Prefer Dorsey because of upside
There has been some debate over whether we needed Parker or Dorsey more at Michigan. Obviously, we could have used them both. However, today we signed a total of EIGHT PLAYERS in the secondary!! With RR saying Dorsey will play as a corner, this gives four each at corner and safety.
At Corner: Cullen Christian, Courtney Avery, Demar Dorsey, and Terrence Talbott.
At Safety: Josh Furman, Marvin Robinson, Carvin Johnson, and Ray Vinopal.
These were by far the most critical areas of need in the depth chart. Prior to today, we only had 4 at safety (Woolfolk, Williams, Emilien, and Gordon,) and worse, only 2 at corner (Turner and Floyd.) Fortunately, two of the signees are also early enrollees (Avery at Corner, Robinson at Safety.)
The argument for Parker was that he was more ready for the field, and Dorsey was more raw. However, Dorsey was seen as one of those freaks of nature, with unreal speed (4.3 at the UnderArmour Game, named the fastest on the field.)
I, for one, am glad we got Dorsey, with his huge, huge upside. You can't coach the speed he has. Christian, Avery, and Talbott, the other 3 CB recruits, while all good, are all around 4.5, a step slower than Dorsey. Having at least one recruit in the secondary who is a burner is great.
More, recruiting the best athletes possible is playing for the longterm, not the shortterm. I also like that we took someone wanted by USC, UF, and FSU. Lastly, I wonder if Denard and Demar have more cousins playing down in Florida . . . if so, let's prime the pump for the pipeline!
RR is doing a great job of recruiting, and anyone who crabs about this class needs to go in the corner and suck their thumb.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
Yeah! I never wanted Parker anyway!
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
RR mentioned in his presser that Furman would play a safety-linebacker hybrid position, AKA, Stevie Brown's former spot.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that Robinson didn't enroll early. I'll have to search to confirm though.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 PM ^
I thought Furman was a LB?
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
Thats what i thought too. This is the first time i've heard him mentioned as a safety but he seems to have enough athleticism and speed to be one.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
Disregard
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
Triple post
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
Schmarker...
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^
I think Furman is moving to LB, and Robinson has been mentioned as a LB candidate. So we're really only bringing in Vinopal and Johnson at safety.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 PM ^
is starting out at FS.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:38 PM ^
I prefer Dorsey cause he is Blue. How could he turn down Cuz Shoelace anyway.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
...Coach Rodriguez gave when he discussed the recruitment of Dorsey. "If Calvin Magee was the lead recruiter, Denard was the second lead recruiter on him. Denard looks like he's going to have a future in recruiting, for sure!"
What went unsaid but was implied was: Here's a young man who loves this school, loves this team, loves this staff, and feels no shame putting his pride and reputation on the line trying to do what it takes to get the nation's best players to help put the nation's best program back on top.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
That was my biggest take away from this, too. It's good to see how enthusiastic Denard is about the team and the school. Who knows how it will turn out for him in the QB competition (especially with Gardner coming in) but it seems like he's pretty happy at this point.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:38 PM ^
I agree that Parker is the more-finished product, but I see Dorsey as more of an RR-type player. RR loves him some speed, and that is what he got with Dorsey. As for that upside, I see a lot of Deion Sanders in Dorsey. That makes it even more amazing to me that RR plucked him from FSU.
Putting him at CB is a great move, too. It will take advantage of his speed while not penalizing him as much for his "rawness" as playing him at safety would.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
The right players usually end up with the right teams anyway. I am guessing that Dorsey is a better fit than Parker and that's why both players chose as they did. It's all good.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
Not to nit pick your post but Josh Furman is not going to play safety. He said on Sam Webb's radio show today that he will play Stevie Brown's position. And for the record, he refered to it as the "spinner". Also, Courtney Avery and Marvin Robinson have not enrolled early. Jerald Robinson has, but not Marvin.
That being said I agree that Dorsey has more upside and am actually happier we got him over Parker simply for the fact that he can play either safety or corner and God knows we need help at both!
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Jalen Rose was happy:
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
but the more high profile players from Florida we get, the more will come....and that's a good thing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
i would have loved to get Parker or both, but you can't coach speed.
"No Fly Zone!"
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
Marvin Robinson didn't enroll early.
Josh Furman is a SAM.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
Ill be honest..
Today started out shitty and ended awesome.. if somewhat drawn out (still havent seen the selection video for dorsey) but damnit im one happily maized individual.
All maudlin thoughts aside, I believe Dorsey might be absolutely ridiculous. My coach used to always tell me
"you cant coach speed"
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
It might be a blessing in disguise that his decision was so drawn out. It made him news and people all over the country were paying attention to see who he would choose. It's great to win a recruiting battle on such a big stage against schools like Florida, Florida State, USC, and Tennessee.
Go Blue!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
there was a spotlight, all of us wondering where he'd go to, apparently leaning towards Michigan, then to FSU, then word got out he was telling players and coaches at 'SC he was going there, then word got out he commited to FSU, then to Michigan, then finally, officially, Michigan...yeah, it did feel good to win against those guys...it felt like we got some juice...
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
I prefer him because he signed with UM.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:51 AM ^
Piss on Parker and Knight, they didn't have dreads!