Chris Rock, ex-Wolverine

Chris Rock

Defensive lineman Chris Rock has left the football program.  As a part of the class of 2011, he would have been a redshirt freshman in the fall.  Word in the offseason was that he had bulked up significantly from when he arrived and the coaches were toying with moving him from strongside end to 3-tech defensive tackle, but the potential move seems not to have mattered much.  As you can tell from my May 2010 commitment post, I was never a fan of Rock's abilities; his TTB Rating of 58 meant he looked like a below average starter or a decent backup.  It's odd that I compared him to Anthony Lalota at the time of his commitment, because neither one lasted long at Michigan.  Lalota, of course, transferred to Rutgers and then didn't last long there, either.

It is unclear at this point what the reasons are for Rock's departure and whether or not he will continue his football career elsewhere.  Most guys transfer closer to home, if anywhere, so it would not be surprising to see him pop up at Akron, Kent State, Miami-OH, or perhaps Youngstown State.  While this nominally hurts Michigan's depth on the defensive line, Rock was buried on the depth chart and likely would have struggled to fend off the 2012 recruits who would have been vying for playing time, such as Matt Godin, Willie Henry, Tom Strobel, and Chris Wormley.

For a rundown of other former Wolverines, check out the Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia.