Exit: Damani Dent
Michigan probably wasn't going to be able to keep all three of their fantastic safety class last year, and it was no secret which was trending out, but I still hate to see this.
Michigan DB Damani Dent entered the transfer portal; he did not see the field during his true freshman season in 2022 @DamaniDent @mfarrellsports pic.twitter.com/zGn8711Epl
— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) April 27, 2023
Dent was one half of my 2022 Sleeper of the Year pick (with Amorion Walker) when doing last year's writeups, a great athlete that Courtney Morgan got Michigan out in front for who drew close comparisons to Josh Metellus. Unfortunately Dent never got to show it in Ann Arbor. An injury (and rumored off-field issue) caused Dent to not be with the team for parts of 2022. He did travel for the Fiesta Bowl, and was back wearing #36 on the sideline of the spring game, barely playing, and still reportedly "in the doghouse."
Perhaps he was considering sticking that out, but with classmates Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb already starting to challenge the two-deep, the path to playing time was going to be long indeed.
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April 27th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
An off field issue? This is the first I’ve heard of this. I thought there was a report from fall camp that he was injured and it would be a season-long rehab?
April 27th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
maybe he injured himself off the field.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Agreed. I never heard of any off-field issues. Regardless of reason, this one's a bummer. Seemed like a good kid, and wish him the best at wherever he lands.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^
Ungh. I wasn't meaning to break news here. Tired laziness on my part to not make sure there's been reporting on it. It's not made up though.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
We didn't mean to imply that you were making it up. Just a bit of a shocker when it seemed like he didn't see the field because of injury-related reasons.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
The way it was talked about it wasn't a huge deal. A lot of guys who disappear off the roster for a bit had an open intox or their roommate got caught with a stolen credit card or something or some other dumb college student shit. It just sucks it was a guy with depth chart issues already that weren't his fault--not sure Michigan loved their chances of landing *both* Berry and Sabb when they got Dent.
April 27th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
TTB in their writeup from a couple weeks ago mentioned he was away from the team at times last year due to personal issues
This is classic case of Michigan reporters circling the wagon. We find out about so much stuff years later and then the reporters on the beat brag about knowing it all along but often don't release info or cover for players that are dealing with issues.
Agreed. Though I don't think this would be unique to Michigan and, to be frank, its not unique to sports in general. If you're a reporter who wants access you need to balance what is worth reporting and what gets you in the doghouse for reporting. It is what it is.
I don't see a problem with not reporting on minor stuff. Covering up the big stuff like rapes, yeah. Getting caught drinking underage or similar stuff most every college kid does I can see being left out of the news since everyone will overreact.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
I don’t Ike to cast shade, especially when I don’t know any facts. He could be leaving because of all the years of eligibility in the 2-deep plus. He probably has 2+ seasons from meaningful playing time. As a RS-FR with skills, I wish him well wherever he lands.
April 27th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Godspeed.
I hear colorado has a lovely amount of scholarships this time of year
Damani, we hardly knew you. Good luck wherever you go.
Don't forget Caden Kolesar.
He was likely ahead of Dent as well.
So you have the two starters. The upperclassmen backups with experience (Kolesar and Quinten Johnson). Then you have the two in his class in Berry and Sabb.
Not to mention the two freshman who just arrived in Hillman and Waller.
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