A michigan football staff member, has been suspended by Michigan due to an NCAA sign-stealing probe.

Athletic director Warde Manuel of Michigan said on Friday that football staff member Connor Stalions has been suspended while an NCAA investigation into claims of sign-stealing is ongoing.

Manuel indicated that Stalions had a paid suspension. He is the employee at the center of the NCAA’s probe of other teams’ signal decoding, and he is characterized as an analytics-focused member of Michigan’s recruiting department.

On Wednesday, the NCAA notified the Big Ten and Michigan that it was looking into potential rule breaches pertaining to in-person opponent scouting at Michigan. According to a person briefed on the charge, Michigan is being accused of stealing signage belonging to rival teams by means of a “vast network.”

In 2022, Stalions left the United States Marine Corps and became an analyst for the football team at Michigan. He had previously worked with the Navy football program from 2013 to 2016 and served in a variety of ways at Michigan. Stalions claimed in his deactivated LinkedIn bio that he can “identify and exploit critical vulnerabilities” and “determine the opponent’s most likely course of action and most dangerous course of action” with his military experience.

The NCAA notified Michigan and the Big Ten on Wednesday that it was looking into potential infractions of regulations pertaining to in-person opponent scouting by Michigan. Michigan is allegedly accused of utilizing a “vast network” to steal the signs of other teams, according to a source who was informed on the allegations.

After leaving the United States Marine Corps in 2022, Stalions became an analyst for the football team at Michigan. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2016, he worked with the Navy football program and volunteered in a variety of ways at Michigan. Stalions stated that “identifying and exploiting critical vulnerabilities” and “identifying the opponent’s most likely course of action and most dangerous course of action” are two benefits of his military experience in his since deleted LinkedIn bio.

Stalions was described as a “person” by ESPN.

Stalions’ reputation at Michigan

Stalions developed a rep inside the Wolverines program for his knack for decoding opponents’ signals since arriving back in Michigan. One source involved with the program described Stalions as “a savant” who was “exceptional in-game,” saying the Naval Academy product’s feel for such things is a real skill, where Stalions was adept at figuring out tendencies and knowing what is live, and what isn’t. Sources involved in the Wolverines program say decoding opponents’ signals is something the aspiring coach took great pride in.

Perhaps, not so coincidentally, the Wolverines also had a rep inside the conference for cracking opponents’ signaling systems.

“I think Michigan is really good at stealing your signals,” one Big Ten running backs coach told The Athletic last fall. “They got our stuff early and they got us on both sides.”