t the athletic department say they are using the players likeness to promote the football team and just pay them for that. 
 

or does the law specifically forbid money directly from the school?

I would assume Davis Warren, being QB2, is now on scholarship (or will be soon.) I'd imagine we'll lose 2 more QBs between now and September.

If we can't lure 5 stars with guaranteed NIL deals then taking a higher number of 3-4 stars and seeing who pans out seems like a viable strategy.  This coupled with the portal may be a better strategy than bidding for 5 stars out of HS.

Am I the only one nervous about out kicking / punting for next year? Only Doman and a true-frosh on scholarship to handle the duties? I am guessing / hoping there are some walk-ons who have shown to be capable. I am very nervous if Doman is expected to handle doubly duty with virtually no experience.