Sam McGuffie Misses Michigan Banquet. Transfer?
Youtube star having some issues at Michigan
Early on, McGuffie was doing a fine job of living up to that impossible hype as he started as a freshman in the very first Michigan game against the Utah Utes and then went on to show many flashes of brilliance as a running back in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense.
McGuffie Misses Banquet
Sam McGuffie, the star freshman running back for Michigan, missed the team's annual football bust (aka banquet) this past week due to family issues in Texas. Rich Rodriguez didn't comment on McGuffie and whether or not he will transfer.
McGuffie's Third Concussion
According to Michigan coach Rodriguez, McGuffie has suffered three concussions since he has been with the Wolverines which is probably why he saw sporadic action down the stretch after being the starting running back much of the year.
McGuffie got drilled by two Ohio State defenders on a kickoff causing him to get shaken up. On top of that, McGuffie has been dealing with some family issues in Texas.
McGuffie to Transfer from Michigan?
Rumors have gone around that the star running back McGuffie might possibly want to transfer to be back home in Texas and closer to his family and those have been confirmed. McGuffie is dealing with myriad issues and dealing with them so many miles away has to be tough for the young freshman running back.
McGuffie might very well still transfer just to be able to help solve the family issues but he still is doing well in Rodriguez's program and if he were to leave it would be due to off-the-field things and not issues with the coaching staff.
After all, McGuffie came to Michigan because of his admiration for running backs coach Fred Jackson, a long-time Michigan Man and popular assistant who Rodriguez kept around in part so he could still lure the promising prospect McGuffie to Ann Arbor.
McGuffie's Future with Wolverines
If McGuffie does stay he will be part of a running back-by-committee type appraoch most likely. Brandon Minor came on so strong for the Wolverines down the stretch that stealing his starting spot is not likely to happen until he graduates.
But in the spread offense under Rodriguez, McGuffie is sure to flourish if he sticks around because two excellent dual-threat run/pass QB prospects are on the way right now and that will open up the run game and allow UM's speed backs like McGuffie and Michael Shaw as well as the freshmen in the 2008-2009 recruiting class to bust off some big runs this season.
Hopefully McGuffie will get the family issues sorted out as best he can and return to Michigan in 2009. The Michigan family is certainly rooting for him to succeed now and in the future.
But speculation after the banquet miss is that McGuffie might very well transfer. Time will tell.
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