On Thursday evening, following Michigan's loss to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl, fourth-year offensive lineman Stephen Spanellis announced his intention to transfer from the program.

Spanellis, a Baltimore (MD) native, will have one year of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer after redshirting his freshman year. One of the top students within the football program, the former three-star prospect is a well-respected member of the team who will be an asset to his next program both on the field and in the locker room.



“I just think – you look at 48 All-Big Ten Academic guys on this team, I think a lot of these guys are fighting a stereotype that football guys aren't smart," Spanellis said last year after the team's banquet. "I think every day I go out and try to dispel that stereotype by the way that I carry myself and the way I handle myself in the classroom."

His departure leaves Michigan in a relatively interesting spot in the middle of their offensive line if junior center Cesar Ruiz decides to depart for the NFL. Michigan graduates both of their starting guards in Michael Onwenu and Ben Bredeson as well.

Michigan entered the 2019 season with the pressure slightly amped up. However, the Wolverines faltered in November again with a blowout loss to Ohio State in Ann Arbor and followed it up with a loss to Alabama in the VRBO Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day. They also fell on the road to Top15 teams Wisconsin and Penn State as the same issues appear to be continuing to plague the program.

The Wolverines will open up their 2020 season on the road against Washington. They will host Penn State and Wisconsin with difficult road matchups slated at Minnesota, Michigan State and Ohio State. As things stand now, the Wolverines should return the bulk of their defensive unit and could return many of their top offensive contributors as well, highlighted by receiver Ronnie Bell, tight end Nick Eubanks and running back Hassan Haskins.

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Harbaugh has not shied away from expectations for his team in 2019 and going forward.

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“We really just have that focus. Things that we have been working on, things that we have been training on, that moment-to-moment, day-to-day (approach) with the choices we make,” he said at Big Ten Media Days this summer. “If you put yourself into their situation, 18 to 22 years old, there are going to be a lot of choices even before the season starts. What to eat, what time to go to sleep, so many different things.”

For a link to Michigan Football’s 2019 roster, click HERE

For a link to Michigan Football’s 2019 schedule, click HERE

For a full list of Michigan's current verbal commitments in the 2020 recruiting cycle, click HERE