ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Since Jim Harbaugh arrived in Ann Arbor before the 2015 season, his view on graduate transfers has been crystal clear.
When players reach their final year -- or years, if they graduate early -- of eligibility, Harbaugh is very matter-of-fact about whether or not they should stay with the team. At a team banquet in 2015, he said it's a "mutual decision" between the team and the players, and as a result, several graduate transfers have left the program over the last two years.]
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There's nothing wrong with the way Harbaugh handles transfers, and there's nothing wrong with players transferring to get more playing time. It's simply the way college football works in the current landscape.
This offseason will be no different, as multiple players have already announced they will continue their college careers elsewhere. Here's a look at the players who have made the announcement and how it impacts Michigan going forward.
QB Wilton Speight
Career stats: 257-435 (58.8 percent), 3,192 passing yards, 22 passing TD, 10 interceptions
Significance: Moderate
Of all the players who have left Michigan as graduate transfers under Harbaugh, Speight is the most impactful.
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As the team's starting quarterback during a 10-3 season in 2016, Speight led an offense that ranked among the best in the Big Ten. He took care of the football and showed poise as a game manager with good weapons around him.
In 2017, Speight struggled out of the gate, throwing a pair of pick-sixes in the opener against Florida. He was inconsistent at times with his accuracy and didn't look like the same player who took over the job as a redshirt sophomore.
His season ended with an injury at Purdue, when he hurt his back on a late hit in the pocket. Speight will have one year of eligibility.
WR Maurice Ways
Career stats: 8 catches for 71 yards
Significance: Minor
In terms of games played this season, Ways is the leader among the current group of transfer players. He officially played in seven games as a backup receiver this season, catching three passes for seven yards.
Ways battled injuries throughout his career at Michigan, and although he was a member of the receiver rotation for a few years, he never really had a chance to take on a big role.
WR Drake Harris
Career stats: 9 catches for 60 yards, 2 tackles
Significance: Minor
The college football career of Drake Harris hasn't gone as expected after the talented receiver joined Michigan as one of the top recruits in the 2014 class.
Out of Grand Rapids, Harris was rated a four-star recruit, the No. 7 receiver and the No. 68 overall player in the 2014 recruiting class. He was one of the most high-profile commits for former head coach Brady Hoke.
Harris made six catches in 2015, but never received significant playing time after that. He also fought through injuries his whole Michigan career.
QB Alex Malzone
Career stats: None
Significance: Minor
After Speight announced his intent to transfer, Alex Malzone followed suit. The announcement made waves because it left the Wolverines with only three quarterbacks on the current roster, but it doesn't actually have an impact on the team going forward.
Malzone was another recruit with good promise coming out of high school. He was a four-star, top-300 overall player and the No. 14 ranked quarterback in the 2015 class. Though he committed to Hoke, Malzone stayed with Michigan when Harbaugh took over and became the first official Harbaugh recruit to transfer.
I️t has been an awesome 3 years playing for the University of… https://t.co/FraV0vnpsx
— Alex Malzone (@AlexMalzone) November 29, 2017
Malzone got into two games during his Michigan career, but didn't throw a pass. He wasn't expected to be part of the starting quarterback battle this offseason, but he should be a solid starter elsewhere for the next two seasons.
Pending: OT JaRaymond Hall
Career stats: None
Significance: Moderate, possibly major
He hasn't officially made a decision yet, but freshman offensive lineman JaRaymond Hall said he's discussing a possible transfer from Michigan.
The Wolverines have struggled on the offensive line in recent seasons, and there was finally noticeable improvement during the second half of 2017. As run blockers, Michigan's offensive line grew tremendously during Big Ten play, and even the pass blocking stiffened the final few games of the regular season.
Hall didn't play as a true freshman, but depth is very important along the offensive line. He committed to Michigan as a four-star recruit, the No. 30 offensive tackle in the country and No. 4 player in Michigan.
If he stays, who knows what type of impact Hall could have at Michigan. If he transfers, he'll have to sit out a season and will have three years of eligibility remaining afterward.