The Flanagan Four are no more. It was a mostly foregone conclusion when WLB Devin Gil put his name in the transfer portal last month but now that there’s a destination there’s no doubt.

After discussing this major decision with my family I have decided to complete my 5th year at the University of South Florida. #GoBulls pic.twitter.com/0GUsi9HB0t

— Devin Gil (@devin_gil) April 14, 2020

Gil arrived with Devin Bush Jr., Josh Metellus, and their high school coach Devin Bush Sr. in 2016, the three players forming the backbone of defenses that ranked in the top-ten of S&P+ all four years. Gil was the lowest-ranked, arriving as safety they hoped to turn into a Don Brown linebacker. Michigan’s history with players making that transformation hasn’t been great, but Gil managed managed to defy the odds, earning a role on the team in 2017 and started next to Bush for an elite-until-THAT defense in 2018.

While the coaching staff apparently adored Gil, his limitations against hyperathletic RBs were ruthlessly exposed against Ohio State and Florida. Gil lost his job to Jordan Glasgow early last season, and remained on the bench when injured starting MLB Josh Ross was ably replaced by freshman phenom Cam McGrone. With the Bushes and Metellus gone, both Ross and McGrone returning, and a new generation of LBs pushing from behind, Gil’s role was likely to diminish further. Michigan probably didn’t want to lose him—they have room for everyone currently on scholarship plus a couple of transfers, and a veteran backup is nice to have, but he was a luxury and the move is very understandable from Gil’s perspective.

It does mean if one of the starting LBs go down Michigan will be playing either Michael Barrett, who was rumored to be moving down from viper, or some kind of freshman. RS freshman Charles Thomas has a good profile and a modicum of hype, and four incoming freshman—Kalel Mullings, Cornell Wheeler, Nikhai Hill-Green, and Osman Savage—could fill out the depth chart.