In the wake of NCAA and Big Ten investigations into allegations of illegal in-person scouting at Michigan, the Wolverines have reportedly dismissed the staffer who is said to have masterminded the scheme.
Michigan has dismissed recruiting analyst Connor Stalions, a source confirmed to Sports Illustrated‘s Richard Johnson on Friday evening. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports was first to break the news.
Michigan confirmed Stalions’s departure in a statement on Friday evening, though the school states that the analyst resigned.
“Connor Stalions resigned his position with Michigan Athletics this afternoon,” the statement reads, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “We are unable to comment further regarding this personnel matter.”
Stalions, a former captain in the Marines, was reported as a person of interest in the investigations shortly after news of its existence broke on Oct. 19. Further reporting implicated him in the purchase of 30 tickets at 11 different Big Ten schools.
The scandal took another bizarre turn this past week when Central Michigan indicated it was investigating whether Stalions stood on its sideline in disguise during Michigan State's 31–7 win over the Chippewas on Sept. 1.
Michigan source confirms this to @SInow.
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_cfb) November 3, 2023
(I'm also told Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti met with UM administrators earlier today in Ann Arbor.) https://t.co/O9dHFi3c3M
The Wolverines hired Stalions in May 2022 as an off-field analyst. Michigan, which was ranked No. 3 in this week's initial CFP rankings, plays Purdue at home in a nationally televised contest Saturday evening.
