ANN ARBOR, MI — When I scour the internet, especially social media, I often see rumors about players leaving their current programs for newer, flashier programs.
This is a new era in college football, where names, images and likenesses intermingle with the transfer portal, creating a new atmosphere across the sport. Will a position coach or head coach leave? There are rumors of star players leaving. A player emerges from obscurity? Well, be prepared that (according to rumors) they will be looking for a new program.
As for Michigan State football, it has lost all of its star players since Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, despite only losing one starter in the transfer portal in backup safety Keon Sabu. There were rumors that he was leaving the team. These rumors are further exacerbated by rival fan accounts that are more wishful thinking than anything else.
Take Mason Graham, the star defensive tackle who has been the subject of rumors among rival fans. Ever since Sherone Moore was hired as the new head coach, Graham has been subject to speculation that he would eventually head elsewhere. However, Wolverines Wire asked Graham about this gossip on Monday, and he said it couldn't be further from the truth.
“Well, I feel like there's always rumors,” Graham said. “Michigan is where I want to be and where I've been for the past two years. I feel comfortable here and I wanted to be with the guys I went through the fight with. I mean, it's all about me. It was a question of teammates who have played together since then, and this program is run with the help of Coach Moore.”
As Graham suggests, a big reason he's not looking around is because of the culture that's been built in Ann Arbor over the past few years. Unlike other programs built on trade in the new college football environment, the Wolverines have built a strong cultural foundation, with players not only motivated by the expectations of the program but also by the brotherhood. more likely to follow through. Things may have seemed to have hit rock bottom after the national championship, but players who remain (and those who didn't leave in the NFL draft) argue the culture has only grown stronger. .
Naturally, publicly debunking these rumors will provide further fodder for rival fan bases who claim the hammer is being dropped and that all Michigan players are transferring. But the chances of either happening are slim at best.
The story originally appeared on Wolverines Wire
