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Posted on Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.

Former Michigan receiver Darryl Stonum says Eastern Michigan among finalists to land him

By Kyle Meinke

Former Michigan receiver Darryl Stonum said after a court hearing Friday morning he still intends to play college football next season, and has narrowed his list to about five schools.

Stonum, who was dismissed from the Wolverines in January after being jailed for driving with a revoked license, said Eastern Michigan is among his finalists. He declined to name any of the others.

UMFB_Stonum_Iowa.jpg

Former Michigan receiver Darryl Stonum will transfer after graduating this spring. Eastern Michigan is among the schools he's considering.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

He said he hopes to make a decision sometime after graduating from Michigan on April 28 and before May 8. Eastern Michigan's transfer deadline for the fall semester is May 15.

Stonum said he expects to be eligible to play next season by taking advantage of an NCAA rule that eliminates the sit-out year for graduate students. As long as he enrolls in a graduate program that Michigan doesn't offer, he can play right away.

"Nothing’s finalized yet, but I definitely like Eastern Michigan and I know coach (Ron) English pretty well," said Stonum, dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans at the 15th District Court. "I have a lot of respect for him and the way he runs his program."

Stonum politely declined further comment.

English was a Michigan assistant from 2003-07 and was involved in Stonum's recruitment to the Wolverines. He was not retained when Rich Rodriguez was hired to replace Lloyd Carr as head coach in 2008, and Stonum never played for him.

On Feb. 1, the national letter-of-intent signing day, English said receiver was his team's biggest need heading into next season. He signed three wideouts to his 2012 recruiting class.

"I thought we were better everywhere else, but I thought (wide receiver) was one of the positions we need to recruit better," said English, who earlier this year was named the Mid-American Conference's coach of the year. "These three guys are big kids, which we want for our play-action game, that can get down the field and catch the ball. We’re excited about those guys."

Stonum, a Texas native, caught 76 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons at Michigan. He redshirted the 2011 season after being arrested last summer on a second drunken driving charge.

He was arrested again Jan. 5 -- the day after the Wolverines returned from the Sugar Bowl -- for driving with a revoked license. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, although was released early.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke dismissed him from the team Jan. 17.

At Friday's hearing, Stonum received an additional 30 days of probation for missing a court-mandated drug test. He told the judge he missed the test after fracturing his arm while moving out of his apartment.

He had a protective splint on his right arm at the hearing.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

Hemenway

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 2:23 a.m.

Student?

Luis Esparza

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.

Surprised Stonum would not want to play for a school in Texas. EMU would be lucky to grab such a great talent like Stonum. Yes, he had his off field issues, but the thing that impressed me most is that Stonum will still graduate with a U of M degree this April. Go Blue!

Scott Laux

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 10:47 p.m.

Rightmind: You don't believe his story about missing the drug test appointment because he fractured his arm moving out of his appointment? Hah! You and me both.

rightmind250

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.

Darryl, Darryl, darryl: This judge gave him another pass. This dude is a walking disaster. that judge should have made you go immediately to the hospital and had blood drawn for the blood test.

Steve McQueen

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.

Darryl could really be a great asset to EMU this season. I like what Coach English has built there. He will have a lot of opportunities to move up as a HC after the job he has done rebuilding EMU.

MRunner73

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 9:32 p.m.

EMU would be a very good fit for Mr Stonum. I do have to wonder what type of graduate program he can enroll in. He will at least get his undergrad degree at Michigan. Glad to see he completed his undergrad program at Michigan. I wish him all the best and hope he picks EMU.

A2comments

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.

"As long as he enrolls in a graduate program that Michigan doesn't offer, he can play right away." Wonder what the program will be? Sounds like a game, finding a program so he qualifies to play.

Silly Sally

Sat, Mar 31, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.

EMU has a graduate apparel program. In the EMU College of Business, an MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain MGMT? THere are many, actually.

Luis Esparza

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.

Remember it is only for one semester he has to be enrolled, and he does not have to take more than 6 credit hours. That is the NCAA rule. The only two programs I found that U of M does not offer as a graduate program is Military Science and Leadership and Leadership and Counseling.

RJ12688

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.

Good for him. Even though he has had some legal issues its good to see that he has been working to finish up his degree. It would be great if he could get back on the field as well. Hopefully he keeps his head on straight and keeps himself out of trouble and can find some success on and off the field

Larry Eiler

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.

Darryl is a good person who needs to heed growing up. Let's all champion him for considering Eastern where Ron English is bolstering the program

Colorado_Jeff

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 6:12 p.m.

"He said he hopes to make a decision sometime after graduating from Michigan on April 28 " I love it! Glad he is still smart enough to get his degree from Michigan. Good for you Darryl! Great degree, great football player...you have lots of options. Good luck in your future and thanks for all the fun on the football field!

garrisondyer

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.

Good luck, Darryl. You'll be remembered not only for the later events of your Michigan career, but also for the great play you brought to the field. Go Blue!

GeeWhiz

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.

Thanks Darryl for your contributions to the Michigan team and best of luck in your future endeavors!

smokeblwr

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.

A world-class athlete fractures his arm moving out of his apartment? Reminds me of Joel Zumaya who dislocated his shoulder in the offseason "moving boxes". Weird....

Scott Laux

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.

it's just a coincidence that these 'accidents" happen just at the time one has to go take a court mandated drug test. Isn't it?

Nic schweigert

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.

Steve mcqueens on the same athletic and conditioning and strength level as darryl stonum. Someone give this man a scholie at receiver

Steve McQueen

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.

well i tweaked my knee moving out of my place last summer...so its not too unusual to get hurt when moving large items around...