With their exits, the Wolverines are now down to 11 scholarship wideouts in 2016, including six freshmen, and have 83 total scholarships spoken for in the fall, bringing Michigan below the NCAA-mandated 85-man cap for the first time since the Maize and Blue signed 28 recruits on National Signing Day Feb. 2.

( Update: head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Saturday that cornerback Reon Dawson and Dukes both were taking medical retirements).

The Michigan football team is practicing at Ford Field in Detroit today, but the team we last saw in Bradenton, Fla., the first week of spring ball has shrunk by two -- junior wide receivers Freddy Canteen and Jaron Dukes are no longer on the roster and are not expected back at U-M.

On the surface, Canteen appears to be a bigger loss than Dukes. The 6-1, 185-pounder played in 15 games his first two seasons, making three starts, and catching six balls for 22 yards and a touchdown. Dukes, on the other hand, appeared in only one career game.

As an early enrollee, Canteen was expected to make a big impact in 2014 as one of QB Devin Gardner's downfield targets, but he had only five grabs that season as he struggled with his consistency in all facets of the receiver's arsenal.

He spent time at both cornerback and wide receiver in 2015, and had returned to wideout this spring, but sources have repeatedly told TheWolverine.com that Canteen was one to watch as a potential early departure (the same has been said for Dukes) because of possible discontent after Michigan's staff backed away from Canteen's former high school teammate, and one-time 2016 verbal commitment, LB Dele Harding.

Dukes was rumored to be on the way out simply because he wasn't a good fit in the Jim Harbaugh regime.

Neither loss should significantly impact U-M on the field. Canteen was, at best, the No. 7 receiver on the team this fall (with Dukes behind him) after fifth-year seniors Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh, sophomores Drake Harris, Maurice Ways and Grant Perry, and early-enrolled freshman Ahmir Mitchell.

The departures of the two create roster flexibility for the Maize and Blue entering 2016 as U-M looks to reward the deserving walk-ons. Their exits also leave U-M with 18 available scholarships for the 2017 class, at present time.



Who else could be on the way out? We discuss in The Fort.