Michigan Surges Up Burbridge's List

Submitted by detrocks on

Headline of paid article on Scout website saying that Burbridge was very impressed with recent trip to AA.  Also, Trieu tweet says that Michigan and Michigan State are essentially tied.  Man, if we can pick up one of the best wideouts in the country while also completing the demolition of the FHH Sparty stronghold, that would be yet another big recruting win for Hoke and crew.

jmblue

May 9th, 2011 at 6:50 PM ^

If he can't get in here, he can't get in there either.  Our admission standard for scholarship football players is the NCAA minimum.  If a kid wants to get into LSA or Engineering, the standards are higher, but even if he falls short, he can get admitted to Kines and try to transfer into those schools later.

fatbastard

May 9th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^

Last time around, that being Rodriguez' tenure.  We had a significant number of marginal recruits, many of which are listed here, incl. Rawls, Witty, Dorsey .. .. .   While there can be room for one or two with "marginal" grades, the admissions office is not keen on letting in very many.  True that this kid could qualify, and if he does, that they could take him if he had any shot at succeeding.  However, they wouldn't necessarily admit him without forcing prep school, as some other Universities might -- Cincinnatti for instance (or maybe ND under Kelly).

jmblue

May 10th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^

1.  Labeling a post "Trolling" for asking a question is pretty lame.  

2.  Anyone who does not qualify can't get admitted anywhere.  Dorsey is not attending any school. If he would have scraped by the NCAA minimum academically, he would have gotten in (as Rawls did).  We will take anyone who meets the minimum.  The only time we'll ever deny a guy admission is if we feel that he qualified under questionable circumstances.  

 

bronxblue

May 9th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^

I was thinking the same thing.  My guess is that the team wants to keep him in mind in case he does turn it around, but if you can't cut it academically at FHH (no offense to any alumni), you are not going to make it at a major D-1 school with legitimate academic standards as defined by the NCAA.  He might go the prep-school route if not, but then again he would not be a realistic option at UM.  My guess is that he'll graduate but will have to play at a prep/JuCo before transferring to a major program not named UM.  

Elwood

May 10th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^

his poor grades are most likely due to poor study habits (and effort), not lack of ability. Trust me, Umich has majors that nearly any healthy person can attain with the right amount of work. I'm sure he'll be fine if he puts in the work

fatbastard

May 9th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^

My eight year old daughter would have no problem passing the classes that this "student" would be taking in his junior year.  Scary that he could miss the senior season b/c grades are that bad.  I mean, you know he has tutors, right?

fatbastard

May 9th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^

I didn't judge him.  I don't know him. Maybe there are extenuating circumstances.  I don't know.

I do judge my 8 year old.  She would succeed in the classes he's taking as a junior. 

theyellowdart

May 10th, 2011 at 8:39 AM ^

 

 What difference does it make if that guy knows the circumstances or not?  You're the one who came in acting like you knew the situation, claiming that your eight year old would be doing better than he is without knowing a damn thing about the kid.

 

 

fatbastard

May 10th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^

Actually, no, I made a half-joke about the kid possibly not being able to compete for his high school football team his senior year in school due to grades.  We all have known kids/athletes in college and high school who border or fall beneath the intellectual capacity succeed in school.  I knew them in H.S. and at UM.  Yet, not in one instance I know of did a kid flat out fail to qualify to play his senior season in high school (I'm sure there are an instance or two).  I started from there, and knowing what type of classes he probably takes, pointed out that the situation must be pretty grim.  If you look on the comments, I'm hardly the only one.  If the poster knows of extenuating circumstances that might be enlightening to us all -- hence my question. 

Dreisbach1817

May 9th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^

Each has a completely different take on the grade situation.  Scout seems more optimistic.  Rivals is already looking to different options and almost dismissing Burbridge as an option.  Very odd disparity.

mmiicchhiiggaann

May 9th, 2011 at 4:17 PM ^

I think with a full year of school left you can never officially count out a kid. I am sure there are classes he can take to graduate that he can get his GPA up. ACT is always an issue. There are always a few kids we talk about like this and I don't remeber ever counting out a kid with a full year of school  (including potentially 2 summer sessions) completely out.

bluebyyou

May 9th, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^

Kind of brings back memories of Dorsey.  If a kid is that marginal, unless there are very extenuating circumstances, better to go with someone else or you might be throwing a scholarship out of the window.  He does have some time to get his grades up, but if you can't maintain the grades in HS, that doesn't bode well for Michigan.

rbgoblue

May 9th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^

Or Thomas Rawls, who did get his grades up and did qualify to play at UM in the fall.  I don't have a problem with UM pursuing Burbidge.  It's a position where there is some depth, and as far as  know, he is the only guy we are recruiting that is at risk of not qualifying.  If he makes it in, he is talented enough that it will be worth the risk.

Also, Scout.com's Allen Triu has been saying for some time that his grades may not be as bad as people have made them out to be, and that he may not have that far to go.

rbgoblue

May 9th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^

Grades and test scores work on a sliding scale.  If you improve your grades, you don't have to have as high of a test score to qualify.  If you have a higher test score, you dont need as good of grades.  Obviously there are minimums for both.  I believe Rawls improved both as well.

Purkinje

May 9th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^

I'm sure he's capable of getting his grades up. If he really wants to be here, he will. He knows it will require work, everyone must be telling him.

BlockM

May 9th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^

Almost everyone (that doesn't have a mental handicap) is capable of getting grades that would get them in if they've got the football program on their side. At this point it's up to him. If he puts in the time and effort, chooses Michigan, and gets accepted, that's fantastic and I would be thrilled. If he doesn't, I wish him well in whatever else he decides to do.

bronxblue

May 9th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

I wish him the best, but at the same time you have to wonder if UM is willing to take a chance on a kid who seems so close to the edge of not qualifiy.  We saw under RR guys like Dorsey and Witty try and fail to qualify, and I'm guessing Hoke and co. understand that there is qualifying per the NCAA and then being accepted by UM, and those are not always the same criteria.  I would love for him to come to UM, but at some point it might be too little, too late for him at UM.

TomVH

May 9th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^

I was just about to create a post about Aaron. I spoke with him today and he told me that his final two are Michigan and Michigan State. Those are the two schools he will be deciding between.

He also said that he'll be scheduling a visit back up to Michigan in the next two weeks. He's more familiar with MSU because he's been there more, so he's trying to make up for that by visiting Michigan again.

I've said this before, but Michigan has a real chance with him. He also mentioned that he is aware of what he needs to do to get his grades in order, and is working towards getting there.

Hannibal.

May 9th, 2011 at 4:46 PM ^

Does Michigan State have easier grade requirements for football players than Michigan?  I thought that everyone in the Big Ten outside of Northwestern was pretty much the same.  I figured that if this kid didn't make grades, he'd end up at Miami or Cincinnati instead.

rbgoblue

May 9th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^

Michigan, like most BCS football schools, will admit football players who qualify to meet the NCAA minimum.  If an athlete cannot get into Michigan, he can't get into MSU, or Miami, or any D-1 school for that matter.  Michigan may chose not to pursue athletes who might have trouble qualifying for fear that they might get nixed by the NCAA Clearinghouse, or may struggle academically at UM.

Case 1: Demar Dorsey - didn't get into Michigan, didn't get into Louisville, and is playing this fall at GRCC.

Case 2: Marcus Witherspoon - NCAA Clearinghouse did not permit him to play at UM.  Transferred to Rutgers (near home).  Never made it on the field there either.

Case 3: Thomas Rawls - questionable grades throughout the entire recruiting process kept a lot of BCS schools from offering.  Got his grades/test scores up at the end and will enroll this summer.

Case 4: Adrian Witty - this may be the counterpoint that has perpetuated the idea that UM has higher academic standards than others.  Was denied admission to UM (prior to NCAA clearinghouse evaluation).  Is now a starting cb for Cincinnati.

 

Wettin 3's

May 9th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^

Well I am glad, Michigan is waiting to offer him until he gets his grades up. Unlike the last regime, where we would just offer a player, and then the admissions say TOOOO BADDD (aka Demar Dorsey).