Former No. 8 Overall Player in 2013 Recruiting Class RB Derrick Green Transferring from Michigan

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When the 2012 high school football season had concluded, the college football recruiting world was sold on Derrick Green. The Hermitage High School star was rated by Rivals as the No. 1 overall back in the nation, No. 8 overall regardless of position, with over 30 scholarship offers on the table. The Virginia product took official visits to Michigan, Auburn, and Tennessee committing to the Wolverines roughly a week ahead of National Signing Day.

As of a report on Friday, the former 5-star is no longer a member of the Wolverines football team.

In high school, the then- 6’0”, 220 pound, back rushed for 1,500 yards with 20 scores as a junior and then posted solid senior season numbers with 1,350 yards and 21 more touchdowns. All the attention and awards came but the honors and high praise may have slowed his on the field growth reporting to camp 20 pounds overweight. The slow progress of working back into shape limited Green to 270 yards off 83 touches with two scores during an injury plagued freshman season.

A shoulder injury cut short a solid start to his sophomore season rushing for 471 yards off 82 carries with three touchdowns in six games. When Harbaugh got to Ann Arbor, Green’s prospects did not get much better netting 157 yards off 47 carries with two touchdowns. By the end of the season, Green was in the proverbial doghouse being suspended for the final four games of the season.

Rumors had swirled in January that Green had asked for a release from his scholarship. On Friday, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that Green had left the team. Green is expected to graduate from Michigan in the spring allowing him to transfer to the school of his choice with immediate playing eligibility.

Photo credit: fansided.com; No. 27 Derrick Green looks for running room against Utah.