The Michigan Wolverines arrived in Tampa yesterday ahead of their matchup against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day, but there is plenty of off-field rumors swirling around the program ahead of that game. Here are all the latest Michigan football news and rumors that you need to know:
Brandon Peters on Shea Patterson transfer
Starting quarterback Brandon Peters has largely remained quiet ever since former Ole Miss starting quarterback Shea Patterson's decision to transfer to the program. Patterson will compete with Peters and redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey for the starting job - with many expecting him to win it - but Peters says he welcomes the competition.
“I don't really care," Peters said about Patterson's arrival. "It's going to happen. At the NFL level, the college level, you're going to bring guys in. That's just how things happen. You can't really get into your emotions too much, that's going to bring you down. You just have to worry about what you can do. Just stay in the position that you want to be in. So you've just got to work. Can't let anything affect you.”
Peters appeared in five games this season, including four starts, passing for 486 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Patterson started the last few games of the 2016 season for Ole Miss and put up eye-popping numbers in the first seven games of this past season, throwing for 2,259 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Another Harbaugh-to-Colts rumor
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is linked to NFL head coaching vacancies seemingly every offseason given the success he had with the San Francisco 49ers before he left for Ann Arbor, and the Indianapolis Colts are planning to make a run after him, according to ESPN's Mike Wells.
He spent four seasons as coach of the San Francisco 49ers and led them to a Super Bowl appearance. Harbaugh knows Luck well after coaching him at Stanford, and familiarity with Luck would help if the quarterback is adjusting to another offensive coordinator. Harbaugh, who played four seasons at quarterback in Indianapolis, is also the type of flashy name who would draw Irsay’s attention.
However, Harbaugh has routinely said that he plans to stay at Michigan ever since he took the job and has not reciprocated interest in the job.
The Wolverines are 28-10 in three seasons under Harbaugh, including back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2016.
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Latest on top unsigned commit Otis Reese
Four-star linebacker Otis Reese (Leesburg, GA) has been committed to Michigan since June 2016, but he did not sign with the Wolverines early as he continues to be pursued by the in-state Georgia Bulldogs.
Reese has taken several unofficial visits to Georgia this season and continues to be pursued by the Bulldogs, but they may not have room for him, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247sports. Michigan has also continued to have "strong" communication with Reese over the past several months.
The 6-foot-4, 206-pounder is ranked as the No. 6 outside linebacker and No. 92 overall prospect in the country, according to the 247sports Composite.
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