Posted on Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 11:58 a.m.
Report: Cornerback Cullen Christian plans to transfer out of Michigan football program
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Michigan cornerback Cullen Christian told Superprep.com that he will transfer to another program.
Christian, a sophomore from Verona, Pa., had six tackles in 10 games as a freshman.
Christian came to Michigan rated the sixth-best cornerback and the No. 88 overall player in the country and was the highest-ranked defensive recruit in Michigan's 2010 class.
He said in 2010 that he came to Michigan because he saw a chance for immediate playing time.
Comments
braggslaw
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
huge hit in an already weak secondary
Dusty
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 7:44 a.m.
I think he meant moreso that one of the higher rated recuits at the position didn't pan out.
1st Down
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:57 a.m.
Yeah a guy who cant crack the 3 deep leaves the program... huge loss
Chilltime
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.
Something had to happen, the reports had him being productive and that he graded well before he got injured. CC is a big loss at this time due to the depth cart. Williams not so much. CC if healthy probably would have ended up in the two deep come fall. He also more than likely would have been a starter his jr. Year. When you lose guys like this it causes you to rush other guys because of the gaps due to the lost of upper classmen.
1st Down
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 7:50 a.m.
Christian will most likely end up at Pitt, which is close to his home...to join Vinopal as they are coached by that tremendous secondary genius, Tony Gibson. (part of the above statement is probably true)
missionbrazil
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
hmmm, let' see: - most likely end up at Pitt - check - close to home - check - to join Vinopal - check - coached by that tremendous secondary genius - ah hah, found it :)
ohhowihateohiostate
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
Well, good luck to you Cullen, but "Those who stay will be champions". You and your equally talented buddy Vinopal can go play at Pitt with the rest of the "Big East talent" and get burned by their recievers. Speaking of players who have transfered to "better their career" watch the headlines tonight or the next couple of days for some VERY interesting news on Tate Forcier.........had a little birdie tell me he had a bad day today in Grand Rapids while visiting his girlfriend. I'll leave you all with that little nugget.
missionbrazil
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
In a way it is surprising to see Cullen leave the program, since we now have a top notch DC with vast college experience and some NFL experience, who could help him become the best possible player. Time will tell as to why he is leaving.
DonAZ
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
Excellent point about Mattison and the NFL. For those with some potential to play in the NFL, the Michigan program is sizing up to be an excellent launch point. Not simply because of Mattison, but because (a) pure spread offenses are simply not run in the NFL, and (b) the NFL plays in bad weather and players would be well advised to learn how to deal with it.
truebluefan
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
I see Hoke has the same trouble keeping defensive secondary players around that RR had.
missionbrazil
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
The same people who complain about others not liking whatshisname and making comments against him, are the ones who keep bringing him up ... time after time. If you don't want people knocking whatshisname, then stop talking about him. tbf, no one wrote about or commented about him, until you brought him up. Once again he is fair game now, thanks to you.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
"Other than that, I don't think you can pin the secondary problems on RR." No. Of course not. No weaknesses on the current team are the fault of the guy who ran the program for the last three years, the guy who is also the WCiMFH, Must be Lloyd's fault. Or Mo's. Or Bo's. Or Obama's. Or Granholm's. But certainly NOT the WCiMFH. Such is MCC logic. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
"We get it. RR and his coaching staff are the only people to ever make any mistakes in the history of Michigan athletics." Well, them and the MCC. For all of the MCC whining about people not being able to drop the WCiMFH, they sure want to bring him up a lot. Good Night and Good Luck
truebluefan
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 6:39 a.m.
Vinopal was from Ohio (Cardinal Mooney) and left for family reasons. RR honored his offer to Emilien even after he blew his knee out. So Emilien flamed out in college because his knee never fully recovered. RR can be blamed for trying to bring in Dorsey, a recruit with a troubled past. Other than that, I don't think you can pin the secondary problems on RR.
heartbreakM
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
Dusty: All coaches have to deal with players transferring, etc. I think the point here, in light of this latest transfer, is that more than any other position-- the defensive back recruits that former coach brought in-- have transferred from the program. This is not his fault per se, but is there a pattern of type of player that he recruited that would be so quick to transfer? Did he go for the right kind of player that would succeed at UM? Fair questions, I think, which may have something to do with his lack of success, or maybe coincidental. I think it's worth at least thinking about.
Dusty
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
Amazing. Kids leave under RR's watch, it's because of RR. Kids leave after RR leaves... it's because of RR. We get it. RR and his coaching staff are the only people to ever make any mistakes in the history of Michigan athletics.
heartbreakM
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
I haven't looked at all the DBs who have left, but weren't they mostly if not all the former coach's people? Could it be that he recruited people with a certain type of character that just did not fit in at Michigan, no matter who the coach is? Some of it is bad luck and impatience, but you have to know who to recruit. Funny thing though is that these are the Midwesterners, not the Florida people who don't have lifelong affinity to M (Emiliem, Christian, Vinopal to name a few)
azwolverine
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 7:27 p.m.
I wish he would have stuck it out at UM, but I wish him well in the future wherever he ends up. I'm sure he could have, and will, end up being a good player...it's just too bad he didn't stick it out here. In the end, though, it's best that he left because the team needs the players on it that truly want to be Wolverines.
heartbreakM
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
His leaving is a perfect reason why I tend to pooh-pooh these recruiting services and articles. I read them, as I read most of the stuff on Michigan football, but I remember when he signed. There were a number of articles where people were naming him the next coming, the next Woodson, the key to former coach's success, etc, and I cautioned with the idea that he has not done anything yet, and aren't we putting a bit too much pressure on him. Well, turns out that he will not even be around to see. I for one think he was thrown in too early last year and that was just bad luck for the injuries, but still, on a wide open defense, with the worst stats in the history of our program, he could not even sniff the starting lineup, either under former coach or Hoke. That speaks volumes. I wish he would stay as many underclassmen do not play much, but blossom as their bodies and minds mature, but he must have reasons. It'll be funny if he ends up at Pitt with the same old bad defensive coaches that were at M when he came. That too will speak volumes about what he wants. His comments are those of a disappointed young man, but I would say he should just not think he has playing time coming to him based on high school stats.
Ben
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Let him leave. We don't need people who are not committed to the program, for everyone who leaves, there are more recruits who are anxiously waiting for an opportunity to play here.
Dusty
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 7:41 a.m.
This is exactly what people were saying when Rich Rod lost kids to transfers. Er... wait, no it wasn't.
InsideTheHall
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
You have to be a starter on State Street before being a starter on Main Street. Word from inside the hall is Christian lacked the work ethic required of a Michigan Man.
DonAZ
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 5:54 p.m.
There's more to this story, and in time it may come out. If playing time was his criteria, then his leaving doesn't make much sense. Given Michigan's defense there's ample opportunity to play a role. But perhaps that's the problem -- "a" role vs. "the" role. Perhaps Mr. Christian had a vision of being the golden boy and he didn't see appropriate fealty paid to him by the coaching staff? I don't know ... pure speculation on my part.
Dusty
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 7:40 a.m.
Why do you assume there is more to the story? "may" "If" "perhaps" "Perhaps" "I don't know ... pure speculation on my part." So what you're saying is you're just being a jerk for no reason?
John
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
I just came across this little nugget of bad news over at fetchheadlines.com. Ah well...I wish him the best.
umgoblue47
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
this can't be. . . recruits only left under rr's leadership? anyway best of luck to cullen. on another note TE dvein funchess and TE a.j. williams have commited to michigan. i guess when one door closes another one opens. . . GO BLUE. . .