Ex Michigan DC chose the NFL above college

Jesse Minter, the former Michigan defensive coordinator, was always anticipated to leave Ann Arbor this offseason.

He could have basically called his shot as a college head coach candidate after guiding the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff National Championship this past season. He may possibly have left for the NFL, where numerous professional clubs would have valued his skills.

Those were his alternatives, but when Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, left for the Los Angeles Chargers, it was almost certain that Minter would go with the NFL.

Earlier Tuesday evening, Minter confirmed that he was departing Michigan. He shared this goodbye on social media.

The Chargers and Minter then announced almost immediately that they had reached an agreement to name him the next defensive coordinator in Los Angeles.

There will be a significant adjustment for Minter because calling a college defense against the likes of Ball State and Maryland is a completely different ballgame than, say, trying to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but there are reasons to be optimistic about Minter if you are a Chargers fan.

Michigan had the best total defense in the nation last season, allowing only 247 yards per game. Minter’s Wolverines also led college football in scoring defense, allowing only 10.4 points per game.

He and Harbaugh proven to be an excellent coaching combination. We’ll have to wait and see if this translates to the AFC West.