decommits
devery hamilton

Devery Hamilton Decommits Comment Count

Brian

6_3889506[1]

So this happened:

Per Baltimore (Md.) Gilman assistant coach Henry Russell, four-star offensive tackle Devery Hamilton has flipped his commitment from Michigan to Stanford.

Hamilton made it official Friday evening during his in-home with Cardinal head coach David Shaw.

"I think just the academics that Stanford has to offer and his parents having a family friend out there who can help make the distance more doable," Russell added.

This is absolutely not someone getting "processed," as Michigan needs offensive tackles and now doesn't have any in this class. Expect Ben Bredeson to kick out to OT. Michigan doesn't have any 2016 OL on the hook other than maybe GA OL EJ Price, a supreme longshot. They do have plenty of other guys looking to fill spots; it's possible they just try to lock down some 2017 five stars to fill the gap.

Comments

TrueBlue2003

January 30th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

Harbaugh's pro bowl LT in SF was a TE coming out of HS (Rockford - same school as Nordin and Braden), recruited to play TE at CMU, ran one of the fastest 200m in the state as a HS senior.

Lot of upside in converting a great athlete, agree with you though, that it certainly isn't something you want to count on at top tier school like Michigan.  Too many unknowns and risks when you ask a guy to gain 50+ lbs and become technical enough to be effective at the new position.

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Hail Harbo

January 30th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^

Jay Riemersma switched from a middling QB to an All Pro TE.  Of course he had a bum shoulder so maybe that made learning new skills easier.

Spring 1997 Steven Hutchinson and David Brandt were asked to flip from DL to OG.  Hutch started at LG for the 1997 team, Brandt was on the OL depth chart.  1998 Brandt was promoted to starting C and spent a few years in the NFL and of course Hutchinson went on to a quite successful NFL career.  I wonder how they managed to make the switch.

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Howard4Heisman

January 30th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

Unlikely since neither mckeon or Eubanks are aj Williams types. Prolly seals bredeson and TJ wheat let's fates as tackles. And both will need to be good. Michigan OT depth was rough WITH devery.

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wesq

January 30th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^

Jake Fisher was 260 in his Michigan hello post, was being recruited as a LT, Lewan was 270. It's not ideal but all the TE/DL recruiting does lend itself to being position flexible as their bodies grow. When TWsr said they are going to let TWJr's body determine his position.

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bluebyyou

January 30th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^

This decommitment is exactly why recruiting is a chess match with constant give and take and until the "letter" is signed, both sides must do what is necessary to protect themselves.

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Bertello NC

January 30th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

Perfect example right here of players being able to flip and be wishy washy all the way up to signing day. But Oh the sky is falling if a coach tells a kid a month out that he hasn't lived up to the billing, M's expectations, and their playing time/role will be in question. Going to be fine though. We have a lot of options for the tackle position in next years class.



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Rabbit21

January 30th, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^

I'm not saying this isn't true, but in questions of conduct in this area I am typically going to adopt the lens of the high school kid vs. the middle aged millionaire paid to manipulate said kid. I don't know why the argument is constantly distorted but asking for picking up the phone and being more decisive about the offer earlier than a month out while still acknowledging the reality that a bad fit for the program should be recognized before signing day is not such a terrible position.



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Jayvandy23

January 30th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^

Yet it is a business decision for the kid, 5 days out from signing day.  Kids change their mind.  It happens, and is acceptable.  It will happen again for some other program today.  A better opportunity.  A better future.  A better fit.  But it isn't ok for a program to make the same decision?  Did the kid tell the program several weeks ago that they might be looking somewhere else?  Probably not, but we don't know that.  On the other hand, your assuming that said program gave no notice, and essentially did the same thing.  We have no idea what the inner workings are.  I think that recruiting is a cutthroat business for all involved.  There is no perfect way to do this.

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