Mario Ojemudia: My career at U-M is over

Michigan defensive end Mario Ojemudia's college career is over.

Ojemudia, the senior defensive end who tore his Achilles in the Maryland game, announced tonight on Instagram that he's done at Michigan.

"53rio It's always a great day to be a Michigan Wolverine, but unfortunately for me those days have officially come to an end. Though things didn't work out how I wanted them I know God has a plan, and the first step of that plan is getting healthy to play at the next level. #GoBlue"

While Ojemudia was a senior and his injury came in the fifth game of the season, well past the point of a medical redshirt, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh held out hope.

Harbaugh told BTN reporter Lisa Byington the next week that U-M was "interested in at least gathering more information about trying to petition for another year for defensive lineman Mario Ojemudia. There have been some unique cases the NCAA has heard, and granted."

He confirmed that a few weeks later that Michigan was investigating.

Ojemudia's post apparently ends that possibility.

The Farmington Hills Harrison graduate was having his best season, with 19 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks in just 4 1/2 games before the injury.

After the injury Harbaugh explained on his radio show that Ojemudia still had NFL potential.

“It’s not life or death (but) your lifestyle depends on it, your lifestyle’s at stake here," Harbaugh said. "Do you want to be a pro football player? Because you can come back even better. You can come back stronger, faster, even smarter, better than you were before you had that injury."

Ojemudia was shining at the "buck" position in D.J. Durkin's defense, a hybrid rush lineman/outside linebacker role.

"He was really playing well, opening a lot of eyes," Harbaugh said. "Where he’ll go, if he goes through the tough, grueling rehab, he’ll continue to playing football (in the NFL) next year, the year after and for some time to come. Because he’s a very talented player."

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

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