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Aaron Lewis didn’t last long in Ann Arbor.
The 2020 signee from Williamstown (NJ) was an early-enrollee, but didn’t get the opportunity to suit up for spring football due to the coronavirus pandemic and opted to transfer before organized summer/fall workouts even had begun.
But now we know where’s he’s headed next: home.
While the decision to transfer came as a shock to many given that Lewis had barely gotten acclimated to the football program, it seems that his reasoning was that he wanted to be closer to the locale of his upbringing. He announced via Twitter on Monday that he’s going back to New Jersey, and he’s signing with Big Ten East foe Rutgers.
After deep discussions with my family, I’ve decided it’s best for me to continue my academic and athletic career at Rutgers University where I will be closer to home. @RUCoachFran @CoachPanagos @GregSchiano pic.twitter.com/RMp1tVAC61
— aaron.lewis84 (@aaron_lewis71) July 20, 2020
Lewis will have four years of eligibility, but it remains unclear whether he’ll be able to play right away.
He’s not the first Wolverine in recent memory to end up at the New Brunswick/Piscataway-based university. This offseason, Michigan defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour — also a New Jersey native — transferred to Rutgers for his fifth-year. Additionally, two years ago, Drew Singleton, a linebacker who played for Paramus (NJ) Catholic, also transferred to Rutgers, and played last season for the Scarlet Knights.
Former Michigan defensive end Ron Johnson, a Camden (NJ) native, initially transferred to Rutgers, but hadn’t graduated from the Wolverines on time, and ended up at Towson, where he spent most of the 2019 season injured.
Lewis committed to Michigan as part of 2019’s big week of pledges, as the Wolverines’ second of upwards of ten commitments in June of last year.