Exit: Allen Gant
— Allen Gant (@allengant_93) January 22, 2016
Tony Gant’s son is moving on. With all the various configurations of Michigan’s defense requiring a lot of range from safeties, and with Peppers (in their standard 4-2-5) and James Ross (in the rare 4-3) taking nickel and SAM duties, Gant had a tough path to playing time throughout his career. With Ross’s graduation Michigan seemed content to let him try out in spring for a senior Cam Gordon role. But with a degree in hand and plenty of younger competition—including Peppers—ahead of him, it was obvious that Gant’s best chance of seeing the field regularly will be somewhere else. As a grad transfer, he’ll be able to play immediately wherever he lands.
Despite being the last listed “SAM” on the roster, his departure won’t affect Michigan too badly. Michigan now has 22 open spots, and further attrition is still expected to get that to 28-30.
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
Best of Luck Allen!
Congratulations on getting your Michigan Degree. I hope it serves you in life well. Your message showed a great deal of class, and you will forever be a Wolverine!
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
to see a player from my hometown not have the success we all would have hoped for here at Michigan.
Best of luck to him, wherever his heart takes him!
Go Blue!
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
Booooo! Go Jackets!
January 22nd, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
Currently a 4 way tie in the NLL for men's basketball. Go Generals!
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
Thank you Allen for all your years of hard work making our team and our university a better place. We appreciate your commitment to Michigan. The world rewards the dedicated, hard working young men like you.
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^
Why do you think he's looking to play somewhere else?
January 22nd, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
22 open spots right now but we are epecting 28-30. Anyone have any ideas on who the other 6-8 would be. That still seems like a lot to me.
January 22nd, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^
Not nice to guess out loud. The coaches already know about some guys who were passed by younger players and asked for a release, but it's up to the players, not the school, to inform the public whenever they're ready to. Green told them he'd be gone months ago, and he made it public what, last week? There's others that have already trickled into the paywalled boards. The coaches started saying "29" spots to people a few weeks ago and then that grew by one right when the premium boards were breaking a behavioral loss that hasn't been publicly announced. So I think the coaches have an exact count.
Also you can always expect attrition after spring and in fall, when the roster shakes out and inklings of PT issues become certainties. It's also kind of fluid, for example Ryan Glasgow and Kenny Allen will earn scholarships next year so I counted them, but they are treated as if they're still walk-ons when they're making the count for the Big Ten on signing day. Michigan will lose some guys between then and fall, and there will be schollies available for Glasgow and Allen and probably a few more besides at that point.
I keep this updated:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kXyhlMo2Yzfgv9QGhnyeJp65DL9mUxF…
If you'd like to make a copy of it and remove anyone you think won't be back for 2017 be my guest. It'll automatically set the count.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
yeah, he got some time late in the first half against MSU after Bolden was ejected, then Ross came back for the 2nd half. He was also on the field for the stand against Minny.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
What a classy young man! Best to you Allen! Go Blue!
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
Thanks for being part of the Tradition! I remember watching his Dad play. Too bad Allen didn't see the field nearly as much.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
Couldn't be more happy for Allen - he's always been a great repsensitive for the University and when he's on that field, he's playing his heart out.
It was awesome watching him get extensive time as the "next man up" when his teammates went down with injury (or got kicked out of a game on some bullshit).
Go Blue!
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
I didn't know what the SAM position was. From Wikipedia:
The strongside linebacker (SLB) is often nicknamed "Sam" or striker[13] for purposes of calling a blitz. Since the strong side of the offensive team is the side on which the tight end lines up, or whichever side contains the most personnel, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end. Often the strongside linebacker will be called upon to tackle the running back on a play, because the back will be following the tight end's block. He is most often the strongest linebacker; at the least he possesses the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a tight end or fullback blocking the backside of a pass play. The linebacker should also have strong safety abilities in pass situation to cover the tight end in man on man situations. He should also have considerable quickness to read and get into coverage in zone situations. The strongside linebacker is also commonly known as the left outside linebacker (LOLB).
January 23rd, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
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