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Posted on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.

Michigan linebacker Brandon Smith not enrolled in classes

By Dave Birkett

Linebacker Brandon Smith appears to have left the Michigan football program, completing a much-anticipated transfer.

BRANDON-SMITH-mug.jpg

Brandon Smith

Smith is not enrolled in winter classes, the university’s registrar confirmed Tuesday.

The sophomore did not attend Michigan’s end-of-season team meeting in mid-December, and teammate Roy Roundtree said it appeared as if Smith would transfer.

Smith declined an interview request at the time, and hasn’t returned e-mails or phone messages left at his New Jersey residence since.

A Michigan spokesperson could not say whether Smith was still with the team, and it’s not known where he will transfer.

Smith, who was recruited as a safety as part of Rich Rodriguez’s first recruiting class 2 years ago, played in 11 games and made 14 tackles last year. He started one game when Michigan unveiled a 4-4 defense against Wisconsin.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

HailToASquared

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 6:46 p.m.

nope- transfers are to be expected everywhere-sorry to burst your bubble.

NoBowl4Blue

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 5:49 p.m.

Transfers happen but with Rich Rod they seem to be expected. I hear OSU is looking for a safety

Chango

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 3:19 p.m.

ohhhh ohhhhhhhhh ohhhhhhhhhh look at all the haters out in full effect today.

aareader

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.

Hey "MiamiBlue" The last part of your comments reads a lot like a what a former coach used to note. That coach was Bo. I believe that statement is correct. At the time Bo was talking about 2 recruits for the team with one scholarship left to give. One recruit was a "blue chip" deciding between MIchigan and Notre Dame and being non committal. The other recruit ( more like a walk on) kept calling Bo almost everyday to tell him how much he wanted to play for Michigan. Finally Bo decided if this guy wants so much to play for Blue then we will give him the scholarship. That player was Mark Messner. His sports BIO - A quick, smart defensive lineman, Messner became Michigan's all-time leader in tackles for loss (70) and yards lost (376). The explosive down lineman from Hartland, MI. was the Wolverines' sack leader in 1985, '86 and '87. The two-time All-American selection started all 49 games of his career after redshirting in 1984. He was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl by registering nine tackles, forcing a fumble and later recovering another in the Wolverines' 27-23 win over Nebraska. He was later drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. Go Blue.

UofMbeWorser

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.

RR thinks Charles Woodson would have been a great LineBacker.

MiamiBlue

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 12:39 p.m.

Players transfer in and out of all Programs all the time. It is nothing new! Yet, when it happens to Michigan, everyone jumps on Coach Rod. Why? Nobody in this forum can say what the exact reasons are as to why this kid wanted to transfer. So don't be so quick to jump on Coach Rod as the reason. Just the usual piling on the coach stuff! And BTW, in regards to ANY Player. Not picking on Smith specifically, just speaking in generalities. I'd rather have on my team any day a player with average talent that wants to work, learn and grow with the team. In other words, someone who WANTS to be here, as opposed to a talented player with no work ethic, heart or does not want to be here. Because regardless of how talented a player is, if he does not want to be somewhere, he will never FULLY produce. GO BLUE

truebluefan

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 11:42 a.m.

Not surprising. We already knew a few months ago that this was happening.

XTR

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 10:58 a.m.

Rich Rod has a year to go. Good Bye RR!

golfer

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 10:54 a.m.

now we got another spot to give out. with all the decommitments we could use some extra ones. name of the game.

81wolverine

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 9:57 a.m.

Alas, another linebacker wash-out. Michigan REALLY needs to recruit players AS linebackers - not good sized players who they think they can convert into a linebacker someday. That's part of the reason why our linebacking has stunk for the last 3 seasons. We have guys playing the position where it's probably not their natural position. If Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio State, and Penn State can find 235-240 pound linebackers- who can run, I'd think we could too.

bluemax79

Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 9:04 a.m.

good luck to him from what I have read he insisted he wanted to be a safety and Michigan did not think he fit that position. sometimes things don't work out.