Exit Michael Ferns Comment Count

Ace

After a couple players tweeted the news, 247's Steve Lorenz confirmed that freshman linebacker Michael Ferns will transfer to West Virginia. Ferns, a 2014 four-star recruit from St. Clairsville, Ohio—very close to the West Virginia border—redshirted last season after enrolling early.

While Michigan loses a once-promising recruit, this is a transfer that shouldn't have a huge short- or long-term impact. Desmond Morgan, Joe Bolden, Ben Gedeon, and Mike McCray projected to fill the two-deep at inside linebacker in 2015, while Ferns's 2014 classmates Noah Furbush, Chase Winovich, and Jared Wangler provide options for the future. Michigan also returns James Ross, Royce Jenkins-Stone, and Allen Gant; as position groups go, linebacker is one of the deepest on the roster.

Ferns is the first member of the 16-man class of 2014 to depart the program.

Comments

jully81

December 17th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^

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True Blue Grit

December 16th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^

had something to do with it.  Maybe that was just a good excuse to transfer for him.  But, if that were the case, you'd think he would at least see who the new coach is before making a decision.  So, given that he picked WVU, being closer to home must have been a big factor.  Academics would the "head scratcher" factor here.  Michigan is a much better school than WVU in most academic areas.  Whatever the reason, it's too bad.  I think he was eventually going to be an All Big Ten caliber player and leader on the team.  But, I wish him the best of luck. 

Blue Know It

December 17th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^

The quote is "Those who stay will be champions". That doesn't mean "Those who leave, will not be champions". Those who leave may or may not be. But those that stay, will be.

 

What is unfair, is the fact that you take a simple quote and try to twist it into something unrelated and negative.

UMaD

December 16th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^

Ross, Morgan, RJS and Bolden will be gone soon and Ferns, Gedeon, and McCray projected as the next-in veterans when that happened.

There are other names, yes.  Hoke overrecruited the position, so numbers aren't an issue, but we've taken a few flyers and nobody in '14 had the same high ceiling/high floor that Ferns project to.

This makes Har...the next coach's job tougher.

alum96

December 16th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^

Agree.  Dont get the "shouldnt have a long term impact' comment by Ace.  He was the highest rated LB recruit in that class and taking away a guy like that from a pool and saying no major impact is like saying it wouldnt matter if we had recruited him in the first place to come here.  Of course we have no idea if he was an All American, All conference, decent starter, or eventual reserve but we also don't know that about all the other guys in his class or the one right before. 

A year from now we'll be facing Morgan, Bolden, and Ross III all graduating (RJS too) and talking about a linebacker core of Gedeon, umm, and umm.  umm being any # of untested guys. Ferns was a natural to get some experience this year as a RS FR and make an impact as a RS SO.  If not start be the 4th type LB.    On top of all that, from all accounts he seemed like a "leader" type. 

It's ok to get bad news and say - well that's impactful and it hurts. 

 

ifis

December 16th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

But I think Ace's point was that Fern's departure is relatively less harmful than it would be if it were another player.  This is not good, but it doesn't necessarily indicate the beginnings of the mass exodus that some fear.  Regardless, best of luck to him.

UMaD

December 16th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^

But regardless, it's not actually true.

Looking beyond 2015 impacts, Ferns was actually one of the more critical pieces between the '13-'14 classes, and with the '15 class looking like a bit of a lost cause those classes become more important.

I just don't see any reason to sugarcoat what is clearly bad news.  Yesh, the coaching change is far more important than one player, but under normal circumstances this would be causing a lot of consternation, justifiably so.

I agree it probably does not mean we are headed for a mass exodus, but if any one player WOULD be indicitive of such an exodus, wouldn't it be Ferns - the purported leader of the recruiting class.

ifis

December 16th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^

based on need at postion and talent

Cole

Canteen

Peppers

Speight

Mone

Marshall

arguably more critical

Ways

Harris

just my opinion, though. 

Fern's departure does cause me to 'perk my ears' a bit with respect to an exodus, but my concern is mitigated quite a bit by his family reasons and David Dawson's response.  If others start following suit I will become much more concerned.

 

 

Wolverine 73

December 16th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^

I used to pore over recruiting news obsessively this time of year.  Now, it's all bad and I barely can stand reading the bottom line.  Ferns was a straight A student, as I recall, and the kind of guy who seemed as if he would be a perfect match with Michigan.  I am more than a little surprised and saddened to read this news. 

uminks

December 16th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^

Harbaugh, a home-run. Nobody will leave and the '15 class will improve dramatically.

Miles, Bob Stoops or Mullen, A few may leave. The '15 class will improve.

Some of other plan C coaches: We will be in big trouble! Many will leave. The '15 recruiting class will be awful. .500 type seasons, another coaching search in 3 to 4 years! Awful!

Jim, we need you to save our football program!!!!!

The Immortal S…

December 16th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^

I do not care how deep we are at Fern's position.  Its nevera good thing to lose a talent like him who also happens to be a high character guy by all accounts. 

There have been lots of "exits" these days.  We've just gotta turn the corner... eventually...

a2_electricboogaloo

December 16th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^

Last player I would have expected to transfer.  It kind of speaks to the connection that Hoke had with these players.  Maybe not a huge loss for the depth chart, but I feel like we definitely lost a big leader from our 2014 class.

Ron Utah

December 16th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^

I wish Ferns the best.  He seemed like a great guy destined to be a very good player.  We don't know all the circumstances surrounding his decision, and he needs to do what he feels is best for him.

We are loaded at LB, and the next coach will make sure the cupboard stays fully stocked.

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions!

Ron Utah

December 16th, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^

It's only been three years since we won a BCS bowl.  We beat Florida in the 2008 Capitol One Bowl.  We went to the 2007 Rose Bowl.  While we haven't won the conference since 2004, This program has still had some bright spots and plenty to celebrate.

I am willing to bet that every member of Fern's class will win a B1G title and/or a New Year's bowl.

THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS