Junior running back Chris Evans is no longer a member of the Michigan football team.
“Chris Evans is not a member of the football team at this time,” said associate athletic director for football communications Dave Ablauf in a statement on Tuesday.
Ablauf would not specify the reason for Evans’ dismissal, citing privacy laws.
Sources told The Daily that Evans’ departure is a result of academic misconduct, and he was disenrolled from one of his classes this week. It is unclear whether he is still enrolled at the University. Evans explained his situation on Twitter following news breaking of his status on the team.
“I am going through some academic issues right now,” Evans tweeted. “I’m working through it now. I will still continue my career at the University of Michigan!”
It remains to be seen whether Evans’ dismissal is permanent, though Evans writing that he will still continue his career at the University, as well as the statement from Ablauf, seem to imply it is not.
“I suppose there’s a chance,” a source told the Daily of his chances to return. “Basically it wasn’t the football team that kicked him off it was the school. No bad blood between Chris and the team.”
Evans totaled 423 yards and four rushing touchdowns off of 81 carries in his junior campaign as the No. 2 back behind Karan Higdon. With Higdon graduating and declaring for the NFL Draft, Evans was the presumed starter for the 2019 season.
With Evans no longer on the team, as well as the dismissal of O’Maury Samuels in early December, the running back position is murky. Returning players with game experience include former walk-on Tru Wilson, who tallied 62 carries, 364 yards and a touchdown as the No. 3 back, and redshirt freshman Christian Turner.
Incoming freshman Zach Charbonnet, who rushed for 1,770 yards and 13 touchdowns, while averaging 8.2 yards per carry in his final high school season, also appears slated to make an impact in his first year.