DeQuinta Jones down to Auburn, UT, and "probably" Michigan
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=907210
If Jones does not commit to Michigan, this is the ultimate case of a player stringing along a team until something better comes along. He visited Tennessee this weekend and said Tennessee is a "real factor" and that he's deciding between Tennessee, Auburn, and "probably" Michigan on Wednesday.
I'm really not that high on Jones, but if he hadn't committed earlier, then perhaps we might have had time to find a replacement. He seems like the softest of soft Michigan commits I've seen in the three or four years I've been following Michigan recruiting.
Of course, Stokes is kind of in the same boat. However, with the coaching change, he has a reason to be lukewarm on the Volunteers. Rodriguez has been recruiting Jones to Michigan the entire time; nothing has changed at Michigan in that time.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
like he was trying to find a reason not to pick Michigan for quite some time. I know the coaching staff is better informed than we are, but this placeholder crap annoys me.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:59 PM ^
Well, if lose out on both Graves and Jones, we are in alot of trouble. DT depth will be worse than the 2008 OL depth.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^
In this case, Ferrara would shift to DT, and Patterson will probably work in there, as well. Helmuth is there as well, but how much can we really expect from him? We have to hope that Martin turns into a beast, and that he and BWC and Sagessee stay healthy. Campbell is going to play A LOT of snaps next year...
February 1st, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
How do you know Ferrara would switch to DT?
February 1st, 2009 at 3:51 PM ^
Just a guess. We now have depth on the oline (unlike last year) and no depth on the dline (unlike last year). He would fit right in the two-deep and rotate with Martin, Sagessee and Campbell. Assuming everyone stays healthy, that is enough depth at DT to get by.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:56 PM ^
With our top three DT's being Campbell, Sagesse, and Martin, I'm not sure there's a need to move Ferrara back over to DT. Would Patterson be such a serious liability as your fourth DT? I mean, I think Ferrara was a better DT than Patterson would be, but I don't know that you take a starter on the OL and make him your third or fourth DT... Just my opinion.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
I can see that. If Ferrara is a starter on the ol you keep him there. But, if Barnum beats him out, then you move Ferrara back to DT. We won't need him to be a backup on the ol this season.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
Ferrara actually played ok on the o-line last year. Considering he had never done it before, I see no reason to have him switching back.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^
He is just using leverage. Any one of would do the same. He is a 17 year old kid and we may be on the unlucky end with his choice, but it is just that, his choice. Don't get too worked up over it. We miss on plenty of guys. Just be a fan of the guys we get.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
I would never commit to a team solely to use that scholarship and commitment as leverage to garner interest from other schools. That's unfair both to the program and to the coaches, who have a limited number of scholarships to distribute. Coaches should not have to recruit an already-committed player as though that player is on the open market.
17 Years old is plenty mature enough to understand the meaning of the word "commit." And I personally think that using a commitment as "leverage" is deplorable.
I should qualify this; I am NOT saying DeQuinta Jones is using his Michigan scholarship as leverage. But I sincerely hope that he is not.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
Many people take a "sure" job but hope for a better one to come through. He would make a fine businessman or politician.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
Look up the definition of probably then post your comments
February 1st, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
I'm not sure what this comment means.
He said he's choosing between Tennessee, Auburn, and "probably" Michigan. As in UT and Auburn are definitely under consideration, but Michigan might not be.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
That UM coaches have been fully aware of DQ waivering and have a back up plan. Unless DQ is really a solid and UM coaches know this, why haven't UM not just pulled his scholi for playing this stupid game?
February 1st, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
Pink slip?
February 1st, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
already explained this. Due to certain circumstances brought on by this transition year, we had a bunch of early commits that were "rushed" if you will. Hence all the soft commits this year. From here on out, there shouldn't be the level of soft commits that we've had in the '08-'09 offseason.
The kid isn't doing anything wrong.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
Our future president Ricardo Miller would probably not approve of Jones' recruitment tactics.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:33 PM ^
You have to wonder what the implications are for prospective recruits who saw that Michigan had 3-4 defensive linemen "verbally" committed, yet only 1 or 2 end up signing.
I can imagine that Michigan would have looked more appealing to stud recruits if they had known that some of the verbals were unlikely to sign with us.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
VERBAL COMMITS
Campbell
Graves
Jones
Roh
Lalota
NOT WAVERING
Lalota
Roh
Campbell
WAVERING
Jones
Graves
Your numbers are a bit off, but the implication is potentially correct.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/probably
Save the hand wringing and gnashing of teeth until the shoe drops Wed. 4 Feb 2009. If he Decommits I'll join you .
February 1st, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^
I'm thinking you can't read. According to your definition, "probably" means "in all liklihood". When you substitute that definition into the sentence it reads "and in all liklihood, Michigan" - in other words, Michigan being involved in his final choice is probable, but not guaranteed - which the other schools are.
I know you can read, so I'm going to assume you're being intentionally obtuse.
February 1st, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
If Jones goes to UM, I will be impressed that he turned down SEC money and southern women.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:05 PM ^
Michigan is hardly ignorant to DQ Jones' fickleness. Assuming that Michigan gave up on DTs after his commitment is unverifiable at best. This is big business - no school rests on its laurels just because a kid committed.
And for the record, Magnus is right about "leverage." Many kids make use of it, so don't feel too distraught about it. When a not-so-well-known recruit gets an offer from a bigtime program, he may just commit to that school in hopes that more local or regional powers will take notice. It happens.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Just because kids make use of it does not mean we should condone it. Also, the earlier point was that "any one of us would do the same thing." And I strenuously disagree.
Does it happen? Absolutely. Should it? I say no.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
I'm not sure what taking a moral stand against "leverage" will accomplish.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys.
February 1st, 2009 at 7:42 PM ^
I'm not sure what speculating about recruits' destinations accomplishes, either, but we're all here, aren't we?
My goodness, if our posts were limited to what they would "accomplish," we'd post about NOTHING.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
I'm sorry to be negative, but i can't stand this shit.
I say pull his offer if he's going to sit there and look around. blah blah blah DT depth... honor your commitment or take a hike. I'd love for Rich Rod to hold him up as an example and reneg the offer.
this is a prime reason to not follow recruiting.
February 1st, 2009 at 4:55 PM ^
cares.
February 1st, 2009 at 5:41 PM ^
Lalota also has the frame to grow into a DT as well. Obviously, a lot of people dont think he'll be contributing next year in any capacity, but down the line he'll ease the loss of DQ Jones. I think we're probably going to see Brandon Graham play a little inside on obvious passing downs as he's done this before.
February 1st, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^
I sincerely doubt Lalota will be a full-time DT at any point in his college career. Playing defensive tackle is largely about leverage, and 6'6" guys generally don't have much leverage.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^
But Branch was 6'6'', William Campbell is 6'5'', DQ Jones is 6'4'', Sagesse is 6'5'', Slocum was 6'5'', Will Johnson was 6'4', etc. We have a history of tall DTs, (unless you wanna argue that there is a big difference between 6'4'' and 6'6'' which there could be)
February 1st, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
However, people have said that both Lalota and Campbell project better as OTs then they do on the D-Line
February 1st, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
I don't see LaLota ending up anywhere but at left or right tackle. He seems like a perfect candidate to redshirt next season while he puts on weight and makes the transition to offensive lineman.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:12 PM ^
Yeah I actually think Lalota projects better as an OT, but with our depth on the O line (weird to type that statement). I think he might start out on the DL out of necessity.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
This is why recruiting has become a joke. Rod should pull this offer, and end this charade. If he's this fickle in the recruiting process, what type of attitude would he have once on campus?
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
Are we just not going to offer players that don't know where they want to go? You're getting a bit crazy here.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 PM ^
We only want Michigan men!!!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 AM ^
Yeah, this is not the answer.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
that read through this thread, Scout has a blog update on DQJ. The headline is a bit misleading, but I guess its looking like that "probably" statement might have been relayed with some carefully omitted context.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^
Such a harmless phrase...but at the end of some things.."sort of" kind of means everything.
Like after, "You're going to live.."
or, "It's a boy.."
or, "I'm committed to Michigan.."
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 PM ^
I love Dmitri Martin.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
My post reached someone. Mission: accomplished.