Michigan Monday: Transfers, Recruiting and No Bowl Game

In a day where Michigan doesn't hear it's name mentioned for a Bowl Game, they get even more bad news regarding a transfer and yes, it's on defense. Brandon Smith has received his transfer paperwork. A highly rated guy in the hybrid class of 2008 (between Carr and Rodriguez) will look to suit up for another team in 2010 or 2011.

This isn't the greatest news for of the Wolverines defense in desperate need of depth at safety and linebacker. Smith was brought in to play safety but was too big and too slow. So he was quickly moved to linebacker.

He did see some time late in the year, but it was clear he wasn't ready for that position. He played on special teams and made a number of good tackles on kick-off coverage He shared his No. 4 with Brandon Minor. So I'm sure there were a number of folks this year wondering what Minor was doing on kick-off coverage.

BHB Perspective

I'm a fan of Brandon Smith's and hope he finds what he is looking for. The problem at Michigan was he just didn't really fit either the safety or linebacker role. My hope was that he would have stuck it out and really learned how to be a good linebacker. I watch guys like David Harris on Sundays and had hopes that he would become a similar player. If he had stayed, studied, and put on some weight, he could have.

I think it's hard for some kids to change positions and wait their turn. It's clear there is a ton of "mental" work that goes into being a linebacker in any defense in the FBS. If you miss a gap or a coverage it's a very quick "six." We saw that in every game this year for the Wolverines. So Brandon wasn't mentally ready for that position and probably wasn't big enough either.

It's just too bad when the program loses an athlete like Brandon Smith.

• Iowa gets a BCS Bid. That should help Michigan's athletic budget some (revenue sharing!). Good luck against the triple option.
  
• Michigan State will face Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl. Remember the Alamo because it's the last time a Big Ten team will play in it.
• Jimmy Clausen is heading to the NFL . Maybe the Browns will want another ND QB.
• 2010 Class recruits, Austin White (RB) and Christan Pace (OL) are both planning on enrolling early at Michigan. Austin might find himself in the middle of a battle for a starting role this spring after Vincent's Smith's ACL injury. Michigan has lost it's top three running backs this winter, seniors Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown along with Smith's ACL. Michigan still has Mike Shaw, Mike Cox, and redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint as well.
  
• California DB Sean Parker liked his Michigan visit : " It was a good visit, I would call it my best visit so far," Parker said. "All the visits are similar in a lot of ways with the campus tours and meeting the academic people. This was my visit where I didn't see a football game since the season is over but we did see a basketball game for a half and that was cool.
  
  "Overall, I loved the facilities and they have great academics at Michigan as well. It can get cold but it's not a big deal for me, it's nothing I can't overcome. I like Coach (Rich) Rodriguez and I like the opportunity to play early as well so Michigan definitely has a lot of pluses for me." Sean plans to take a few more visits and doesn't have a time table on a decision.