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Michigan football lineman Jalen Mayfield cleared to play, says Jim Harbaugh

Michigan football's star offensive linemen, Jalen Mayfield, recently opted back in to playing this college football season after declaring for the NFL draft.

And it appears any hurdles regarding his eligibility have been cleared.

“He did submit a waiver to be able to come back and play, and that waiver has been granted,” said Jim Harbaugh on the "Inside the Wolverines" radio show with Jon Jansen on Monday night. "I think there’s a few stipulations that he has to do, but I think that waiver has been granted that he can return.”

Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet celebrates his touchdown with Jalen Mayfield (73) during the first half against Penn State in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.
Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet celebrates his touchdown with Jalen Mayfield (73) during the first half against Penn State in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.

A redshirt sophomore who started all 13 games at right tackle last season, Mayfield left the program in mid-August shortly after the Big Ten postponed all college sports. He signed with an agent and planned to move out to California to begin training for the 2021 NFL draft, for which he has been considered a potential first-round prospect.

Mayfield ended up changing his mind, though, when the Big Ten announced that the college football season would begin Oct. 24. His return was big news for an offensive line that would've had to replace all five starters from last season upon Mayfield's departure. The only question was whether he would be able to obtain eligibility after signing with an agent, and it appears that has been answered.

"Well, Jalen had opted out, and he's chosen to come back, and he's working through the process of what he needs to do there," said offensive line coach Ed Warinner. "But he's back on campus, he's in school, he's enrolled, he's going to class — well, Zoom class.

"He'll be participating with us in meetings and practice. Everything should work out where he'll be able to get back in there. We're excited to have Jalen back."

Next on the list: Getting Mayfield ready for the season as Michigan begins padded practices this week.

"A returning starter that played really well at the end of last year, and we've just got to get him back into that same routine," Warinner said. "Get him going again. The last time Jalen had pads on was Jan. 1 against Alabama. So we all know that takes a while.

"But we'll get him up to speed and get him ready for the first game. And we're excited to do it."

The Wolverines had two other players reportedly sign with agents in receiver Nico Collins and cornerback Ambry Thomas. As of now, the two have not opted back in.

“Right now, at this point, Jalen is the only one who submitted that waiver to opt back in," Harbaugh said when asked about Collins and Thomas.

Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here's how you can gain access to our most exclusive Michigan Wolverines content.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jim Harbaugh: Michigan football's Jalen Mayfield cleared to play