Incoming Recruits from the State of MI Talk About Their Recruiting Experience
This is done yearly by the Detroit News, and I always think it is an interesting read. Their list of Blue Chip recruits around the state get asked some questions about their experience, and they reflect on it.
Some of the highlights of the article:
4. Lawrence Marshall
Southfield
DL, 6-4, 240
Commitment: Michigan
Best recruiting experience: The Michigan-Ohio State game my junior year. That was my best by far. The atmosphere was intense. It was like you understood why it was a rivalry after watching it.
Worst recruiting experience: After I decommitted (from Ohio State), it was uncomfortable, but they understood. The social media? It comes with the territory.
Why not MSU? It wasn't the school for me. I like the school. I liked the staff. But it wasn't for me.
9. Maurice Ways
Detroit Country Day
WR, 6-4, 196
Commitment: Michigan
Best recruiting experience: When the coaches came to the school and the feeling of being wanted. The fact that they wanted me to be a part of their program. The whole process was great.
Worst recruiting experience: I didn't have one. It was positive all the way through.
Why not MSU? They didn't officially offer me. I guess they were going to. I liked it up there on my (unofficial) visit.
Notable: The youngest of three children, Ways is a quiet person for the most part. He likes going to movies with his friends and spending time with his family. “I don't like to boast,” he said. “I let my game speak for itself. I'm a goofy guy. I like to have fun. I know what's serious and what not to take seriously.”
February 4th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
Damon Webb is a [inappropriate insult].
ED:BISB - Fair warning to all: personal insults toward high schoolers will not be tolerated.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
He's only in high school. You're supposed to wait until he graduates before you start calling him vulgar names!
February 4th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
Dang! I didn't get the memo. If he was an EE I would've been safe though. Sorry Magnus.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
Why, because he didn't pick the school you like? Cry some more and go call some more 17/18 year olds names on the internet.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^
It's not like I tweeted it at him. He just seems like a [redacted]. I don't care how old he is, he's old enough to insult.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
So he's gone from "he IS a..." to "he SEEMS like a..." in quite short order.
Look, I don't like what he said about "the better program" either, but that's his school now. I would expect him to be 110% committed to it. If memory serves, he's the only osu commit on that list. I'd say UM did just fine in state.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
I don't really expect him to say anything different. He's an OSU kid, I don't care if he says he "ALMOST went to Michigan", he is still a [redacted] in my eyes.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
you've made that much painfully clear.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^
I apologize if I offended you. That was not my intent.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
I'm not offended by your comments. I just think you're going way overboard about a high school senior.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
Don't apologize to him, apologize to the fan base for being one of those people who make us look stupid and petty.
Although I do generally agree that liking Ohio State is a character flaw, have some class about it.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^
It makes it so much better that you didn't say it directly to him. Grow up.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
No...you grow up.
February 4th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
As a parent of a 6 year old... wow. Just wow.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^
Could he have perhaps refrained from taking a shot at UM, yes.
Was he asked an awkward question that if not answered exactly right will cast you in a bad light, yes.
Let it be and realize that he is probably taking cues from Urban as to how to talk about rival schools. Similar to the way the MSU guys spoke at UM.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
His comment about being OSU being the better program than UofM, is only factual if you're going by this past decade, as they've been much much better than us the last 10 or so years.
That being said, I don't really think it's a big deal if a poster wants to call him a "douche" on a message board - not the end of the world.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^
And ten years is effectively the entire life of these recruits. We're close to having kids join who weren't alive in 97. Crazy.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
"The social media? It comes with the territory."
I would have been happier if Webb had left it at he wanted to do something different.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
Looking forward to Funchess catching Webb on a pick play. Webb wouldn't know what hit him.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
I love that the answer to "Why not UofM?" Was almost always "no offer."
February 4th, 2014 at 8:40 AM ^
Nothing too inflammatory as there has been in years past. Nick Padla's comment about looking towards the future is about as bad as it gets (which...you didn't even get offered guy). Always enjoy this annual article. Kind of neat to hear about recruits' experiences.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:43 AM ^
I don't think Damon Webb got the memo about not calling out specific schools that you may be playing in the future.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
Drake would've gone to UM if he had gotten the offer
February 4th, 2014 at 8:46 AM ^
Also, I don't mind Webb's comments. They may come off as cocky to some but I see it as being honest. He's going to OSU, so there's clearly no love lost for Michigan, which is fine
February 4th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
to tee off on a guy who says that about Michigan. But think how much we'd be rejoycing if he had committed to Michigan and was saying those things about osu? I agree with you, his comments are fine. Like someone else said, its locker room bulletin board fodder...
February 4th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
The boards reaction to Kalis' "blood on the field" commments backs you up
February 4th, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
Very interesting to see the insight that these kids have into the process now that they have been through it.
I found Tyler Wiegers remarks interesting, about how the worst experience for him was the decommitment from Rutgers. Even though he gave the reasons why he did, you can see how it is disappointing as he says because obviously a lot of energy and time - his and various coaches - went into the initial decision. It rather plays off what Avonte Maddox said about the stress and making atypical decisions.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
I can only imagine the stress these young men have to go through; and then to decommit from a place and switch has to be horrendous. Just look at the way Harris was treated with his decommitment; Drake and Damien.
I was impressed by Williams and his answers about wanting to stay close to home for family reasons. He came across as very level headed and one who does not want to belittle others and their programs. I am excited for the future at Michigan and proud of the Tradition.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
From Bryon Bullough... Why Not U of M: something to the effect of if they would have offered I would have thought about it...
What and be excommunicated from your house. Please... I totally understand why you would go to MSU, don't try and soft sell it.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
I think the Feds need to get a warrant and seize the Bullough family's cloning machine. It couldn't be more obvious. For the good of mankind....we need 4 Jabrill's in the secondary.
February 4th, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
Webb's line about the coaches trying to talk him out of his commitment and it didn't seem right is interesting. It's called recruiting and thats what coaches do.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^
Worst recruiting experience: When I committed to Ohio State. Since I went to the U-M camp, the U-M coaches came to the school to talk me out of (my commitment). It didn't make me feel uncomfortable; it just didn't seem right.
Isn't that the point of recruiting?
February 4th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
The inverse being 'they didn't really try to keep me'
February 4th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
And just didn't want to admit it because it made him seem weak, in some way?
I look at it kind of like getting married. So at one point he was engaged to Michigan and for whatever reason decided that was not his choice and decided he wanted to marry Ohio State. You've thought you've made up your mind, and your former fiance comes back and keeps trying to convince you that she is better for you than that new tramp you are going to marry. Even for just a little while it might make you uncomfortable, especially if she makes some good points. You may still want to be with your fiance but the process makes you feel uncomfortable.
Kind of like Tyler Wiegers' comments.
February 4th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
that is disrespectful to try to change a kid's mind after he makes his decision.
All part of the game, but not tough to see the other side.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
I never understood why they ask the kids who don't have offers to UM or MSU "why not UM?" The answer is always some sad form of "you'd have to ask them that."
February 4th, 2014 at 9:25 AM ^
If we don't oversign next year we are in a world of hurt. Ohio "lost players" And here in Florida players leave and jucos come in. We just don't have a coach that can drive emotion to overcome that.
February 4th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
Sorry
February 4th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
Jesus H Christ, how many Bullough's are there? Is this the last one of this generation?
February 4th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
There's a secret MSU cloning facility just east of Okemos.
February 4th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
I've heard they multiply when wet.
February 4th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
They have a younger sister who would play center when they were kids. Now she is a good middle distance runner, State Champ, as a sophmore, so probably doesn't have a Center's build. Article about them by Michael Rothstein on ESPN.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
I don't have a problem with what Webb said about 'the better program'. OSU's football program is better RIGHT NOW. It's up to Michigan's football program to change that.
February 4th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
I like the kids we got, based on this feedback. And with all of these guys, you get some unique insight into their struggles to decide. Some more than others. This is an interesting feature to see each year. Humanizes these "football players" even more.
February 4th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
"Worst recruiting experience: I didn't have one. If I did I wouldn't tell you because I don't like trash-talking.
. . .
"Why not MSU? They never offered me. Not to be cocky, but there's other places (to go to college). That's all right."
February 4th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
I wouldn't really call that trash-talking.