Exit: Devin Asiasi Comment Count

Seth

Sorry to bump down Hutchinson but this is bigger news.

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[Eric Upchurch]

This one hurts. After rumors he hadn’t returned all semester, and that Michigan was apparently doing everything short of moving California to get him back, sophomore tight end Devin Asiasi is transferring to a school closer to home for personal reasons. Apparently now it’s official, via Harbaugh, via Baumgardner.

As just a true freshman Asiasi was one of the best blocking tight ends at Michigan in recent memory, and showed plenty of receiving ability to make him a major dual threat. There are plenty of other tight ends on the roster, and RS sophomore TJ Wheatley can fulfill much the same role. Still, this is still a major, major bummer. This is a player on the verge of stardom who was a perfect fit for the Michigan offense, and given the youth all over that side of the ball we were really looking forward to having at least this weapon at Harbaugh’s disposal.

As an additional knife, likely destinations for Asiasi include UCLA, where he would rejoin Jedd Fisch and best friend Boss Tagaloa (Jim Mora Jr.’s program has been a weird thorn in Michigan’s side lately despite going 8-5 and  4-8 the last two seasons). Asiasi also could wind up at USC, Cal, Stanford, or anywhere else that’s not here.

/shakes fist

Comments

Jon06

February 22nd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^

Hypothesis: it is difficult to recruit at a position one when of your most prominent returning players at the position is unhappy enough to be considering a transfer. Who knows what vibe Asiasi gave off to recruits, even assuming he wouldn't have explicitly said anything negative.

bdneely4

February 21st, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^

But, he came here because Harbaugh makes TEs a priority. Therefore, he shined because he was given an opportunity. I guess I feel this is a position where the "next man up" is the mentality. Go Blue!

getsome

February 21st, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^

next up must be the mentality at every single spot.

always tough to replace future pros and he is no doubt a legit pro prospect.  heres hoping the rest of the TE room can step up and replace his role, impact and skill set via committee (bc obviously theyll miss him and no one on roster matches his ability / projected impact)

socalwolverine1

February 21st, 2017 at 10:14 PM ^

Asiasi is the complete package for a Harbaugh TE : a big, tough, ridiculously agile and fast kid for his size and weight. Big, big loss. By comparison, Bunting is far less physical and Wheatley is much slower.

Hail-Storm

February 22nd, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^

Asiasi, Wheatley, and Hill packages.  That's a lot of big blocking guys that can create a path while also breaking open for a pass.  So many options to mess with a defense in that package. You add a fast deep threat that can pull a safety and stretch a defense and good things were going to happen. 

Danwillhor

February 21st, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^

but best of luck to the young man. In a kinda but not so relates note, we need to get back into Ohio. We should always recruit nationally but distance is a factor for many, be it homesickness or being 1000 miles away from family issues. Asiasi was and will be a monster. Huge loss.

TheJuiceman

February 21st, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^

Sometimes those warm weather kids just can't adjust to the cold and gloom of the Midwest. Plus, Fisch. Btw thats not really a knife in my opinion. We don't play them, they suck, yadda, yadda.

Plus the kid wants to go home, fuck it, have at it youngin. As a coach, and a Dad, you're always happy to see the kid have a familiar face on the coaching staff. Best of luck to him. Optimistic Tuesdays. Lol

stephenrjking

February 21st, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^

Knew it was coming but this stings. He was a great flip, showed tremendous promise, and really looked set to be a great player as soon as next season. Perfect for what Michigan does.

Esterhaus

February 21st, 2017 at 10:40 PM ^

Worse, I suspect the rate of transfers will increase for all cold-weather programs continuing into the future.

Players of this current generation want the easiest training and every day circumstances possible. Catching a cold and battling through that several times per year can drain a person, and as long as there are options some will flee.

You just have to hope the kid won't be washed away by the Oroville Dam or something. Next player.

Pit2047

February 21st, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^

There was talk of him not wanting to go far away from home because he was really close with his family. Maybe the kid just got homesick. And wasn't one of his siblings sick or something (or was that Boss)? Maybe he had to go home because of that. I don't think it was because it gets cold in Ann Arbor.

Rabbit21

February 22nd, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^

Plenty of kids in basic are homesick as all get out, the issue is that you don't get to leave. If you could, I am sure you would see that. Being close with family is something that can't be replicated and if that's what he needs then that's what he needs. Hoping for the best for him.

Gucci Mane

February 21st, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^

Couldn't believe we actually got him out of California in the first place. Too bad, he was going to be a star in this offense.