Ex-Michigan transfer says fifth-year seniors were given ultimatum
Roster turnover is always a big part of any coaching change in college football, and that has been true at Michigan since Jim Harbaugh was hired in December.
Not long after defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins claimed Harbaugh encouraged him to retire for medical reasons, even though Pipkins still feels he is capable of playing, another player who exited told his hometown newspaper why he left.
Tight end Keith Heitzman told the Columbus Dispatch he was told he and all of the other fifth-year players on the roster would have to work to keep their spots during spring practice.
“Obviously, Harbaugh coming in was going to change things at Michigan -- do things his way, but I didn’t know if I wanted to try out," said Heitzman, who went to Hilliard Davidson High School in the Columbus suburbs. "That definitely took me off-guard. I was bummed out.”
A part-time starter on the defensive line in 2013, Heitzman moved to tight end last year under then-head coach Brady Hoke and played all 12 games, including one start.
He'll finish his college career closer to home after joining Ohio University as a graduate transfer who is eligible this fall.
Among the handful of other players with remaining eligibility to transfer since Harbaugh was hired are cornerback Blake Countess, offensive lineman Kyle Bosch, defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins, quarterback Russell Bellomy and running back Justice Hayes. Countess, Bellomy and Hayes would have been entering their fifth seasons at Michigan.
Of that group, only Countess was a starter.
Jack Miller, the team's starting center last season, retired from football rather than play his fifth year, telling the Detroit News he felt burned out. He also would have been a fifth-year senior.
(H/T Columbus Dispatch)