Former Michigan DB JT Turner Resurfaces
It looks as though, after two failed transfers (first to WVU, and then to a community college in...Ohio I think?) former Michigan DB Justin 'JT' Turner has resurfaced at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. Here's a thread from Hawaii's Scout Site that says he has an offer from the Rainbow Warriors, as well as an article from Scout saying he has interest from several schools, including ASU.
August 13th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
He was the recruit I was most excited about that year. That sucked when he fizzled out at UM.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
To go from the #1 recruit in Ohio to a flame out w/o ever seeing the field, at the position of greatest need, on one of the worst defenses in the country...,,
"You broke my heart Fredo!!!!!!"
August 13th, 2011 at 10:08 AM ^
its nice to know it wasnt a mistake by rich rod to show him the door.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
I wouldn't definitively say that. There are way too many guys who left during the Rich Rod era to solely place their departure at the players' feet. Especially given the rotting corpse of the secondary, and the relative dearth of attrition since Hoke has shown up, I would surmise that a few of these guys should probably have been given a chance to stick, or shouldn't have been let loose.
August 13th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
Why on earth would you hold a player responsible for his own actions?
People who didn't do what they were supposed to under RR either staightened up or left. If it was almost any other coach in the country, that would be called "discipline" or "accountability."
August 13th, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
many players did not do what they were supposed to do. Many left. Did those who stayed "straighten up"?
Think about what that implies.
August 13th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
How many defensive players actually left under RichRod?
August 13th, 2011 at 3:42 PM ^
Here's a good starting point. Only secondary and includes at least two injuries, but still.
August 13th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
You've got as much of an idea of the inside stories as anyone else here, but a huge part of a coach's job is to motivate players to succeed and realize their potential. Considering how dire the situation was in the secondary, Rodriguez/staff should have done everything he could do to keep really talented players in the fold. Turner supposedly had a work ethic issue. Part of the coach's job is to turn a recalcitrant player like him around.
It's a two-way street and considering the shocking number of players who left, the staff has to take some of the blame--just like the staff would be partially blamed if lots of players kept getting arrested or caught violating NCAA rules.
August 13th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^
I don't follow your logic. Don't we have to assume that RR knew his secondary was incredibly thin? Wouldn't that mean that he would have given every player in that incredibly thin secondary every chance to demonstrate that he wanted to play for Michigan? And doesn't the fact that he tried so hard to get Dorsey in suggest that he was willing to overlook minor problems in order to field a competent secondary?
No, the story on the secondary is colossal, unprecedented, insanely shitty luck, IME. Between Cissoko's love of filthy pizza lucre, Dorsey's grades, Woolfolk's ankle, Warren's pipe dream, and Turner's apparent immaturity, that's a darn good nickel package right there. I'm sure I'm missing a few more but I don't have the heart to look them up.
August 13th, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^
As usual, the answer is somewhere in the middle. RR was canned largely because his defense was mess; too many D recruits didn't pan out. (And Dorsey, especially, is all on RR; the kid had no chance of passing muster of admissions, but RR went for it anyway. This is well documented.) But RR also had plenty of bad luck. What were the odds that Boo Boo and Turner would flame out so dramatically, or that Woolfolk would get hurt, or that Warren would jump too soon? Granted, the overall ineptitude of the D probably factored into Warren's early exit. But still.
I think one key barometer will be Will Campbell. RR obviously wrote Will off as a potential impact-player on D. But Hoke seems to feel otherwise. If Will turns out to be a solid d-lineman, that will crystallize a few things about RR. It's possible that he (by way of Gerg, obviously) just didn't know what to do with the talent on D.
August 13th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
(like Lloyd,to a certain degree) he couldn't seperate...friends from actual good coaching?
August 13th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
Now we will have to have folks come on hear and start chiming about CC leaving and blaming it on Hoke....It happens for a variety of reasons...
August 13th, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
with some skepticism until they get to campus and perform.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:24 AM ^
Brilliant analysis, Don. I, on the other hand, believe we should be recklessly optimistic about every recruit we get. I mean think about it, we could have 22 Heisman winners on our team this year. How great would that be?
August 13th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
moderation is the key, but even Don gets a little antsy sometime, Pipkins put Don into full hyperbole mode.
I, on the other hand am much more even handed, but must admit I expect Stroebel to be a 3 time all american.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
We couldn't possibly have 22 Heisman winners. Ryan Perriloux is winning the Heisman this year.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Don't forget Ron Powlus
August 13th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^
let those words roll off his lips...that kid career was done.
August 13th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
Possibly 6, if any of them wind up as 6th-year seniors.
August 13th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
Given how good he looked in the Army AA game that year, I don't think Turner's rankings were off. He just either had work ethic issues that were hidden up to that point or he changed as a person, which at that age is entirely possible.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^
Are people still going to Fanday even if it's raining?
August 13th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
I will be working on attaching the umbrella to my cap later today!
August 13th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
Indeed.
August 13th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
They don't call it "fair weather fan day"
August 13th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^
Yes, that's right, they are the artichokes.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
This is the sort of name you give to a team when you in fact have some latent loathing of the team.
August 13th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
They let the students suggest nicknames and vote on the them. That's also how UC Santa Cruz ended up as the Banana Slugs.
August 13th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
the downvote, so I upvoted. Interesting, and hope he can find some success.
August 13th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
...if the kid would've accepted a move to FS or SS, he might still be at Michigan.
He and Cullen Christian both.
August 13th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
He was at the same school as Marques Slocum was it, but i was wrong. I wonder if he still has that awesome tat?
I hope he can get his football career on track.
August 13th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
I live in Scottsdale, maybe I'll get over to a game and get some video. I hope he has it together now.