Hopefully Not, but Possibility of Decommits?

Submitted by Raback Omaba on

With the exception of a highly rated safety/CB from either Florida or Cali, it looks as though our recruiting class is finished for the year.

Based on what we have so far, I like what I see. Despite the lack of "5 stars" or a highly touted ranking from the recruiting services, I feel that our class is top notch. We fill needs very well and our "studs" come at serious positions of need, ie, someone like Devin Gardner is a 10 star to this team right now.

Having said that, and using what you've heard from TomVH, other recruiting sites and the grapevine, who are possible decommits from this class?

The EE's are already on campus and are not susceptible, but is there anyone out there that might be vulnerable to a charm of a cute southern hostess or bottle of foreign snake oil?

The only name that comes to mind for me, which I would hate to lose, is Marvin Robinson. Based on what I've heard about him, he's a true stud. I remember reading a while back that he was entertaining interest from Miami (The U) and looking at other visits....any elaboration on this? I really want this kid and think he could anchor a scary Michigan defense very shortly....

Anyone else?

Not trying to fear monger, just looking for some good insight and Michigan conversation while I sit at home getting ready for the day tomorrow (and watch us beat Wisconsin)

jg2112

January 20th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^

M-Rob isn't going anywhere.

Courtney Avery is being, er, courted by Florida.

There might be another academic casualty. There is one commit not yet qualified.

Other than that, I don't think there is much to worry about. Or better yet, just don't pay attention until Signing Day. Then you'll have all your answers and you'll save yourself undue worry.

Raback Omaba

January 20th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^

No worries here, just curious, that's all.

It's good to hear that M Rob is solid.

As far as Avery, that's very impressive that he's being courted by Florida. I'd always pictured him as a typical RichRod project, raw recruit.

The Florida interest means that he's legitimately pretty good and that our theory that RichRod knows how to recognize raw talent is very true.

Zonereadstretch

January 20th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^

Granted I don't think we have anything to worry about with Avery, but even if Florida was coming @ him hard, why would he waiver? We've all discussed how stacked their secondary recruiting is this year, and adding another DB just doesn't make sense. Wasn't this the issue that prompted Dorsey's sudden interest in UM and FSU...

KinesiologyNerd

January 21st, 2010 at 1:17 AM ^

UF could want him at something other than DB.

Other theory: Avery, like many recruits of "power" schools, could be suffering from what I'll call "Amnesia Pecunia" (pecunia: latin for money). This under-diagnosed condition is characterized by the inexplicable oversight of things such as depth charts and impending NCAA sanctions when influenced by cash or items of high monetary value. For further reference and discussion of the topic see: Bush, Reginald Alfred and McKnight, Joe.

markusr2007

January 20th, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^

I'm surprised how few decommits we've seen so far. There are two weeks left and anything possible, but RR and staff have done a decent job under difficult circumstances.

Hopefully zero decommits.

4godkingandwol…

January 20th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^

... I think it has to do with two things.

1) Horrible season last year scared away people who were excited early. Yes, this year wasn't great, but it wasn't as shocking as last year.

2) The coaches did a better job of holding on to recruits and only securing commits from recruits we really wanted and really wanted to be a part of our team.

Dallas Wolverine

January 20th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^

These 17-18 year old kids like to have there egos stroked more than anything. Just show me some love and tell me I have a chance. Its all kind of a (girl-friend) type thing. Stroke me stroke me! Hey wasn't that a song along time ago?

Don

January 21st, 2010 at 2:35 AM ^

That's normal and common these days for many schools. Sam Webb mentioned earlier this week that Michigan's coaches are in contact with guys who have committed to other schools, and obviously this is because we're trying to woo them away to us. You have to assume that the same thing is going on with our commits, and to more guys than just Avery. The one downside to kids committing several months in advance of signing day is that it gives them time to get cold feet, to have second thoughts, to "fall out of love" with their original school and get infatuated with a new school, etc. We're dealing with teenagers, and part of being that young is fickleness. Goes with the territory. If RR and staff hang onto all the guys who verbal to us, that's a tremendous job in sales and marketing and relationship-building.

ontarioblue

January 21st, 2010 at 8:09 AM ^

Rich Rod and staff were stung really hard by decommits the past two classes. It looks like they really did their homework, and have recruited a strong class of Michigan Men.

A Real Toe Tapper

January 21st, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^

Last year, there were all sorts of rumors and rumblings that the 2 DTs who decommitted were "wavering" and/ or "soft commits" before they actually did the deed. There hasn't been that level of chatter about anyone in this class, at least not that I've come across.

Magnus

January 21st, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^

Rodriguez hasn't been hit hard by decommits in the last two classes. Sure, 2009 had a lot of decommits, but the three guys who decommitted in the 2008 class didn't really hurt us at all. They would have been hard pressed to find a position here.

Magnus

January 21st, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^

Who are our two more-than-capable sophomore QBs? I hope you're not including Denard in that category, who didn't prove anything as a QB last year.

Regardless, Rodriguez has said that he would like to have 5-6 scholarship quarterbacks on the roster at all times. The two QB commits in the 2010 class (Gardner, Jones) give us only four, and both Robinson and Jones could be used at other positions. It's still a pretty thin depth chart.