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 22nd, 2017 at 8:10 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 11:27 PM ^
Next!
February 21st, 2017 at 11:40 PM ^
Wish him luck. Sucks it didn't work out, but hopefully this is the best for everyone.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:04 AM ^
Time for Bunting, TWheat, and McKeon to step up.
TWheat Jr. has all the physical tools. Just needs a little more speed. He is a better blocker than Asiasi. Good thing there's a crazy crop of WRs coming in.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:20 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 5:10 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:41 AM ^
What ever the personal issues are I hope he gets through them and has a great career wherever he lands.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:57 AM ^
I'm just surprised he did not make any good friends of any of his teammates. Usually if you can make a good friend or two, then home sickness wares off. But he may have been really close to his sick Brother and just wanted to be closer to home. I wish he would have stayed since he would have been an outstanding TE here but I wish him all the best in CA and hopefully he will be happier there.
February 22nd, 2017 at 2:37 AM ^
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
February 22nd, 2017 at 5:10 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:38 AM ^
Eh - when he's in the NFL, he can bring his family to him and take care of them.
February 22nd, 2017 at 6:11 AM ^
but we're losing potential, not proven production. He caught 2 passes in 13 games, so it's not the case that our offense was already dependent on him.
We will survive.
February 22nd, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
Hill got a number of short yardage TDs because Asiasi gave him something to work with. Not all by himself, but Hill ran behind Asiasi on more than a few occasions last season.
February 22nd, 2017 at 7:50 AM ^
Which guy steps up and makes us forget Devin?
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
McKeon purely for blocking ability. Eubanks is more of a FLEX receiving TE ala Funchess and Bunting. I hope both have been putting in work this offseason.
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:01 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:08 AM ^
Trevor Pryce, Reed Baker, who else?
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
Justin Fargas barely got started here, but was the #1 ranked RB in his class. He ended up starting on a USC Rose Bowl team and carved out a nice NFL career.
Ryan Mallett is another candidate. He was a top-25 overall recruit, and although there were rumors that he was quite a jerkass during his year in Ann Arbor, he still was pretty great at Arkansas. In his last year at Arkansas, he finished seventh in the Heisman voting.
But I think Pryce still takes the cake.
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:13 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
Ryan Mallet would have been lights-out with the right coaching here at the time -- I say him.
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:31 AM ^
to the young man! Wish you well Devin and hopefully you get things figured out on your end!
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:40 AM ^
This stinks as Asiasi was one of my favorite players from that class. His blocking and toughness is a hallmark of the Harbaugh style of play. He was a prototypical Tight End and I think that the pass catching production was going to increase in a big way in year 2. It's a big loss. Not something that Michigan can't overcome, but a roadbump nonetheless. I wish him nothing but success, even if he ends up playing for our recruiting nemesis, Jim Mora.
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^
This hurts but best of luck to the young man. I like our TE group but would have loved to have Devin on the team. I'm looking forward to see what Bunting and Wheatley can do!
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:49 AM ^
i hope asiasi and wheatley are 1st and 2nd team all-americans in 2019.
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:52 AM ^
That sucks. Me after reading this:
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:17 AM ^
Well this sucks. Best of luck to the kid, hope he gets everything squared away. He's an exceptional talent I'd loved to have seen in the winged helmet for years to come.
February 22nd, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
I don't think this was an easy decision for you and your family should always come first. Hope things go well with your family and your career blossoms.
February 22nd, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^
I really like the way this kid plays the game. I wish the best to him and his family.
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^
If a guy wants to become an NFL player, he better learn to adapt to the cold.
How many NFL teams are in cold climates and have outdoor stadiums? It's easier to name the ones that aren't in cold climates and are indoors. Regardless, warm weather teams will have to play in the cold at some point. OBJ plays at LSU, then for the Giants and runs around without sleeves in January.
Spend 4 years in the cold prepping for a successful NFL career playing in cold weather, during which you'll have an offseason place in Miami and retire in LA.
This is why I don't buy the SEC's argument that kids don't/shouldn't want to play their college ball up north. In fact, if they had some foresight, they wouldn't want to play down south!
February 22nd, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
Tough loss. This kid is a lock to play in the NFL if he keeps his head on straight and works hard.
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^
We are warmer than the West Coast! Bam!
February 22nd, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^
Good luck.
February 22nd, 2017 at 8:48 PM ^
February 23rd, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
Very sad emoji
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