February 25th, 2009 at 7:42 AM ^
if a decent FL recruit became the number one recruit in Michigan. Especially to MSU fans who are bragging about "dominating the state of Michigan."
February 25th, 2009 at 7:57 AM ^
That it's not as good as FL HS football? That's a shocking development.
We're not talking about a "decent FL recruit." He may be the best player in central Florida.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:27 AM ^
I am pretty sure many analysts thought he was at least the best receiver in Florida and a few rumors were even being said that he could be the best player in Florida. This would say nothing about the state of football in Michigan. Everyone knows that it is not at the level of Ohio, Florida, Texas, etc.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:48 AM ^
no articles come out about him maybe going to LSU or Florida so you can get all over him like you did with Will Campbell and call him out for taking money, like you did tater?
Loved it when you showed what kind of real fan you were when you went out of your way to bash him non stop and say you didn't want players who took $$$$ anyway on just rumors, well done.......
February 25th, 2009 at 8:59 AM ^
Did he move to Michigan yet?
If RM did not move to Michigan, maybe we should wait until he does...there is a many a slip betwix the cup and the lip.
What would be the reason for this move besides being close to his college football choice? This alone does not seem like a good reason to pick up a whole family and move...especially in this economy and Ann Arbor is not the cheapest place to live.
It can’t be to improve his skills under a different coach at the H.S level...Huron has not had a Varsity football coach since the middle of December.
If he does or did come to Michigan and becomes #1 in Michigan...what else will it do except boost his own ranking? Why would his personal ranking matter if he was already dead set on playing for Michigan...(something just doesn't feel right) I’m not going to get my hopes up until he signs on the dotted line.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:11 AM ^
he was gonna move up (or back really) to Michigan after graduating early anyway. he's just moving up a semester early. he's actually from flint so this is really a homecoming of sorts.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:19 AM ^
FLINTTOWN USAAAAAAAAAA
February 25th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
Thank You
February 25th, 2009 at 10:08 AM ^
I was wondering if y'all think that Ricardo moving up here will actually hurt recruiting some. My thoughts are, Florida is obviously a much more talent-rich hotbed then Michigan. The longer Ricardo is down there, the more time he has to try and get some other Florida athletes that we want to consider Michigan. If he comes up here though, then there are far fewer people to influence and most of them (outside of those like Gardner) won't be as good.
Thoughts?
February 25th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
It can't hurt. I see what you are saying about not having him in Florida in ears of recruits but him being in AA at games for recruits that visit can be a good thing. I haven't followed recruiting that long but I'm not sure there has ever been such a high profile recruit so "all about" Michigan and take such a proactive approach to get to AA and get other great talent there. He seems to love Michigan as much as any of us bloggers and he is like a dream come true. Can't wait for him to be on campus. Go Blue!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
A lot of this recruit-to-recruit "recruiting" doesn't literally mean he's whispering in another kid's ear. It's through texting and Facebook messages and Myspace messages and whatnot. As long as Ricardo has those guys' numbers or is friends with those guys on Facebook, it's really not going to matter much. It's not like Ricardo would be traveling all over Florida to meet these guys.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:25 AM ^
It will help. Ricardo will still be in those guys ears via phone, text and all-star/combine weekends, he will be at every M home game when recruits visit. Having him more visible can only help.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:29 AM ^
Good points, especially about him coming to home games. His obvious love for Michigan seems infectious and hopefully everyone gets the disease.
I guess I still think of moving away as cutting most ties with those that you knew and start over. But, if we can still have him recruiting friends from down there and visitors up here, that would be nice.
Besides Ricardo wanting to come up here (which is obviously his decision and therefore fine) I'm still not sure exactly what the point of his relocation is. Anybody know or have some interesting ideas. It's not like he'd be allowed to practice with the team and, as others have pointed out, Huron probably won't help prepare him as much as his current school in Florida.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:40 AM ^
I can't figure it out either but assuming he is enrolling early next Jan., he is only going to be here 4 to 5 months early. I'm sure he wants to be a part of the team as soon as possible so proximity is an issue. Wanting to bond with teammates, assimilate to weather and the area. Huron seems to be the natural choice b/c of Jackson but prob. won't do much to develop his talents. So maybe 4-5 months in AA getting used to it and even more hyped (is it possible?) to work harder in the weight room, classroom, etc. Just some thoughts.
Does seem a bit odd though. I'll prob. check out a Huron game now. I'm sure that will be the place to be on fri. nights before home games. Go Blue!
February 25th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
Ricardo and his game I still have to believe Gholston will be the #1 player coming out of Michigan in 2010. I guess "the kid is a monster", etc,.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
maybe Ricardo will recruit Michigan and bring in Gholston and Gardner
February 25th, 2009 at 10:58 AM ^
MAYBE (most likely) Gholston will go to MSU.
and MAYBE (50%) Gardner will be blue and probably (95%) Ricardo will have very little to do with either decision.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:01 AM ^
If he could somehow help in bringing in those two (and maybe Austin White) that would definitely be worth him moving up here.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
Call it anectdotal evidece but I know a bunch of Stevenson kids and from what I've heard Austin White is a whining, self centered, punk bitch. More or less. Arrogant, troulemaker, and more headache than he's worth are a lot of what I've heard.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
Do any of those kids you know happen to be football players that start? Or basketball, or even baseball?
I remember in High School hearing from an uncle of mine that he heard our star center in hoops was an arrogant prick, but it couldn't have been further from the truth.
I think you have to take into consideration the "clique" that the kids making these claims runs with. People tend to get jealous of athletes in high school, and things like this can be fabricated.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^
I've heard this same sentiment from a number of people. Same thing with his older brothers. It doesn't seem like the same rumor running around either, from the various people reporting it. Is it enough to not offer? I don't know, but it seems pretty accurate to me.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^
This isn't fabricated stuff, though. This is stuff that is easily available through the likes of the Freep, the Livonia Observer, and so forth. Austin White has threatened to transfer to Inkster if the coach at Livonia Stevenson wasn't replaced (his father laughed at the idea that he'd leave Stevenson for Inkster), he's been suspended for fighting multiple times, his brother got into big trouble up at State for fighting, etc. The pattern here is pretty obvious.
He is an athletic freak, though. Great speed (the 4.75 40 time on Rivals is pretty misleading), has good hands (and at his size, he could potentially be a pretty good receiver). He's not an up-the-gut kinda guy, though. He'd fit nicely in RR's schemes, but I don't think he's a player we "need" (yeah, it's always nice to get more slot guys, and he potentially could be one of the better ones), but again, everything I've read that isn't merely hearsay suggests that he's potentially locker room cancer.
I've heard that State has cooled on him, as well, due to the same issues. I'd really hate to see him end up at MSU, anyway, since he'd likely end up a really, really nice complement to Edwin Baker (assuming Baker ends up being as good as his highlights suggest).
February 25th, 2009 at 2:32 PM ^
You must also remember - he is not seeing these other florida kids on a day to day basis with the exception of his teammates (cant recall if he is teammates with Lo Wood). He will see them on their official visits and and at all-star things. You just do not have that much time to connect with kids on opposing teams during the season. I don't know what you envision him doing that he will not be doing via facebook and texting and cell phones.
If his physical locale is really that important, we are far better served having him in AA.