Michigan has suspended football employee Connor Stallions pending the conclusion of the NCAA’s investigation into sign-stealing allegations, athletic director Ward Manuel announced Friday.
Manuel said Stallions has been suspended with pay. He is listed as a member of Michigan’s recruiting department specializing in analytics and is the central employee in the NCAA’s investigation into decoding other teams’ signals.
The NCAA informed Michigan and the Big Ten on Wednesday that it is investigating Michigan for potential rules violations related to scouting opponents in person. One source briefed on the allegation said Michigan was accused of using a “wide net” to steal rival teams’ signs.
Stallions retired from the US Marine Corps in 2022 and joined the Michigan football team as an analyst. He previously volunteered at Michigan in various capacities and worked with the Navy football program from 2013 to 2016. In his recently deactivated LinkedIn bio, Stallions said his military background is helpful in “determining the opponent’s most likely and most dangerous course of action.” Action” and “identifying and exploiting critical vulnerabilities.”
ESPN has identified Stallions as a “person of interest” in the NCAA investigation, and an industry source familiar with the investigation confirmed that the NCAA is seeking information about his methods for decrypting other teams’ signals.
Sign stealing is not illegal in college football, but NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 prohibits “personal scouting of future opponents off campus (in the same season).”
Reputation of stallions in Michigan
Stallions has developed a rep within the Wolverines’ program for his knack for deciphering opponents’ signals since returning to Michigan. One source involved in the show described Stallions as a “scientist” who was “exceptional at the game,” saying the Naval Academy product’s sense of such things was a real skill, as Stallions was adept at spotting tendencies and knowing what was alive, and what wasn’t. Sources involved with the Wolverines’ program say deciphering opponents’ signals is something the aspiring coach takes pride in.
Perhaps, and not coincidentally, the Wolverines also had a representative within the conference to hack into opponents’ signal systems.
“I think Michigan is really good at stealing your signs,” one Big Ten coach said. The athlete Last fall. “They got our stuff early and caught us on both sides.” — Bruce Feldman, senior college football writer
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