Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham is under fire after six players who were part of his teams at the University of Utah made serious allegations to local media. Speaking with Jason Batacao of The Salt Lake Tribune, defensive end Van Fillinger and five other football players who were on the Utes team between 2020 and 2024 claim they were forced to return from injury before they were fully healed. Fillinger, for instance, claimed he suffered a broken tibia and agreed with his position coach to take a redshirt season so he could fully heal.
However, when another pass rusher on the team tore his ACL a few weeks into the season, that position coach approached Fillinger and told him there was a change of plans, he said. I’ve already been out three games.’” Fillinger told Batacao that he believed he had no choice but to play. Whittingham is now the head coach at Michigan, and a spokesperson for the Wolverines referred questions to Utah.
He followed the lead of the medical team,” the Michigan spokesperson said. The Utes' athletic department and University of Utah Health told the Tribune that students' health is a "top priority." “The University of Utah Department of Athletics follows all University and national guidelines to ensure student success and safety,” the statement said.
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