Exit Scott Sypniewski
According to his Twitter bio, Michigan long snapper Scott Sypniewki won’t be returning to the program for his redshirt senior season in 2017. Sypniewski has been Michigan’s starting long snapper since 2014, appearing in 34 games over the past three seasons. Redshirt sophomore PWO Andrew Robinson appears to be next in line to take over as Michigan's starting long snapper.
Sypniewski’s departure leaves Michigan with 25 available scholarships. They have 26 recruits currently committed; with the usual expected (and unexpected) offseason attrition, the 32-man class we’ve heard rumblings about seems feasible from the perspective of available scholarships.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
Sorry to see him go, but thankful for more content. Drew Singleton was the longest running Hello post of all time.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
DT and Long snapper. Played against Hawaii. Hard worker. PWO.
December 27th, 2016 at 9:41 PM ^
GR West Catholic. Go Falcons!
Myers played on WC's 2013 thru 2015 State Championship teams.
December 28th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
What year did you graduate?
December 27th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
Hahaha I agree! Surprisingly too long!
December 27th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^
Everytime I came back to the site I had to confirm that "Drew Singleton" did not read "Najee Harris." I almost gave myself a heart attack about 42 times.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
I may be a noob, but any insight as to why he would leave? He has a sure spot on an exceptional team. I'm assuming he's looking for a grad program that UM doesn't offer?
December 27th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
This is one of many "firm handshakes" for 5th year seniors. Will be quite a few more who do not get a 5th year. There is a reason we are recruiting for up to 32 spots, this one was expected.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
That makes sense. Thanks!
December 27th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
Serious question: is it better to have a massive recruiting class this year, or save a couple of those spots for next year's class?
December 27th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
I don't think there is a concrete answer for this question. I think it all depends on the need for each position and the talent level available at each position for any given year.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
I think you take the guys you think will fit best this year, no matter what. Saving guys for subsequent years doesn't seem necessary considering the amount of 5th year grad transfers and even undergraduate transfers for the kids who do not get a lot of playing time and wish to pursue their athletic careers elsewhere. Healthy attrition.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
We are also seeing some kids able to graduate in three years (I think early enrolling has played a part) which frees up potential space as well if they choose to grad transfer and get PT elsewhere. Malzone could be an example this year, we'll see.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
Not a bad career plan for a young QB: go to Michigan to learn from the best QB coach in all football, redshirt, graduate in 3 years and, if you haven't risen to starting you'll have 2 years left to get game experience after a grad transfer. With Harbaugh's QB recruiting there won't be enough snaps for some very good QBs. The guy who follows Peters and McCaffrey will have a long wait before he starts at Michgan.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
What's interesting to me about this one is most teams don't seem to give scholarships to long snappers. So is someone going to give him a scholarship to transfer or is he going to transfer as a walkon? Could he stay as a walkon at UM if no one offers him a scholarship? Just seems a bit odd, we'll see I guess.
Edit: Just noticed he's from IL might be cheaper to walk on for the Illini or something if he doesn't get any scholarship offers than to pay out of state tuition at UM.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^
Always take players now. If you have a huge recruiting class, the guys who are a clear cut below will leave on their own. Never bank anything for future years. Class balance tends to work itself out.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
yes. one in the hand is worth two in the bush. if you have a solid recruit willing this year, you take him. nothing in 2018 is guaranteed.
December 27th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
Banking for future years is a bit misleading since it really means a guy getting a 5th year, but I agree with your general point about taking more guys rather than fewer.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
Exactly. Time value of money tells us a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. You never who will pan out and who won't so always take players now.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
I doubt we'll see late flyers this year. The current offers are it -- if there are a few spots left due to missing out on guys they really want, I think you'll see them look for grad transfers that can provide depth short-term, opening up scholarships for the 2018 class.
December 27th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
Serious question...
Will he snap on Friday?
December 28th, 2016 at 7:54 AM ^
His going public with this earlier than most probably means he just graduated (instead of in the Spring), and thus he won't be part of Spring practice, but he can still play in the bowl if he wants to.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember most potential 5th years participate in the Spring -- the "firm handshake" happens after that. Isn't that what happened last year?
December 27th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
Quite a few more? Hill, Hurst, and McCray have indicated that they are returning. O'Korn, Isaac, and Poggi seem likely to stay. Dawson/Kugler are a bit murkier but departures would probably be their choice. Leaving out one name that you can do your own math on.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:24 PM ^
Well, if our class is going to be 30-32 incoming freshman, they still need to free up 5-7 scholarships. I like that's what he meant.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
I'm not convinced on O'Korn. He had his shot this year to play fill-in, and he bungled the opportunity. Give the backup role to Peters and let O'Korn grad transfer somewhere he can get playing time.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
I think I agree. I guess it could depend on if Harbaugh would want a "veteran" back up or if he feels confident enough with a RS Freshman.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
Harbaugh's not as dumb as Hoke. He's going to want an experienced backup. As good as Peters reportedly looks, until he has proven himself on the field you don't know how he'll respond to actual game pressure.
Further, without O'Korn on roster, if Speight or Peters should be injured you would have to rely on Malzone as your backup or burn McCaffrey's redshirt.
Whether JOK returns or not is up to him.
December 27th, 2016 at 7:30 PM ^
Has O'Korn "proven himself on the field"?
December 28th, 2016 at 2:10 AM ^
Yes, it was at Houston but he has proven he can be a solid college QB. That's more than any recruit or redshirt freshman can say.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 27th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
I'm not the ultimate authority on this, but I believe I've read if you transfer a 2nd time you lose a year of elgibility. So for O'Korn that would mean he'd be done.
If this is correct he has no choice but to either stay and compete, or be offered the firm handshake and walk on elsewhere. Please correct me if I'm misinformed.
December 27th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
Grad transfers don't lose eligibility. O'Korn already sat out a year. He'd need to grad transfer to leave Michigan and play in Div 1.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^
Maybe not quite a few more, but this is the second one and I would guess 2-3 more, plus a handful of underclassmen transfers.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
I can think of 2-3 right off the top of my head.
No, I don't care to carry any of this any further at this point in time.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
forget about clark and johnson... if they are unable to get their 6th years they will be gone also...
December 27th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
They are already factored into these numbers. A return for either would mean Harbaugh is looking for yet another scholarship from elsewhere.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
I'm not so sure on Isaac and Poggi. Poggi is a backup fullback, which is an important position in Harbaugh's offense, but the job could be done by someone like Kingston Davis. Isaac seems likely to be a starter and take over De'Veon Smith's role but it seems Chris Evans has RB1 status right now and we don't know how well Kareem Walker has done in practice.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
Poggi and Hill essentially shared 50% of snaps this year. While Hill was very productive and appeared to have better blocking grades, I'd still be shocked if Poggi didn't return. His dad is on the staff, too.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
in the classroom and bowl prep practices. He's poised to contribute next year and it sounds like his teammates and coaches are getting behind him.
With us currently bringing in 2 RBs, possibly 3 with Harris, we could be up to 8 or 9 RBs next year if Drake returns. That's too many imo.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
I think Isaac and Drake J. May move on for PT reasons. Isaac would be a nice fit at Illinois if he doesn't mind going to a "rival" school. Harris might hope for a Rawls-like resurgence at a MAC school - its hard to see him being in a position to get a majority of carries at M next year......Yada yada yada...trust the coaches
December 27th, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
I would be shocked if drake is on a scolly next season.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Same here. His skill set has already been replaced. I think Evans and Walker will be the focal points with Isaac and Higdon still peppered in there if Isaac is still around.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
As mentioned, Poggi got like half of the snaps. But also, what about Biff Poggi? Hard to give a guy the firm handshake when Dad is on staff. #Awkward
December 27th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^
they definitely need to keep at least one of Kugler or Dawson for next year, they don't have the depth up front to let those guys go.
December 27th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^
You didn't say his name but we all figure Shallman gets the firm handshake.
I wouldn't take O'Korn coming back as a certainty. He'd obviously be staying for a backup role and if he finished his degree he can grad transfer without a wait. Also, he's already shown he was willing to move for the sake of playing time so why not do it again.
Just my guess but I think you keep both Dawson/Kugler just because the OL depth chart is so thin on experience/development. At worst, they're on the 2 deep next year.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
is graduating? With a transfer there is no guarantee that all of his credits transfered or that he was on track to graduate in 4 years. WIth out a degree he doesn't have the option to grad transfer.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
I'm not stating it as a fact, just as a reasonable possibility. You may well be right. But I think it's at least reasonably possible that he has a degree after 4 years in school, and if so that he might consider transferring. Michigan, and I assume Houston, dedicate a lot of resources to ensuring that kids stay on track for graduation for various reasons including to ensure they are eligible to play and for the NCAA progress rate.
Also, football players are more likely to take summer classes because their job prospects for internships etc are more limited than regular students by NCAA rules and that can help them stay on a 4 year course, or graduate early. No way to know about either of those things unless O'Korn discusses it publicly.
December 27th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
Kugler seems clear cut. He isn't just the top backup at center, I think he's the fourth best OL on the team. Dawson? I don't remember him getting much playing time last year.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
Not so sure about that, he's a starter at a key position. There are quite a few 5th years that contribute much less. Plus, if history is a guide, the starting long snapper always gets a scholarship so promoting the back up walk on might not even help the numbers.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
Many people in the thread are saying that UM is unique in the sense that it has had a LS on scholarship over the past several years. Do you mean history of UM specifically? I think if a sufficient walk-on can get the job done, it is certainly advantageous to free up a scholarship.
December 27th, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^
The LS UM had on scholarship the past several years was Sypniewski. Not different LS over the years. Hoke for some reason used a scholarship on one when almost no other teams across the country did so. Like you said, a walk-on usually does the job sufficiently and the scholarship can be used elsewhere.
Comments