Maybe there's something about wearing the No. 5 jersey at Michigan these days. We already know all about Tate Forcier's current dilemma over whether or not to transfer to another school. But another player on the roster wearing the same number followed through on his impulse.
Safety Vlad Emilien requested and received his release from the Michigan football program on Wednesday, leaving an already thin defensive secondary even weaker.
A sophomore from Plantation, Florida, Emilien saw action in five games last season, playing mostly on special teams. He made an appearance in last Saturday's game versus Connecticut, when the defense used a prevent package on the Huskies' final drive. But if Jared Van Slyke hadn't broken his collarbone before the season opener, he may have been on the field instead of Emilien.
According to Tom VanHaaren on Twitter, Emilien is looking at UCLA, Boston College, Duke, Oregon and Virginia as possible next stops.
Here's a bit more on the story from MGoBlog:
If I had to guess, this was just an injury/playing time washout. I'd heard persistent rumors that the knee injury never healed right and the Roundtree/Emilien/Jones sprint in the spring game was an eye opener.
Emilien has until Michigan's add-drop date this semester to enroll at another school if he wants the 2010 season to be the year he must sit out, as mandated by NCAA rules.
For more on the Wolverines as they prepare for their upcoming game against Notre Dame, click over to SB Nation's Michigan blog, Maize n Brew. (And if you want that Fighting Irish perspective, check out Rakes of Mallow.)