Freep - unsigned Michigan talent
I am sure others have seen this article at the Freep - http://www.freep.com/article/20090121/SPORTS06/90121014/?imw=Y. I was wondering how UM stood with some of these kids, particularly Westendorp from Holland Christian. It sounds like at least 1 or 2 of them have walk-on offers from UM, but with the potential for unused scholarships being available on signing day, does anyone know if any of these kids will get one?
January 21st, 2009 at 12:19 PM ^
If we have unused scholarships, I'd rather save them for next year. We shouldn't just hand them out just to use them. Regarding Westendorp, alot will depend on Denard Robinson. If Robinson commits, then we're done at the QB position. Only problem is that Robinson isn't going to announce until NLOI Day; should be an interesting day. Regardless, I doubt Westendorp gets a scholarship offer and would be a preferred walk-on.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
My concern with Robinson is that he sounds more like a great corner than a great QB. From what I've read here, he'll get a chance at QB, but I don't see him jumping over Tate or even Threet initially, and he would probably see the field sooner on the defensive side.
That said, I agree with you that keeping scholarships makes sense if there truly are no good prospects left. But I also know that there are some middling recruits who might get a scholarship if the class continues to shrink, and I'd rather "waste" one on a good kid who might help in the near future vs. a middling kid on the d-line who won't see significant playing time until his 3rd or 4th year, if at all.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
you that Robinson might lose out to Tate and turn into a good CB instead? That kinda sounds like a good thing to me.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:57 PM ^
I think Robinson would probably be a better fit as a CB (that's what is sounded like most experts felt was his best position), but an elusive QB with a decent arm is always welcome in the spread. And for the record, I'm not some major fan of Westendorp - I just feel that when UM is relying on Nick Sheridan to start games, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have another option.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
Well, Robinson has been offered as a QB by Florida, Goergia, and Tennessee. So - it's not like he's Feagin, where we were the only people offering him as a QB. He seems legit.
And, again, if the staff is willing to offer someone like Austin Dantin and not Nader Furrha or AJ Westendorp, they do NOT see them as equivalent prospects, no matter how much we want to call them both "middling" or "fringe".
January 21st, 2009 at 1:51 PM ^
Robinson hasn't been offered as a QB by any of those schools. We're not the only team offering his as QB, but we are the biggest. Florida and Tennessee have only recently entertained the idea of letting him come in as a QB after they saw how serious he was about Michigan for that reason.
I agree though, he's probably a better QB prospect than Feagin but I think if any of those schools really come hard for him as a QB I think we're dead in the water.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Brian had written some time ago that Florida was offering him at QB.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:06 PM ^
I'm unsure why anyone would use the phrase "but I don't see him jumping over Tate or even Threet initially." Temper your optimism on Forcier, please. He may be a very good quarterback, but youre totally underestimating his class status and the fact that he's just not that big of a kid. I think he'll be successful at Michigan, but it will be because of his ability to operate within the system, not because he's going to wow everyone with his athleticism right off the bat.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
I'm not really underestimating his status or size, but by all accounts he is one of the better QBs in this class, and should be a competitive option early on because he will have spent this winter and spring working in a system that he is well-equipped to run. I'm not anointing Forcier the starter going into next season, but I think it is a safe assumption that he will be better prepared to run this team than any preferred walk-on.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
Threet's still around, right?
January 21st, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
Sparty has a lockdown on all the 2-star instate talent. We just don't have a shot at these guys.