Antonio Kinard now 2011 commit
SIAP
Former 2010 commit Antonio Kinard is still planning on coming to UM after his post grad year at Hargrave Military Academy.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Those who stay will be champions!!!!
August 25th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
because he's dragging down our average star rating!
</sarcasm>
Wish the kid nothing but the best, hope to see him next year.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
Let's hope he makes it to campus first. Still, need LBs very badly.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:54 PM ^
Here's to hoping Michigan lets him in, I'm still excited about his potential at WLB. From the Video: "I haven't really been able to talk to the coaches much". He rationalizes it as them preparing for the season, but I'm wondering if the coaches are still gonna try for him.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
But he's shrinking. Shit.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
I like to think of it as "Barwis building room"...kind of like taking the furniture out before tearing down the dining room (the fancy one no one uses) and adding a brick shithouse.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^
very low.
I hope he does, but historically getting into Michigan through this route has been nigh impossible and if we have a good season this year, we may not have the luxury of scholarship room.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
As long as his grades are there this year I don't see why he doesn't get in. Prep school is a pretty common path for athletes to get into top 50 schools. Just because it's not common occurrence around here doesn't make it "impossible".
August 25th, 2010 at 3:42 PM ^
Michigan VERY rarely takes JuCo kids. Evan Metrics went the prep school route and he's going to be killin' fools soon [via basketball].
August 25th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^
If Slocum got in I would think that Kinnard could.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
August 25th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
that it is very difficult for marginal academics to get approved at Michigan (anymore).
His flaming out really really hurt. We are on the borderline as far as APR goes, so we cannot take too many chances.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
He would deserve a "Hello Again Its Good To See You, Can I Offer You Something To Drink?: Antonio Kinard" post.
We're already familiar with him, but I cherish my Hello posts too much to give one up.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
According to a recent rivals article, Kinnard has been very impressive at Hargrave as well. With Obi and Jonas graduating, we're going to need some more linebackers in the next class. Hopefully he can come in and contribute (and actually make it to UM).
August 25th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
the program that Dorsey was in. Witty also did not go to prep school route.
Chris Perry and Slocum come to mind as players who entered through the prep school route.
The coaches also have shown that they really stick with players too. They really wanted Witty to come to UM even after he did not qualify the first go-round despite the fact that they got his "package deal" mate on board.*
* I think it was pretty clear that the coaches liked Witty as a player independent of Denard, but the common meme at signing day two years ago was that Witty was pure 2-star bait for 4-star talent.
August 25th, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
August 25th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^
I browsed around Hargrave's website and saw that the Post-Grad athlete's tuition is $18,500. That's a lot of coin for most people. If he (or anybody else in the program) puts up that kind of money, he must be bullish on his future in D1 -- otherwise there's no point in going there.
Anybody know anything more about prep programs?
August 25th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
I don't know anything about his financial means, but scholarships are pretty common in a lot of these prep schools out East. Especially for a) inner city smart kids b) fiscally challenged athletic kids. It would seem option b is more likely here, but he may have coin in the family, who knows.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
but he may get some sort of benefit. I mean, consider the school's reasoning.
"So, either he can't afford to come here, or we pay part of his way, and later, we have a good chance to have an alumnus who is also a Michigan alum and potentially a pro player. yeah, those guys tend to donate money. CHING CHING!"
August 25th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
But it then makes the whole concept kind of fishy, almost like there's a quasi, pre-professional financial obligation down the road. just sayin.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
Scholarships have to be paid for by somebody and basically, if you read the mission-type-statement on the web site, the whole team is in the academically challenged athlete category. So, do schools like Hargrave have football teams entirely for the entertainment of football boosters who essentially pay for the program by endowing scholarships?
August 25th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
I hope to see you in one year's time, whereupon we shall sit and remember our journeys that have brought us to that point.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
of his dumbshirt year, but in the future I'd rather see grayshirts
August 25th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
You want us to oversign?
August 25th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^
if the kid knows he's a grayshirt in adavance. Oregon State builds their OL like this regularly. Its like being a preferred walk-on, but you are basically guaranteed to have a 4 (or 5) year scholarship after a year of paying for school, getting aclimatted to college life, and working out. You get bigger, you focus on school, and you get a better than you'd otherwise get scholarship offer from an attractive school...you just have to pay for a year on your own.
Some people don't want to be in college for 5 or 6 years, others don't want to or can't pay for school... but for some marginal prospects who wouldn't otherwise be ready to play BCS-caliber college football, it makes sense.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
He's out of state - do you know how much that costs, even for one year?
August 25th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^
One year FT tuition for an out-of-state student in LSA lower division is $18k. Add in the cost of fees, books, and room/board, and you're looking at close to $30k. Grayshirting is NOT an option for a lot of kids who are depending on scholarships to go to a school like Michigan.
Also, prep school can "prep" (sorry!) kids better for college in the sense that they'll be away from home, but still be under closer supervision from teachers, coaches, et al. Compare that to college where they'll have total freedom - not exactly a recipe for success for kids who already have poor grades. Do you think they'll magically take up the challenge of academics and thrive? Unlikely (and I say this as a solid HS student who was a little too undisciplined freshman year and paid for it with probation and summer classes).
August 25th, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^
I was speaking generally, not specific to Kinards case.
The downside of someone not qualifying is that their scholarship goes unused this year (assigned to a walk-on, but still). Michigan is not using all their scholarships because of academic non-qualifiers. Thats a situation I'd like to see avoided.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
This is what happened with George Morales, a long snapper.
August 25th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
But I really like to hear a kid is working hard to do what he can to salvage things...
I don't know his background and whether or not he put in the work earier...but it's good to hear he's fighting to be a part of this team.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
Hargraves is a good place for him to get himself together. Another year of seasoning isn't going to hurt his body none either; he'll be bigger and stronger. If he was good enough for us this year, it ventures the thought that he will be good enough for us next year.
August 25th, 2010 at 6:19 PM ^
If he is worthy, he will become a Wolverine.
Best of luck to Antonio.