While Michigan football remains in talks with university officials about a potential return to campus, members of the freshman class are preparing to arrive later this month.
Members of Michigan’s 2020 recruiting class, the remaining group of players expected to arrive this summer, have been told to report to Ann Arbor on June 15, MLive has learned. There is no word yet on a plan after that, but the incoming freshman have been told they will be tested for COVID-19 first.
Subscribers of MLive’s “Wolverine Confidential” text service received the news first. The arrival date was first reported by 247Sports on Tuesday.
Michigan has 15 scholarship players from its 2020 recruiting class waiting to enroll. The school’s summer half-term, to be held completely online, is set to begin July 1.
MORE: U-M football discussing possible return with university
Eight players from Michigan’s 2020 class enrolled early, in January, and took part in the football team’s winter conditioning program. They were also slated to begin spring practice in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced sports in the United States, and much of the country, to a halt.
Since then, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all residents to stay home, avoid gatherings and refrain from participating in all non-essential activity, an effort to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. The order was lifted on Monday, opening the door for large gatherings outside.
However, gyms, salons, indoor movie theaters and other large, public spaces remain closed.
“Based on today’s announcement, we are holding discussions with university leadership on the appropriate date to begin allowing student-athletes to safely return for testing, followed by voluntary workouts,” a Michigan football team spokesman said Monday.
A return to campus and appropriate clearance to begin workouts would be the first in a series of steps necessary for Michigan to play football in the fall. The school’s interim provost, Susan Collins, said last week she is “very optimistic” that in-person instruction will be held this fall.
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