Michigan WR Devin Funchess announces he will enter NFL draft

Already in the market for a head coach with Brady Hoke being fired, Michigan is in search of a No. 1 wideout with Devin Funchess turning pro.

The school announced Tuesday that the junior won?t be back in 2015 to help Michigan reverse its fortunes. The news isn't a shock, as a report surfaced last week that Funchess was considering signing with an agent.

"I would like to thank my family, coaches and teammates for their support," Funchess said in a statement. "It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, and I am prepared to take the next step in my journey.

"I want to personally thank Coach (Brady) Hoke and his staff. I've learned life and character lessons from them, and they have helped me become a better person and man. I love Michigan. From the former players to the fans, it's a special place. The opportunity to play in the Big House in front of 100,000 strong each week, those are memories that will last with me forever. It's been an honor to strap on the winged helmet for three years with my teammates, and I will always bleed Maize and Blue."

Funchess? 2014 numbers look solid, as he caught 62 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns as he made the transition from tight end to receiver. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from league coaches but was plagued by inconsistency. After making three TD grabs in the opener vs. Appalachian State, Funchess had just one more scoring grab-vs. Penn State on Oct. 11. He caught passes for over 100 yards twice last year, at Notre Dame and at Ohio State.

Funchess, projected by some to be a first-round pick, will leave Ann Arbor with 126 catches, 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named the Big Ten's tight end of the year as a sophomore in 2013.

With Funchess out of the picture, Michigan's leading pass catcher will be junior Amara Darboh, who made 36 catches for 473 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.