Confusion has reigned for the better part of three months regarding the status of Dennis Norfleet at Michigan. The events of the last two days, unfortunately, have done little to clear up the situation.
Monday, a spokesperson for Tuskegee University, a Div. II team in Alabama, confirmed to mlive.com that the football program officially received permission from UM to speak to Norfleet about the possibility of a transfer. Speaking with the media Tuesday, however, first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh indicated that a transfer is not written in stone.
In fact, Harbaugh spoke of a plan being in place for the return specialist to return for his senior season.
Dennis Norfleet has been granted a release to talk to other schools, but "there is a plan in place" for him to return to Michigan.
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) July 28, 2015
Harbaugh met today with beat writers. On Norfleet: "it's our desire he remain at Michigan." said there's a "plan" in place to get his degree
— angelique (@chengelis) July 28, 2015
Back in mid-May, reports surfaced that Norfleet had been dismissed from the football program. A day later, UM clarified that Norfleet had been suspended, not dismissed, with additional reports intimating that the issue or issues were related to academics. A couple of days later Norfleet apologized for... for whatever it is that’s going on in his life that’s led to the uncertainty.
In its Monday report, mlive.com wrote “Norfleet had been given an opportunity to find his way back into the program by Harbaugh throughout the summer, according to a source close to the receiver” and that "[t]he source also explained how Harbaugh was more than fair with Norfleet throughout the summer, and gave the receiver a real chance of getting back in the program’s good graces.” As it stands now, Norfleet is still listed on UM’s official online roster.
With one season (potentially) remaining, Norfleet is already the Wolverines’ all-time leader in kick returns and kick return yards.
