Tag: Ex-Wolverines

Edward Warinner, Ex-Wolverine

Linebacker Edward Warinner, Jr. has entered the transfer portal. Warinner played in three games on special teams last season after signing with MSU out of high school and then transferring to Michigan to play for his dad, former Wolverines offensive line coach Ed Warinner.

The elder Warinner is now FAU’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The younger Warinner was in over his head at a school like Michigan, and it would not surprise me to see the son follow the father to Florida Atlantic.

Here’s what I said about Warinner when he transferred to Michigan (LINK):

While Warinner was listed at 6’2″ and 222 lbs. during the recruiting process, he was listed at 6’0″ and 225 lbs. as a second-year player at MSU. I remember glancing at his film as a recruit since his dad was being hired at Michigan and subsequently shrugged my shoulders about him going to the Spartans. Now that he’s coming to Michigan, the first name that popped into my mind on the re-watch is Jared Wangler. Warinner is not a quick-twitch guy, nor does he possess impressive size. You may remember that Wangler spent a few seasons languishing on the bench at linebacker before ultimately switching to offense and becoming a second-string fullback.

Normally I don’t create farewell posts for walk-ons, but I’m writing one because I wrote that commitment post not knowing for sure whether he was a walk-on or scholarship player.

Coincidentally, Warinner was going to be up next at #77 in the 2021 countdown, so I’ll be skipping to #76 shortly.

Cornell Wheeler, Ex-Wolverine

Redshirt freshman linebacker Cornell Wheeler put his name into the transfer portal. Wheeler was a 3-star, the #22 inside linebacker, and #471 overall in the class of 2020.

Wheeler played for Ron Bellamy at West Bloomfield High School, so it surprises me a little bit that he would transfer before even spending one full season with Bellamy on the coaching staff. However, Bellamy coaches safeties, so their contact might be a bit limited. Regardless, this seems like a slightly odd development.

On the other hand, I always thought Wheeler was a bit of a project and would have his best chance to succeed only if he stuck around for a few years. Athletically, he did not jump off the screen on his highlights. I do think he has a chance to be a hard-hitting, solid inside linebacker at the college level, but I would not expect that from him until he’s been in school for three to five years.

Michigan signed five linebackers in the 2020 class, and the only two remaining on the roster are Nikhai Hill-Green and Kalel Mullings. Wheeler, William Mohan (Tennessee), and Osman Savage (Alabama A&M) have all decided to find greener pastures elsewhere.

Willie Allen, Ex-Wolverine

Offensive tackle Willie Allen has entered the transfer portal after spending the winter at Michigan. He transferred from Louisiana Tech, after he transferred from Tyler Junior College, after he transferred from LSU. So wherever he ends up from here, it will be Allen’s fourth college.

Allen was expected to compete for an open offensive tackle job, but word out of Schembechler Hall was that he needed to put in plenty of work to get into playing shape at Michigan. After sitting out the 2020 season, it’s not too surprising that a guy who hasn’t played football in two years might be a little bit rusty.

I had a hard time seeing where Allen would fit in Michigan’s plans, though he was a nice insurance policy. Michigan has younger guys that seem like they’re on a good track to play at a high level.

Xavier Worthy, Ex-Wolverine

We learned a few days ago that Fresno (CA) Central East wide receiver Xavier Worthy would not be making good on his pledge to play for the Wolverines. Despite signing his National Letter of Intent, he requested out of it and will presumably be granted that request. In modern times it’s not worth the public relations hit to reject those requests.

Hit the jump for more.

Phillip Paea, Ex-Wolverine

Defensive tackle Phillip Paea has entered the transfer portal. Paea played in just a few games from 2017-2020, bouncing back and forth between offensive and defensive line.

Paea was recruited for defensive tackle, even though I said all along I liked him best on offense (LINK). I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 76 thinking the staff might come around, but as it became clear he was headed for defense, I lowered that to 68 (LINK).

It seems to be rather unusual that a player in modern football sticks around for four years without having a role on offense or defense, but that was the case here with Paea. As a grad transfer, he now has two years to play two.

That 2017 class was thought to be a great in-state haul, but Donovan Peoples-Jones and Ambry Thomas only played three years each, never reaching their ceiling. Deron Irving-Bey, Ja’Raymond Hall, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, and Joshua Ross rounded out that in-state class. The only one remaining is Ross, and so far, none has received honors above Third Team All-Big Ten.