Michigan Football: Why did Kevin Doyle decommit and what it means?

Michigan football has lost a couple quarterbacks already this offseason, now a quarterback from the 2018 recruiting class isn’t coming. Should we be worried?

Michigan football has seen some moving and shaking at quarterback in the past few months and just before the Super Bowl last Sunday, the Wolverines got news of another.

Of course, Michigan football fans have been waiting for news of incoming transfer Shea Patterson and whether he can play next season. But that’s not the news that came out Super Sunday. Instead, three-star quarterback Kevin Doyle, who has been committed to UM since last fall, announced he was not coming to the Wolverines.

The move came as a surprise and now the Wolverines are going to be down to just four quarterbacks. Here is what Doyle had to say on social media:

The news was a surprise, but it is really something to worry about? It’s hard to say. Doyle wasn’t a big-time recruit, not like four-star commit Joe Milton. However, he could have been a nice option to develop, particularly for depth.

Alex Malzone and Wilton Speight already announced their decisions to transfer, although Speight has wavered recently. Malzone went to Miami of Ohio, while Speight is seemingly putting off his decision until the Wolverines find out about Patterson’s status for 2018.

It’s not like Doyle is an elite prospect. He is ranked far below Milton and is rated as the 555th best recruit in the 2018 class according to 247 sports. And with Patterson, Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey and Milton, the Wolverines have plenty of options.

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However, the concern is the future and depth. If Patterson is unable to play this season, Michigan football will have just three quarterbacks on the roster. That would set off a battle between Peters, McCaffrey and Milton for the starting job. But regardless, there would be little depth behind them.

Certainly, the Wolverines will want to redshirt Milton. Unless he somehow wins the starting job, Michigan would be foolish not to save a year of his eligibility. But, if UM has just three eligible QB’s on the roster, one injury would force Milton to be the backup.

That’s not to say Doyle would make much of a difference in that scenario. However, he would give the Wolverines another quarterback to develop for the future. That might be the most disappointing thing about the decommit.

It’s not like Michigan football was counting on Doyle to play this season or even next. He was a long-term, developmental quarterback. Unfortunately, he probably saw the writing on the wall. He wasn’t even the most highly regarded recruit at his position. And it’s possible he saw a future of riding pine and decided to take his talents elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see where Doyle signs. Hopefully, he doesn’t develop into a good quarterback. That would make his departure sting a little more. But outside of a concern about lack of depth, the loss of Doyle isn’t too damaging.

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In fact, as far as the 2018 season goes, it shouldn’t have any impact at all. Unless Patterson is ruled ineligible and the Wolverines have a crazy string of quarterback injuries.