Marvin Robinson, Mike Jones leave the team

Michigan seniors Marvin Robinson and Mike Jones will not return for the 2013 season according to reports confirmed by TheWolverine.com.

A safety, the 6-2, 202-pound Robinson started one contest among 28 appearances at safety and on special teams. He had 21 tackles in his career and one fumble recovery.

The WInter Haven, Fla., native was a four-star recruit in 2010 class, carrying tremendous promise he would develop into the bone-crushing strong safety U-M had been lacking. However, he struggled to grasp the nuances of the defense and could never beat out his competition for greater playing time.

Robinson would have been a senior this fall, and was set to compete with sophomore Jarrod Wilson and redshirt freshman Jeremy Clark for the open safety post next to fifth-year senior Thomas Gordon. Safety depth will take a hit, but Robinson was thought to be at least second, and maybe third in the pecking order, and would have likely made his biggest impact on special teams.

Jones would have been returning for a fifth year of eligibility after arriving as a three-star in the Class of 2009. The 6-2, 223-pound Orlando native appeared in 29 games in his career, largely on special teams though some as a reserve linebacker. He had eight career tackles.

As a strong special teams performer, Jones will be missed, but he was not on the two-deep defensively during the spring and wasn't expected to challenge for playing time.

Because both players were seniors and already accounted for, they will not open up new scholarships for the 2014 recruiting class. However, in 2013, two more scholarships -- Michigan is now at 83 -- will become available, perhaps to deserving walk-ons.