Nader Furrha never planned to leave Ann Arbor to play big-time college football.

The former Pioneer High School quarterback played in the shadows of Michigan Stadium in high school. That's where his college career began in 2009, and he hoped that’s where it would end.

Though all he had to do was cross the street to begin his career, Furrha's had to cross the country twice over to continue it. The former Wolverine walk-on -- who played for Riverside City College in California last year -- has accepted a scholarship offer to play at Morgan State University.

It will be his third college team in as many seasons.

Furrha, a 2009 Pioneer graduate, transferred to Riverside for the 2010 season after redshirting his freshman season at Michigan in 2009.

Because Morgan State -- a historically black college located in Baltimore -- competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as part of the part of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA), Furrha will join the Bears with three years of eligibility remaining and will not have to sit out a season.

“I was fully expecting to be at Riverside next season; it was really random,” Furrha said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I did have a highlight tape, so the coaches must have seen it and liked what they saw.”

After passing and rushing for more than 1,100 yards in his senior season at Pioneer in 2008, Furrha passed on scholarship offers from Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State and some Mid-American Conference schools to join the Michigan program as a preferred walk-on.

For a kid who played his high school ball across the street from Michigan Stadium, getting the opportunity of wear the maize and blue was a dream come true. But the dream didn’t work out as he had planned.

Furrha’s experience as a Wolverine wasn’t all negative. He was on the team with his older brother, Rasheed Furrha, and wearing the winged helmet was satisfying. But in terms of competing for playing time, Furrha didn’t think he was getting the opportunity he expected. After his freshman season, he made the decision to transfer to Riverside.

“I thought I was going to get more opportunity (at Michigan), it didn’t work out so I moved on,” Furrha said. “It was hard leaving, but it was a move I had to make for myself.”

Furrha was the backup for Central Conference East Division player of the year Dalton Livingston at Riverside. The Tigers went 10-1, their only loss coming to eventual national champion Mount San Antonio College. Furrha saw action in eight games, was 11-of-20 passing for 161 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 188 yards.

Furrha plans to remain at Riverside changed on Monday. He got a phone call from his coach, Tom Craft, and Morgan State offensive coordinator Lawrence Livingston. Livingston had seen Furrha's highlight reel, and offered him a scholarship.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity for him,” said Nader’s father, Salem Furrha. “Being on scholarship, the opportunity should be great for him.”

Furrha hopes Morgan State is the final destination in his football odyssey. Including Pioneer, the Bears will be the fourth team Furrha will suit up for in four years. He hopes the last three years of his college experience are drastically different than his last two.

“I just want to go to one place and get settled,” Furrha said. “I just want to contribute whatever I can to make Morgan State a winning program.”

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.