OSU Could Be in the Mix for Michigan DL Transfer

Michigan senior defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins has one year of eligibility remaining, but it appears the former blue-chip recruit will be looking outside Ann Arbor to complete his collegiate career.

According to a report from ESPN’s Joe Schad, Pipkins claims that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, head athletic trainer Paul Schmidt and associate athletic director Jim Minick asked Pipkins about 10 times over a two-month period to sign a medical scholarship form that would end his career with Michigan before he wanted it to end.

After struggling through knee injuries and a couple concussions, he said he still feels he isn’t ready to call it quits yet. “I feel I’m healthy and ready to play,” he told Joe Schad.

Pipkins is a former five-star prospect from Kansas City, according to Rivals, who chose Michigan over the likes of Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and many more. Take a look at his rivals page below.

Although injury is a concern, Pipkins was cleared by a neurologist following his second concussion and seems to be confident he can still make contributions to a team. According to Joe Schad, Oklahoma State may be a team in the mix to land his services.

Michigan DL Ondre Pipkins has permission to speak w Oklahoma St., Georgia State, TCU, Tennessee and Washington St. re transfer

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 26, 2015

Assuming Pipkins is healthy, he could fill a need for the Cowboys next season at a position that could use depth. Ofa Hautau and James Castleman exhausted their eligibility, and it appears Vincent Taylor, Vili Leveni, and Junior college transfer Motekai Maile will be expected to fill the void. Leveni was injured and missed the spring, while Taylor enjoyed a breakout spring game.

Pipkins could certainly fill a need and work in a rotation next season, but the catch is that he would be required to be placed on scholarship for two years, with only one year of playing eligibility. Gundy will have to weigh the options to determine if Pipkins could make an impact for OSU with his health situation, and if he is worth placing on a two-year scholarship for just a season’s eligibility.