Notre Dame Football: Michigan WR To Play Graduate Years With Irish

Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Freddy Canteen will use his final two years of eligibility as a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The 6-foot-1, 185 pound wideout appeared in 15 games for the Wolverines, with the majority of that coming during his freshman season. He’s been hampered by a shoulder injury, which forced him to undergo surgery and miss the entire 2016 campaign.

Canteen is on track to graduate from Michigan in May, which would allow him to play immediately for the Irish.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly alluded to Canteen when he said Feb. 1 that he was setting aside a scholarship for a “skill position.” Canteen will join a receiving corps that includes juniors Equanimeous St. Brown and C.J. Sanders, sophomore Kevin Stepherson and recent signees Jafar Armstrong and Michael Young.

“Freddy Footwork,” as Canteen is reportedly called, was a four-star recruit from Elkton, Md., according to the 247 Sports composite. Canteen spent several weeks training with the cornerbacks near the end of the Wolverines’ 2015 season. That isn’t an immediate position of need for the Irish, although they whiffed on cornerback during the 2017 signing period.

Canteen was targeted 18 times during his Michigan career, catching six passes for 22 yards and one touchdown.

The Irish have taken graduate transfers in two of the last three years, starting with Florida graduate Cody Riggs in 2014 and then adding Cal graduate Avery Sebastian in 2015. Sebastian played a sixth year in 2016. Both were added to provide experience in the secondary, but were limited by injuries. Riggs, however, is hanging on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a reserve.

If Canteen can overcome his maladies, I look forward to him demonstrating that 4.43 40-yard speed on Sept. 1, 2018 against his former team. Otherwise, he’ll prove capable relief to guys like St. Brown and Stepherson, who had solid seasons last year.