Exit: Erick All and Louis Hansen
[This article has been updated]
Michigan is going to lose a chunk of their tight end depth, including a former starter who previously told the program he was returning. Erick All is the big one, since we were planning on him returning to start next season with Luke Schoonmaker going to the senior bowl:
Wolverine nation〽️ Love you guys but it’s time for me to move on. I know some of you are wondering why I would leave and the answer to that question is unexpected. 1/2
— Erick All Jr. (@eallindi83) December 5, 2022
Not everything/everyone are what they seem and I learned that from my time here at Michigan. Sometimes you have to let go and do what’s best for you and your family. Love you guys. Go Blue💙 2/2
— Erick All Jr. (@eallindi83) December 5, 2022
All should have two years of eligibility left thanks to the COVID year and a medshirt for 2022.
[Hit THE JUMP for a career summary, Hansen, and analysis]
Exit Erick All
All had ten starts in 2021 and played in 30 in total games for Michigan from 2018-2021. He was one of the most important pieces of last year's run, winning kickout blocks at the point of attack for Michigan's power running game on the regular. He also took the winning crossing route to the house on a bum ankle to beat Penn State on the road.
I know we don't like to remember 2020 but he had the block of the year:
And there was an entire drive against Georgia last year that was just All making great blocks and catches (until Cade went away from All and threw an interception). Michigan fans have many, many reasons to be grateful for his time here. Last year doesn't happen without him.
I also get why this feels like a betrayal. Insider boards (and some common phrasing with the Acheampong announcement) are all pointing to this being an NIL thing. [UPDATE: I have two independent sources I trust who say it wasn't an NIL thing but a disagreement related to the treatment of All's injury. Due to medical privacy it's impossible to say what the specific disagreement is about.] It also may be an injury thing and a family thing--All became a father this year, and also lost the season to a back injury. Hopefully he's going to make a full recovery and have a long NFL career, but if that's in jeopardy it makes sense to explore all available options.
It also makes sense for Iowa, which bases its offense on tight ends, and is losing their good one as well as their last two functional receivers, to be taking big swings on free agent receiving options this offseason.
Exit Lou Hansen
Redshirt freshman TE Louis Hansen is also in the portal, he announced today (the first day the portal's officially open).
Michigan TE Louis Hansen is also entering the transfer portal, he announced on Twitter: https://t.co/00IF575AVI
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) December 5, 2022
This one was more expected, since Hansen hasn't been able to see the field. Being behind Schoonmaker and All was one thing, but Hansen is also behind true freshman Colston Loveland, walk-on classmate Max Bredeson, and So/Jr Matthew Hibner. He might have had a much better shot at playing time next year with All, Schoonmaker, Joel Honigford, and Carter Seltzer departing.
Michigan should still be fine with Loveland/Bredeson/Hibner next year. An offensive lineman could take Honigford's role, speedster Marlin Klein will be coming off a redshirt, and it's not like Michigan struggles to recruit the position. They may however want to take another swing at convincing Schoonmaker to use his 6th year.
December 5th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
Nyckoles Harbor would be a nice depth piece at TE.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
Isn't he a track dude? Is he capable of blocking on the line of scrimmage? I don't watch tape of high schoolers, but I thought he was more of a receiver (a la Devin Funchess).
December 5th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
He's actually surprisingly physical. It's the finesse part of playing WR/TE he still needs to work on.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:37 PM ^
Plays EDGE was well. Said to prefer TE. Probably OK at blocking.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
From what I've seen on tape he's ultra fast in a straight line but not quick with his feet or coordinated enough to really play WR. I could see him bulking up to like 240 for football season, blocking like crazy on the edge and in space and then running down the seam a few times a game putting the holy terror into opposing LBs and safeties.
December 5th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
He won’t play DE because he doesn’t want to add weight for track. TE is basically the same. He really wants to do the Olympics.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
Seeing this on FB I exclaimed "Fuck All!" like an Irishman I once knew. I didn't mean it literally.
Clearly there's more to his injury than any of us know. Guessing he was being pushed to a medical retirement. Having a new baby without the means to pay for it will change your perspective.
December 5th, 2022 at 5:52 PM ^
Clearly there's more to his injury than any of us know
I’m pretty sure most of us don’t know much at all, but you’re implying it’s the reason for his transfer and I’d think that’s unlikely. If his injury was career ending, it’s very unlikely that any other school is going to take on that liability. He probably isn’t super sure how long it’ll take him to come back from rehab and probably saw everyone drooling over Loveland the last two weeks. Then Cade called and said, “dude, nobody at Iowa is good, I’ll throw you the ball like 20 times a game.”
December 5th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Benjamin St. Juste says hi
December 5th, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
Well he was getting little PT after two years of intermittent injuries. Reading between the lines it looks like a very different situation. Rolling the dice with a hamstring injury is very different from spine surgery. Both in terms of functionality and disability.
December 6th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
Your user name implies you're an ER Dr?
Well if you want to comment on Michigan's dealings with injured players from a medical perspective you really need to be more informed than to say you doubt any other schools would accept players that Michigan deemed medical retirements.
St-Juste was not cleared medically to continue football and transferred out. He's now in the NFL
Another player who comes to mind is Pipkins (?) - he also was forced to transfer to another team due to Michigan's abundance of caution.
Now, with Erick All, there's been some insinuation he felt pressured to play and is now upset. I know Michigan will never officially comment, so whenever there's rumors you have to question the source & what their aim is.
But after St-Juste & Pipkins, I'd be surprised if they were suddenly erring against caution.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
It's Loveland and Hibner time
December 5th, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
Okay, I don't understand the NIL thing.
I thought Michigan's stance was that they wouldn't pay recruits up front but they're fine paying players who are on the team already. So ... All is on the team. Pay him?
Or are we just not paying anyone now?
December 5th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
I don't buy that this is a NIL thing at all. That wouldn't explain All's tweets and seeming bitterness toward Michigan or someone at Michigan.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
Agreed. I'm also very confused what Seth is talking about with "some common phrasing with the Acheampong announcement." All had a weird injury saga this year and his tweet makes it sound like he felt deceived by someone or something
December 5th, 2022 at 8:02 PM ^
That's exactly what I took from that cryptic statement. He sounds pissed at someone in the program. I'm a little disappointed because All was great and one of my favorite all-time UM players. I'm also an Iowa fan though too so if he ends up there I'll be excited.
December 5th, 2022 at 6:34 PM ^
Well it could if he was getting less than say Someone like Loveland who probably saw his bank account increase after the past 2 weeks.
December 5th, 2022 at 9:25 PM ^
There is less than 0% likelihood that some huge NIL deal was pieced together for a guy who has 12 catches on the year.
What I don't understand is this disconnect in the fanbase that assumes UM is absolutely awful and behind the times with NIL AND is capable of dynamic, near real-time marketing deals for the 3rd-string TE because he's played well the past couple of weekends.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
It's all internet rumors, but if the rumors that Sainristil and Corum got nice offers to stay on are true then I'm sure All isn't leaving for the money (unless the corn yields were *real* good in Iowa this year). Seems more likely to be a medical disagreement based on the fact that I understand he travelled somewhere else for his surgery
December 5th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Yeah, people keep saying "NIL is bad at UM" but then when people push the details get murky. I get the complaints about UM not pay-for-play with recruits to an extent but the UM AD is fucking GREAT at squeezing money out of people and I highly doubt they're stopping current guys from making money beyond the "we won't let you license the UM trademarks without our approval" issue that came up with Hunter Dickinson.
Again, I'd buy there being an NIL component but this cloak-and-dagger talk around it constantly sets off my bullshit detector.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:37 PM ^
We are paying current players, but not always market rate, and certainly not always best offer.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:02 PM ^
Unfortunately, it's that time of year and it's difficult to blame the kids for wanting playing time. All's departure as you observed Seth is complex. Wish him and Hansen well (though not against us).
December 5th, 2022 at 2:02 PM ^
Rooting for all these guys - from a selfish, Michigan fan standpoint, also hoping the Hansen departure implies good things from Klein.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
If we don't take NIL seriously, other teams will be making offer to our top or young talent to get them in the portal. We need to get up to speed with NIL for new recruits and to keep our starters and young players here.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
Especially when Colorado just announced that they're done with the BS around transfers & NIL. They were similar to Michigan in a lot of ways and getting Deion was on the contingent that their leadership & AD was ready to do what's needed. I believe it was their President that announced they were changing it during Deion's presser and the room exploded.
If Michigan wants to pretend like it's not real or that they can avoid it they'll find out very, very quick that the world they want to remain in no longer exists. They'll figure this out when no recruit worth even half a shit and any talent already on your team is ignoring you and being poached.
I'm not saying to go full-on Texas A&M. I actually think that model is disastrous. You have to find the happy, sensible medium with paying kids what they're owed.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
This NIL argument for Cade and ALL don't make sense to me. If you buy that Iowa (or it benefactors) is/are opening up the wallet shopping for a starting quarterback to replace Petras, is Cade the best bang for your buck given your current roster?
I love Cade and think he was a wonderful quarterback for our system. Our strong running game, multiple speedy targets, and a big offensive line compliments his talents. Our offensive line this year for whatever reason did him no favors and he got lit up resulting season ending injury. I don't think it was intentional. JJ was better quarterback and Cade's injury made the QB competition moot.
Iowa, contrary to previous years needs help on the offensive line, no running game, and depleted passing game targets. Cade was probably the driver of the decision based on immediate playing opportunity and ability to pull his favorite target with him. He's rehabbing now but he had to pull the trigger quickly if he expects to play Spring ball somewhere. Nothing about this suggests that NIL played a role, was the deciding factor or that Iowa outspends Michigan on NIL. I might reevaluate if IOWA also pulls a flashy running back(or punter) out of the portal. I don't find Ferentz & Co as being all in on NIL.
December 5th, 2022 at 7:49 PM ^
Cade could easily be the best bang for the buck that was in Iowa's price range for a QB who also wanted to play for Ferentz and be a part if Iowa's offense.
December 5th, 2022 at 6:06 PM ^
"I'm not saying to go full-on Texas A&M. I actually think that model is disastrous. "
But, what are you saying?
Everyone has complaints, that's the easy road. But what exactly do you think is the best way to NIL at UM?
December 5th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
At this point, now that it's de-facto legal to pay for players (NIL = Now It's Legal), why would Michigan not err on the side of paying what it takes to keep its own players?
More than most any other fanbase, Michigan has the money. Why not use it? What is to be gained by nickel diming yet still paying anyway?
That is such a Michigan thing to do, to do the same shady things everybody else does, but do them to a slightly lesser degree so we can claim to be pure.
Who are we trying to fool . . . and why?
December 5th, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^
So ... How much $ have you spent/contributed towards Michigan NIL entities?
December 6th, 2022 at 10:08 AM ^
Not that I agree with calling people out like this but the comment got me off the NIL fence. I knew I was going to engage with NIL at some point and help these athletes out that I've loved watching for so many decades (don't ask). I was just waiting to see which organization would take the lead and clearly it's Valiant.
So I'm now onboard and I encourage others here to do the same if you haven't already.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
USC literally turned their program around in 1 year with the NIL and transfer portal.
December 5th, 2022 at 6:10 PM ^
USC has to be one of the easier turn around situations in the NIL and portal era....money, sun, Hollywood and bikini clad coeds
December 5th, 2022 at 7:53 PM ^
Did they though? Their QB was going to follow the coach anyway and the team had been landing talent for a few years. IMO, USC got super lucky with turnovers this year and having no elite team in conference.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
The NIL stuff for current players is a surprise. I know people keep talking about UM being behind but then they make vague comments without giving details. If they're rumors so be it but make that caveat and then list them. I'm just getting tired of every guy coming or going being chalked up to some archaic NIL program with issues and yet nobody names the elephants in the room.
I'm not denying UM is behind the times here but they seem to have a ton of guys who are happy on the roster.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:05 PM ^
"Not everything/everyone are what they seem and I learned that from my time here at Michigan."
Wonder what that's about. Seems like more than NIL thing, but what do I know (nothing.)
December 5th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
Probably about the team captain Cade not getting to start. What you would expect to hear from his best friend. He was probably pissed at Harbaugh that he did not name Cade as the starter at the start of the season. I'm glad Harbaugh did put it up for a competition and that JJ won. I would rather see Cade going into the portal than JJ.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:14 PM ^
Maybe that’s true but it seems like All speculation. The tweet is very cryptic and not All that cool imo. Unless someone has an inside scoop we really have no idea.
All is a tremendous blocker, maybe the best, and a solid receiver with seemingly good leadership skills. He would have likely been behind Loveland but with the way we run two guys there would have been plenty of snaps.
This is not the best news but we are strong at the position.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:16 PM ^
But that happened months ago and then Cade got hurt so it didn't really matter anyway. This is something that happened very recently.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
My first reaction was that maybe this has to do with All's own place on the depth chart - that Loveland has emerged so much that it might be a battle for All to win the job back, and maybe that wasn't what he wanted to hear.
OTOH, we use multiple TEs so often that it may not matter that much who officially starts.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
I can't imagine it has to do with the depth chart this early on; Loveland has been fine but he's more of a receiver than All and with Schoonmaker likely gone there are more than enough plays to go around for two TEs. And it's not like he didn't split plays with Schoonmaker before anyway.
We might never know but given UM's past handling of back injuries I could see him disagreeing with the medical staff on his fitness to play next year and All being mad how that was handled. Again, pure speculation but considering how much of that is going around today it is at least plausible.
December 5th, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
The timing for Cade makes sense. JJ was not particularly good most of the year and door was wide open for him to win back the starting job. I think the door was closed after the OSU and CCG games because McCarthy played so well. Not sure what All’s deal is though.
December 5th, 2022 at 7:27 PM ^
Was it the high completion percentage or incredibly few interceptions that makes you say he wasn't playing particularly well.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:21 PM ^
An obvious Twin Peaks quote to me. Nothing to see here.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
"Erick All, Twin Peaks fan" is now canon.
December 5th, 2022 at 4:31 PM ^
In the board post, I speculated that All's reasoning was either "I'm going with Cade" OR "I think it's BS that I'll have to compete for my spot next season" (a reference to Jim's policy that your spot is not saved for you if you get injured).
Further thought leads me to believe it's both. All wants to play with Cade, since he knows he will be a top target for Cade. Also, at Iowa, he knows he's going to get plenty of snaps so he can showcase his game for the NFL. All seems focused on best positioning for the NFL, and I can't blame him.
It sucks though, since to my reasoning he would be at worst 1A/1B with Loveland.
December 5th, 2022 at 6:11 PM ^
I think this is it. Cade had a lot to do with this. He and All are close and Iowa is an even better fit for All than it it is for Cade. While Michigan features tight ends, Iowa is "tight end U," George Kittle, Dallas Clark, Noah Fant, TJ Hockenson and even all the way back to Jim Gibbons.
While Mich is The Team, the team, the team, for many young men with pro aspirations, it is unsurprisingly still about their own self-interest (and that isn't a criticism).
December 6th, 2022 at 2:23 AM ^
“and even all the way back to Jim Gibbons”
Either you’re an Iowa football historian or you’re as old as I am.
December 6th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
Don, I'm as old as you are. Jim was on the receiving end of an (80 yd?) TD pass in one of the greatest finishes in Lions history with the win over Johnny Unitas and the Colts.
edit: although from your profile picture, you look like you could be older.
December 5th, 2022 at 2:06 PM ^
The idea that this is an NIL thing feels ridiculous. There is no evidence of that at all. You can't just blame everything on NIL. All is pretty clearly saying this wasn't expected or his plan and he feels someone lied to him. Who that is, whether its coaching or the medical staff or whatever, we don't know. But he is clearly saying he feels betrayed in some way by something within the program. Getting offered more money somewhere else isn't that.
Comments