The roller coaster ride that’s been Darryl Stonum‘s career at Michigan has officially come to an end.
By way of a press release, U-M head coach Brady Hoke announced that the wide receiver has been dismissed from the football team for violating unspecified team rules. The dismissal comes 11 days after Stonum was sentenced to 10 days in jail on a probation violation.
“I love Darryl and wish him nothing but the absolute best,” Hoke said in a statement. “However, there is a responsibility and a higher standard you must be accountable to as a University of Michigan football student-athlete. That does not and will not change. It’s unfortunate because I believe he has grown a great deal as a person since the beginning of the season. My hope is that maturing process continues.”
Stonum’s probation stemmed from a DUI arrest back in May. As part of his sentence, he was placed on two year’s probation and had his driver’s license stripped for at least a year. He was pulled over by Ann Arbor police earlier this month, which triggered the jail sentence.
The May arrest was the second alcohol-related arrest in less than three years for Stonum; in September of 2008, he was charged with his first DUI and ultimately served three days in jail for various probation violations.
When not running into legal issues off the field, he was a force on it. Stonum had started 25 of the 36 games in which he’s played since coming to Michigan as a member of their 2008 recruiting class. In 2010, he finished second on the Wolverines in receptions (49) and receiving yards (633), and his four receiving touchdowns were tied for second on the team as well.
He did not play at all in 2011, instead taking a redshirt for the season as he worked his way through his off-field situation. It’s unclear what Stonum’s football future will hold -- he still has a year of eligibility remaining -- although he will stay in school at Michigan to finish his degree.
“I appreciate everything the University of Michigan, [athletic director] Dave Brandon and Coach Hoke have done for me,” said Stonum. “I look forward to continuing my football career down the road, but more importantly, right now I’m focused on graduating from Michigan this Spring.
“I understand only I am responsible for my actions. I’m sad about how all of this turned out, but I completely understand. I love this school and my team and will miss them all greatly. But I’ll always be a Wolverine. I know I have grown and matured as a person over the last nine months, and I will continue to learn and grow every day. I want to thank everyone for all of their support, and I hope they will support me in the future.”