Jaron Dukes, Ex-Wolverine

Jaron Dukes (#83)

Along with cornerback Reon Dawson (LINK), redshirt junior wide receiver Jaron Dukes has left the football program and looks to receive a medical scholarship.

Dukes committed to Michigan in February of 2012, almost a year before National Signing Day (LINK). I ended up giving him a TTB Rating of 59. Some people pointed to his solid performance against Ohio State-bound cornerback Cam Burrows in high school, but Dukes was a limited athlete. He played in just one game in his college career, which was in 2015. Otherwise, he was mired on the bench. His one shining moment throughout his career was the 2015 spring game, in which he caught a touchdown pass from Shane Morris over 5’7″ cornerback Dennis Norfleet.

Dukes is the tenth member of the 2013 class to leave before exhausting his eligibility, and his departure cinches up the fact that Michigan’s class of receivers was a dud. Fellow receivers Csont’e York (legal troubles) and Da’Mario Jones (a few catches before transferring to BGSU) did not pan out, either. The Wolverines are very thin at receiver and had to use walk-ons frequently this spring, but Dukes’s departure should not affect the team much. He was not expected to play much, and the program signed five receivers in the 2016 class.

Michigan is down to 87 scholarship players allotted for the 2016 season (LINK) and either needs to shed two more players or withhold scholarships from walk-ons. There’s also the possibility that freshman linebacker Dytarious Johnson will not qualify, which would get Michigan down to 86.

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