"I appreciate everything the University of Michigan, Dave Brandon and Coach Hoke have done for me," said Stonum. "I look forward to continuing my football career down the road, but more importantly, right now I'm focused on graduating from Michigan this Spring. I understand only I am responsible for my actions. I'm sad about how all of this turned out, but I completely understand. I love this school and my team and will miss them all greatly. But I'll always be a Wolverine. I know I have grown and matured as a person over the last nine months, and I will continue to learn and grow every day. I want to thank everyone for all of their support, and I hope they will support me in the future."
Reading Stonum's comments at the end of the release really makes you feel for the guy. If you follow Stonum on Twitter, you'll know he was patient and supportive all year, and extremely excited to rejoin the team after the Sugar Bowl. Then this. Given Hoke's silence through Stonum's jail time and how minor this particular incident was, I thought he might be given another chance. But it's also really hard justify an additional suspension--say 4 games or all of non-con--on top of a year-long suspension stemming from a 4th violation related to all his previous incidents. Stonum's been given more than his fair share of chances; he was on zero-tolerance policy and broke it probably by the thinnest margin. Hoke is setting the moral tone for Michigan, which is ultimately a good thing.
On the field, however, it undoubtedly hurts. Stonum's release probably changes recruiting a 3rd WR from Want to Need, further justifying 4 more recruits in the 2012 class. An Arnett, who is currently enrolled at MSU post-#FreeArnett campaign, or a Stefon Diggs were probably the only 2 players who could make the immediate impact that we are looking for. Targets on the radar: if immediate playing time is important to Jordan Payton, we're a pretty solid candidate at this point.
No matter how you slice it though, the depth chart looks really thin at outside WR next year. As Mike just pointed out to me via email: "Jump as high as you can, Jeremy Gallon."
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