Exit Scott Sypniewski
According to his Twitter bio, Michigan long snapper Scott Sypniewki won’t be returning to the program for his redshirt senior season in 2017. Sypniewski has been Michigan’s starting long snapper since 2014, appearing in 34 games over the past three seasons. Redshirt sophomore PWO Andrew Robinson appears to be next in line to take over as Michigan's starting long snapper.
Sypniewski’s departure leaves Michigan with 25 available scholarships. They have 26 recruits currently committed; with the usual expected (and unexpected) offseason attrition, the 32-man class we’ve heard rumblings about seems feasible from the perspective of available scholarships.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
Sorry to see him go, but thankful for more content. Drew Singleton was the longest running Hello post of all time.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
DT and Long snapper. Played against Hawaii. Hard worker. PWO.
December 27th, 2016 at 9:41 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^
Everytime I came back to the site I had to confirm that "Drew Singleton" did not read "Najee Harris." I almost gave myself a heart attack about 42 times.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
I may be a noob, but any insight as to why he would leave? He has a sure spot on an exceptional team. I'm assuming he's looking for a grad program that UM doesn't offer?
December 27th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
That makes sense. Thanks!
December 27th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
I don't think there is a concrete answer for this question. I think it all depends on the need for each position and the talent level available at each position for any given year.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
I think you take the guys you think will fit best this year, no matter what. Saving guys for subsequent years doesn't seem necessary considering the amount of 5th year grad transfers and even undergraduate transfers for the kids who do not get a lot of playing time and wish to pursue their athletic careers elsewhere. Healthy attrition.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
We are also seeing some kids able to graduate in three years (I think early enrolling has played a part) which frees up potential space as well if they choose to grad transfer and get PT elsewhere. Malzone could be an example this year, we'll see.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
Not a bad career plan for a young QB: go to Michigan to learn from the best QB coach in all football, redshirt, graduate in 3 years and, if you haven't risen to starting you'll have 2 years left to get game experience after a grad transfer. With Harbaugh's QB recruiting there won't be enough snaps for some very good QBs. The guy who follows Peters and McCaffrey will have a long wait before he starts at Michgan.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
What's interesting to me about this one is most teams don't seem to give scholarships to long snappers. So is someone going to give him a scholarship to transfer or is he going to transfer as a walkon? Could he stay as a walkon at UM if no one offers him a scholarship? Just seems a bit odd, we'll see I guess.
Edit: Just noticed he's from IL might be cheaper to walk on for the Illini or something if he doesn't get any scholarship offers than to pay out of state tuition at UM.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
Banking for future years is a bit misleading since it really means a guy getting a 5th year, but I agree with your general point about taking more guys rather than fewer.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
Exactly. Time value of money tells us a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. You never who will pan out and who won't so always take players now.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
Serious question...
Will he snap on Friday?
December 28th, 2016 at 7:54 AM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
Quite a few more? Hill, Hurst, and McCray have indicated that they are returning. O'Korn, Isaac, and Poggi seem likely to stay. Dawson/Kugler are a bit murkier but departures would probably be their choice. Leaving out one name that you can do your own math on.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:24 PM ^
Well, if our class is going to be 30-32 incoming freshman, they still need to free up 5-7 scholarships. I like that's what he meant.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
I'm not convinced on O'Korn. He had his shot this year to play fill-in, and he bungled the opportunity. Give the backup role to Peters and let O'Korn grad transfer somewhere he can get playing time.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
I think I agree. I guess it could depend on if Harbaugh would want a "veteran" back up or if he feels confident enough with a RS Freshman.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
Harbaugh's not as dumb as Hoke. He's going to want an experienced backup. As good as Peters reportedly looks, until he has proven himself on the field you don't know how he'll respond to actual game pressure.
Further, without O'Korn on roster, if Speight or Peters should be injured you would have to rely on Malzone as your backup or burn McCaffrey's redshirt.
Whether JOK returns or not is up to him.
December 27th, 2016 at 7:30 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 2:10 AM ^
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December 27th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
I'm not the ultimate authority on this, but I believe I've read if you transfer a 2nd time you lose a year of elgibility. So for O'Korn that would mean he'd be done.
If this is correct he has no choice but to either stay and compete, or be offered the firm handshake and walk on elsewhere. Please correct me if I'm misinformed.
December 27th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
Grad transfers don't lose eligibility. O'Korn already sat out a year. He'd need to grad transfer to leave Michigan and play in Div 1.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
forget about clark and johnson... if they are unable to get their 6th years they will be gone also...
December 27th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
They are already factored into these numbers. A return for either would mean Harbaugh is looking for yet another scholarship from elsewhere.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
I'm not so sure on Isaac and Poggi. Poggi is a backup fullback, which is an important position in Harbaugh's offense, but the job could be done by someone like Kingston Davis. Isaac seems likely to be a starter and take over De'Veon Smith's role but it seems Chris Evans has RB1 status right now and we don't know how well Kareem Walker has done in practice.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
Poggi and Hill essentially shared 50% of snaps this year. While Hill was very productive and appeared to have better blocking grades, I'd still be shocked if Poggi didn't return. His dad is on the staff, too.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
in the classroom and bowl prep practices. He's poised to contribute next year and it sounds like his teammates and coaches are getting behind him.
With us currently bringing in 2 RBs, possibly 3 with Harris, we could be up to 8 or 9 RBs next year if Drake returns. That's too many imo.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Same here. His skill set has already been replaced. I think Evans and Walker will be the focal points with Isaac and Higdon still peppered in there if Isaac is still around.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
As mentioned, Poggi got like half of the snaps. But also, what about Biff Poggi? Hard to give a guy the firm handshake when Dad is on staff. #Awkward
December 27th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^
You didn't say his name but we all figure Shallman gets the firm handshake.
I wouldn't take O'Korn coming back as a certainty. He'd obviously be staying for a backup role and if he finished his degree he can grad transfer without a wait. Also, he's already shown he was willing to move for the sake of playing time so why not do it again.
Just my guess but I think you keep both Dawson/Kugler just because the OL depth chart is so thin on experience/development. At worst, they're on the 2 deep next year.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
is graduating? With a transfer there is no guarantee that all of his credits transfered or that he was on track to graduate in 4 years. WIth out a degree he doesn't have the option to grad transfer.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
I'm not stating it as a fact, just as a reasonable possibility. You may well be right. But I think it's at least reasonably possible that he has a degree after 4 years in school, and if so that he might consider transferring. Michigan, and I assume Houston, dedicate a lot of resources to ensuring that kids stay on track for graduation for various reasons including to ensure they are eligible to play and for the NCAA progress rate.
Also, football players are more likely to take summer classes because their job prospects for internships etc are more limited than regular students by NCAA rules and that can help them stay on a 4 year course, or graduate early. No way to know about either of those things unless O'Korn discusses it publicly.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
Kugler seems clear cut. He isn't just the top backup at center, I think he's the fourth best OL on the team. Dawson? I don't remember him getting much playing time last year.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
December 27th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
Many people in the thread are saying that UM is unique in the sense that it has had a LS on scholarship over the past several years. Do you mean history of UM specifically? I think if a sufficient walk-on can get the job done, it is certainly advantageous to free up a scholarship.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^
The LS UM had on scholarship the past several years was Sypniewski. Not different LS over the years. Hoke for some reason used a scholarship on one when almost no other teams across the country did so. Like you said, a walk-on usually does the job sufficiently and the scholarship can be used elsewhere.
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