Exit Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Comment Count

Brian

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

The kaiju dream is dead:

We got an insider report a few days ago that this was likely because Wheatley arrived at fall camp OT-sized and didn't want to move to a spot—OL or DT—where a 300-pound person generally goes on the football field. When Wheatley was around the right weight he looked like a potential star, but maintaining was never in the cards for whatever reason.

Michigan should be fine with returning starters in Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry plus third-year player Nick Eubanks; this might accelerate one of the incoming TEs if they're ready. Since Wheatley was almost exclusively a blocker last year they might be able to get away with jumbo OL snaps and keep that extra year around for Mustapha Muhammad, who'd presumably be the next guy in line.

Please keep MGoBlog in your thoughts as we place our Tyrone Wheatley Jr shrine next to Dennis Norfleet's in the Basement Of Sadness.

Comments

Mongo

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^

This is a sad day.  Fine young man who deserved better.  I know you have to report it and there is probably more to this story, but I don't really care to read about it.  Thanks

Mongo

August 2nd, 2018 at 11:00 PM ^

Alex played DT for Iowa and was a Pro Bower for the Detroit Lions. Met him thru Bo once in AA, so well there you go.  In honor of his memory that is me “handle” for this site.

Alex should have played for Michigan, but that is a long story.  Loved his movies.  He passed away in 2012.  RIP ... Mongo

BroadneckBlue21

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^

Damn. My first clear UM memories were watching his dad be the best RB UM’s has in 40 years, plus. And I hoped Jr. would be a Star by his senior year, at any position. Mad tears.

corundum

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^

How does this work exactly? He showed up overweight and wouldn't switch positions and then what? Do they just say OK, you won't get any snaps and are wasting your time?

socrking

August 2nd, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^

Shot in the dark...he was insulted where they spotted him on the meritocracy board and peaced out. You’re supposed to show up to camp in tip top shape. Coaching staff doesn’t have time to mess around with guys who didn’t put in the work over the last 8 months. They’d rather focus on guys who busted their ass 6 hours a day when no one was Looking. 

Hail Harbo

August 3rd, 2018 at 7:09 AM ^

Reinforce success, that's what a meritocracy is, and should be, about.  I believe it's been an open secret that the staff always thought him a better fit at OT but for whatever reason, Wheatley was never having it.  Which is rather odd because his primary role on the field was as a sixth lineman.

I am neither sad nor surprised that Wheatley has left the program.

bronxblue

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^

Sucks, but wish him luck.  We'll always have that one catch at Ford Field.

I do remember his recruiting profile basically being "he'll either be a super-big TE or a defensive lineman", and so if he couldn't be the prior and didn't want to be the latter, I can see why it wouldn't totally work.

m1jjb00

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:32 PM ^

This sucks.  I dreamed of 14 personnel with Gentry and Eubanks in tight on the wings with the ability to audible them to split further out..

reshp1

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^

His (already small) class is pretty decimated. 

Brian Cole, Malzone, Shelton Johnson, Keith Washington, Andrew David, and now Wheatley gone. 

 

Newsome doubtful to return. Reuben Jones and Ulizio likely not to contribute. 

 

Gentry, Kinnel, Higdon, and maybe Runyan are the only contributers going forward.

 

Ali G Bomaye

August 3rd, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^

I don't think the small classes are an effect of the transition itself, so much as the fact that it's tough for an embattled coach to recruit effectively. The Minnesota game in which Shane Morris got concussed was September 27, 2014, and Hoke was a dead man walking after that. Harbaugh wasn't hired until December 28, so for a full three months - arguably the most critical three months with respect to that class - we had no effective recruiting.

In contrast, coaching transitions where there's an obvious plan of succession in place (like Oklahoma's transition from Stoops to Riley) don't tend to carry much of a recruiting cost.

Detroit Dan

August 2nd, 2018 at 9:47 PM ^

Well he was about 4th string last year after many years in the program.  So he wouldn't be expected to be a factor this year.

TD Billy Taylor

August 2nd, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^

What a shock. Another potential stud departing the program.

 

When will Harbaugh start actually doing something to address the constant attrition this team has suffered under his leadership? Is that simply a normal cause of doing business with the ultra-polarizing Harbs, or is this a sign of a deep-rooted problem within the program? Either way, I'm interested in his response and seeing how this team attempts to recover. Losing talented players is never a good indicator for a program.

getsome

August 2nd, 2018 at 10:44 PM ^

it happens everywhere - players leaving not unique to michigan.  maybe several left bc they didnt mesh with harbaugh and his program but thats the name of the game.  injuries, academics, discipline, playing time, homesick, culture, etc - players across the country transfer for a variety of reasons.

and not trying to trash anyone but wheatley is not exactly "another potential stud" - sadly his absence wont greatly impact this squad on saturdays.  asiasi was the potential star lost to transfer, not wheatley, as he wouldve been passed by most scholly TEs.  

feel bad for him though - must be tough to follow a legend like his pop at michigan.  seems like a solid kid, hope he finds success

ArthGuinness

August 2nd, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^

You know what dream is dead? My dream of having Kareem Walker and Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. on the field at the same time. The unstoppable "Kareem of Wheatley", that's what dream is dead.

FL_Steve

August 2nd, 2018 at 10:44 PM ^

Bummer to see him go, I had a feeling about this last week, hoped it would happen. Best of luck to him, I hope he graduates with a Michigan degree at least.