Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

The fallout from Michigan football coach Brady Hoke's firing Dec. 2 continues.

Freshman linebacker Michael Ferns will transfer to West Virginia. A Michigan spokesperson Tuesday confirmed that Ferns asked for and received a release from his scholarship.

The 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker from Saint Clairsville, Ohio, sat out this season as a true freshman.

Morgantown, W.Va., is 1 1/2 hours from Ferns' hometown. Ann Arbor is five hours away.

Ferns posted a message on his Twitter and Instagram accounts Wednesday, explaining his decision:

Ferns was a major factor in trying to build U-M's 2014 class, actively recruiting other players.

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.