Justice Hayes Taking A Grad Transfer
[Eric Upchurch]
Senior-to-be tailback Justice Hayes is seeking greener pastures:
The four years I have spent at this institution have brought some great memories that I will cherish forever. The fact that I will be graduating from the University of Michigan in April will be meritorious. I have earned team captain on numerous occasions, won respect from coaches and players, and most importantly played my heart out every Saturday. I truly appreciate the offer from Coach Harbaugh to allow me to return for my 5th year, but I have decided that I will choose another college to play football as a graduate student.
Hayes was a touted recruit who stuck with Michigan after Rich Rodriguez's departure despite being regarded as a spread back in the mold of a Theo Riddick. He was subsequently buried on the depth chart as the Hoke staff systematically ignored any tailback smaller than a moose.
Hayes never really got an opportunity despite the thoroughly mediocre performances of Michigan's tailbacks over the past couple years and probably doesn't see much more opportunity now what with Harbaugh's desire to manball all the live long day. It'll be interesting to see if he blows up in a fashion similar to Mike Cox and Thomas Rawls (when eligible) in a place that is not the purgatory of Brady Hoke offenses.
Michigan has three juniors-to-be (De'Veon Smith, Derrick Green, and Drake Johnson) on the roster plus USC transfer Ty Isaac, so they'll probably be fine this year. This shouldn't change recruiting approaches.
It does open up another slot. Michigan now has 13 or 14 depending on the status of Joe Kerridge—I have to assume both Glasgows are on scholarship now—and seems to be recruiting for 16, maybe 17 spots*. Hoke mentioned a few pending departures before his own exit, so I would expect Michigan to announce three or four more departures that are already known to them in the near future.
*[They have 9 and appear to be looking for two DEs, two CBs, and two TE/FB types plus a wildcard or two extra.]
January 26th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
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January 26th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
Also, I'm guessing this won't help recruiting his brother.
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January 26th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
His brother is going to do what's best for him. What happened in the past isn't Harbaugh's fault. I think the fact he offered will help with his brother.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
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January 26th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
and Daelin are cousins and not siblings.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
Classy way to handle it. Hope he finds success next year.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
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January 26th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
This may be a really dumb question but considering they only have a month to lock down recruits, 2016 is projecting to be a smallish class anyway and there is going to be a mass exodus of seniors in 2016, would the coaches consider saving a handful of scholarships for the next class?
January 26th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
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January 26th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
Not very often, but then again this is a highly unusual situation. By my count Michigan will lose 27 scholarship seniors after 2017, and this does not include any other attrition. Considering they have about that many scholarships available between 2015 and 2016 COMBINED they need to make every one of those count.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^
I don't think Mich can take more than 28, per B1G rules anyway (25 per class plus 3 backdated/early entry). Banking schollys woulnd't help if we couldn't even use them, unless I'm misunderstanding the rules.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
I wasn't talking about saving them for 2017, I was just wondering if they would prefer to save them for 2016 when they have a chance to get recruits they have had more time to scout/recruit. If they are taking a bunch of sleepers this year it may be better to save a couple slots for more proven commodities that are available next year, is what I meant.
January 26th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
to me.
January 26th, 2015 at 2:10 PM ^
but everything being equal, Harbaugh would want to have his development pipeline ready to fill the void sooner rather than later, and 2015 class members will be redshirt sophmores/true juniors in 2017 instead of redshirt freshman/true sophmores from 2016.
Just one factor, but one that leans toward 2015 by itself.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^
I suspect given Hoke's comments about transfers plus the natural attrition that comes with a coaching change, that number will be less than 27 in that some of those guys will be gone in time for their scholarships to be used on next year's class.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Glad he was smart enough to stick around and get the degree and I think this is a great opportunity for him to go get some playing time and show off his true chops.
I really hope he can land somewhere and tear it up. It at minimum gives me another team to root for during the season.
As a side note " meritorious" throwing out some serious vocabulary.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
i know i am an old guy, but I don't like guys who call upon praise for themselves
meritorious is deserving reward or praise.
But I have no problems for everyone else on this blog to say his actions are meritorious!
January 26th, 2015 at 1:17 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
shows class on harbaugh as a person and coach. not likesec?
January 26th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
where he will end up.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
And the scholarship tracking numbers. Although I don't think we will come up against that ceiling in the next 2 weeks.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
Maybe not as RR had a freshmen tailback, IIRC, that blew up and had 1,400 yards. JH seems like a class guy who stuck with this program during a coaching change, got his degree, stayed out of trouble off the field, and spoke well of the new coach. Wish him nothing but the best and hope this turns out to be a win-win for all.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
doesn't want to stay?
January 26th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
I think it is a smart move. this is one less running back. i hope they (harbaugh) does not fill it this year. could this make weber think again?
January 26th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
You take a RB every year.
We'll need one this year and need one next year.
January 26th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
I doubt a Justice Hayes decision would have any impact on Weber.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
Hope he gets a #1 back job someplace. Was never really the right situation for him, but he stuck it out, got his degree and leaves with class. Best of luck, man.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
...there were a couple guys that were not well served by the previous coaching staff.
i hope he goes for 1200 next year and gets a shot at the pros.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^
He was so poorly used that it bums me out. He actually knew how to pick up a blitz, could catch out of the backfield, and actually ran relatively well between the tackles. He will almost certainly do well at another school. Sigh:(
January 26th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
You can say that again... Hoke n co were stubborn for literally no reason on some things.
January 26th, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^
I've been a fan of Justice Hayes ever since he decommitted from ND and went Blue. Best of luck to him, wish he'd been able to find a way to stick around. I understand why he isn't though.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:34 PM ^
But the running back depth seems kind of low. 4 backs with one of them coming off his second knee surgery in two years.
January 26th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
Good luck to Justice Hayes. I hope he does well wherever he winds up. As for Cox and Rawls "blowing up" elsewhere, let's consider the level of competition where success is achieved. I'm happy they found greener pastures elsewhere, possibly in part due to more functional offensive lines blocking for them, but not exactly against the same or better collegiate defenses.
January 26th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
He stuck it out with the program regardless of coaching changes and lack of use. I'll take a kid like that on my team any day.
Best of luck to him on his next move
#GOBLUE
January 26th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
glad he got a degree!
January 26th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
this is one of the reasons I felt it would be necessary to take a RB in the 2015 class. (This and the possibility that Drake Johnson is unable to make a full recovery). Yes, hopefully, DJ will be fine and none of the other 3 get injured. But, it would have been better to get a guy in this class. Maybe Weber will somehow end up back in the fold. The other positive thing would be with the Harbaugh offense, some of the running game carries are taken up by the fullback, which we'll be fine at this year.
Either way, I wish Justice the best of luck and hearty thanks for all his meritorious service to U-M.
January 26th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
UM has 3 healthy running backs heading into spring. You hope that Johnson makes a quick recovery and no one else gets hurt or else Harbaugh and staff will probably doing some position changes to get bodies at running back.
January 26th, 2015 at 6:23 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
I have a feeling he'll be next (and hopefully last) in the line of recent Michigan RBs who left Michigan and seemed to get significantly better - or be utilized the right way.
Wish him all the best, he represented the maize and blue well!
Go tear it up Justice!
January 26th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
Good luck to Mr. Hayes!!
January 26th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
but it was not to be. He is justifiably proud of earning his Michigan degree and I join everyone above in wishing him the very best of luck in 2015 at a school where he can be the #1 back!
January 26th, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^
Thank you Justice, and good luck in your future. That Michigan education is priceless!
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