transfers
michael ferns

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

kman23

December 16th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^

If a HC leaves, any player should be allowed to transfer without sitting out a year. It just seems fair. Either that or make HCs sit out a year themselves.

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 152

DHughes5218

December 16th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^

I think is brother is going to be the better player. Despite the crystal ball predictions having OSU as his leader, I thought he would land here. He's probably going to Ohio - I mean Brendan is probably going to Ohio.

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 7190

True Blue Grit

December 16th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^

I was SO excited when Michael Ferns committed too.  He was the perfect type of student athlete Michigan would want:  a 4.0 student, interested in medicine, a great athlete, excellent size, a leader.  He was one of the last players I expected to leave.  But, there's an interesting article on Mlive.com that explains why he left including quotes from his Dad:

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/12/family_coaching_change_drove_m.html#incart_river

The coaching change definitely had an impact.  Maybe the proximity to family was secondary.  Maybe not.  Either way, it's a real loss for Michigan.  Fortunately from a football point of view, LB is a position where we have a lot of talent.  Still, this depresses me.  Time to drink.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32336

True Blue in s…

December 16th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^

The WV proximity to hometown is understood, but could also be the depth chart / lack of near term playing time outside of special teams. Whatever the case, good luck to him for his time at Michigan as transferring is not always a slam dunk to future success.

Joined: 12/14/2014

MGoPoints: 57

Cynthiaa

December 17th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job I've had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this - 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, go to tech tab for work detail w­w­w.T­ra­de­S­i­lo.Co­m

Joined: 12/17/2014

MGoPoints: -3