Exit: Devin Asiasi
Sorry to bump down Hutchinson but this is bigger news.
[Eric Upchurch]
This one hurts. After rumors he hadn’t returned all semester, and that Michigan was apparently doing everything short of moving California to get him back, sophomore tight end Devin Asiasi is transferring to a school closer to home for personal reasons. Apparently now it’s official, via Harbaugh, via Baumgardner.
Harbaugh says Devin Asiasi is transferring.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 22, 2017
As just a true freshman Asiasi was one of the best blocking tight ends at Michigan in recent memory, and showed plenty of receiving ability to make him a major dual threat. There are plenty of other tight ends on the roster, and RS sophomore TJ Wheatley can fulfill much the same role. Still, this is still a major, major bummer. This is a player on the verge of stardom who was a perfect fit for the Michigan offense, and given the youth all over that side of the ball we were really looking forward to having at least this weapon at Harbaugh’s disposal.
As an additional knife, likely destinations for Asiasi include UCLA, where he would rejoin Jedd Fisch and best friend Boss Tagaloa (Jim Mora Jr.’s program has been a weird thorn in Michigan’s side lately despite going 8-5 and 4-8 the last two seasons). Asiasi also could wind up at USC, Cal, Stanford, or anywhere else that’s not here.
/shakes fist
February 21st, 2017 at 9:43 PM ^
I like how on the board the Hutchinson hello post bumps down the Asiasi goodbye post.
February 22nd, 2017 at 7:23 AM ^
I like how on the board the Asiasi goodbye post doesn't throw shade at a new commit for no reason.
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:51 AM ^
how we elected NOT to take a TE in this class...even though this has been in the works for quite a while.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
Hypothesis: it is difficult to recruit at a position one when of your most prominent returning players at the position is unhappy enough to be considering a transfer. Who knows what vibe Asiasi gave off to recruits, even assuming he wouldn't have explicitly said anything negative.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
take...
February 21st, 2017 at 9:45 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:49 PM ^
Family issues, weather issues, homesickness, etc.?
February 21st, 2017 at 10:01 PM ^
and that sucks because the second year away is a lot easier.
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^
That was the problem.
February 22nd, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^
I think more passing-spread, kind of like what the Patriots run, which still heavily features TE's. Sucks, Asiasi was poised for stardom at UM. Hope it all works out for him wherever he ends up.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
next up must be the mentality at every single spot.
always tough to replace future pros and he is no doubt a legit pro prospect. heres hoping the rest of the TE room can step up and replace his role, impact and skill set via committee (bc obviously theyll miss him and no one on roster matches his ability / projected impact)
February 21st, 2017 at 9:58 PM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:59 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:01 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
back in 1994 we had Jon Ritchie and Trevor Price. They transferred out and we still won the National Championship in 1997.
We'll be just fine.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:05 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:06 PM ^
He's going to be a great player wherever he ends up. This one hurts a bit.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:14 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 11:54 PM ^
Speed isn't the issue for Wheatley (he's pretty fast for a dude his size). Asiasi was a much better blocker, which is something Wheatley needs to work on.
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^
Asiasi, Wheatley, and Hill packages. That's a lot of big blocking guys that can create a path while also breaking open for a pass. So many options to mess with a defense in that package. You add a fast deep threat that can pull a safety and stretch a defense and good things were going to happen.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
Knew it was coming but this stings. He was a great flip, showed tremendous promise, and really looked set to be a great player as soon as next season. Perfect for what Michigan does.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:40 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
"Players of this current generation want the easiest training and every day circumstances possible."
glad you've got your finger on the pulse man.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
Nah. Global warming. Michigan is going to be the place to be.
February 22nd, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^
No doubt, I livein Illinois, but it's been tame for years during winter. The weather in the midwest is nothing compared to 10years ago. Hell, it's been 70 degrees for a week and half now.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:54 PM ^
The common cold is why young, healthy people will transfer?
February 21st, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 11:07 PM ^
All the time. And they don't make radical change because of that. Consider the military - those kids "drop out" often? No they don't, and they lack the privileges so many college athletes enjoy.
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:48 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:52 AM ^
Good job inventing an excuse to rant about "the young people" and get everything wrong in the process. Wither away, old man.
February 22nd, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 6:59 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:46 AM ^
yeah, you "have to hope he won't be washed away by the oroville dam." pretty douchey.
February 22nd, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^
Ugh, great 'get off my lawn' post.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:56 PM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 6:24 AM ^
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