Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to play football for Stony Brook
Michigan tight end Tyrone Wheatley pushes away Illinois defensive back Stanley Green to score a touchdown at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2016. Credit: AP/Tony Ding
The Stony Brook football team will feature a familiar name this season. Tyrone Wheatley Jr., son of the former Giants running back, has transferred from Michigan to Stony Brook and will be eligible to play tight end for the Seawolves.
The transfer was announced Sunday by Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore, according to the Stony Brook athletics website.
The 6-6, 265-pound junior informed Michigan of his decision to transfer before fall practice began. NCAA regulations do not require that a player sit out a year when transferring from an FBS school to an FCS-level school.
“He notified us that he was interested in playing here and we let him know that we were obviously interested as well,” Priore said. “He visited this past weekend and we had him get to know the coaches and players, and he seemed to feel very comfortable with all of it.”
At Michigan, Wheatley was hampered by foot injuries. He played in 24 games, catching six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
“I would hope he would have an impact, that’s why we decided to have him join us,” Priore said. “It is going to be a learning curve for him with how we do things, but he is very talented.”
Tyrone Wheatley Sr. played 10 seasons in the NFL, including 1995-98 with the Giants, after a standout career at Michigan in which he finished eighth in the Heisman balloting as a junior. Wheatley, the running backs coach for the Jaguars, ranks fourth on the Michigan rushing list with 4,178 yards.
Stony Brook went 10-3 last year and opens the season Sept. 1 at Air Force.
