Top 100 Recruit - Kahairi Fortt

Submitted by benpom on

I am a '04 alum who grew up in and few years ago moved back to Stamford, Conn. I was looking through next years top 100 recruits this past weekend (particularly the un-committed ones) and noticed a senior at my old high school is considering Michigan.

This studs name is Kahairi Fortt and I went to the local football game just to confirm, HE IS A BEAST.
Not a freshman starter, but with a little Brawis encouragement, he could be next Woodley or Foote.

I have several connections with his high school football program, including being pretty good friends with a few of the defensive coaches.

ESPN now says his top choices are UGA, MICH, TENN, PSU, and UNC with a USC thrown in for good measure. Ive heard that only the top two are real contenders.

HERES THE QUESTION:
CAN I DO ANYTHING (not in violation of NCAA rules) TO HELP HIM DECIDE TO GO TO MICHIGAN.
Can i even talk to him about his choices? Over for diner? Obviously no new car...
thoughts?

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^

should i just delete the post?
i dont want any more NCAA problems
but some of my best friends are his coaches...
I wanna keep this kid from making the wrong decision!
With Brawis and Robinson wez the new Linebacker U!
hes a BEAST

CPS

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^

If he is, he's been laying low for over a year now. Got to admire that kind of patience.

And to the OP, I would say no. Don't interact with him. Don't do anything. Aside from any possible NCAA problems, it starts to get a little stalkerrific.

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^

Mich class of '04
South Quad and Markley
Oxford
Vaughn
S.State

dont think they have a markley at MSU.

and i read the rules... im clearly not a booster.
Hes not going to PSU... ive talked to people who say that he likes UGA which is a HORRIBLE decision.

CincyBlue

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^

It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Then ask him if he wants to play for a top program, get a great education, be on TV every week, and have a perfect platform to go to the NFL.

If the answer if yes, then the answer is Michigan.

Tully Mars

September 28th, 2009 at 12:36 PM ^

Way off topic, hopefully you'll catch this, otherwise I'll probably blog stalk you...

Anyways, I was hoping you might know of a bar where M alum gather or at least is somewhat M friendly in Cincinnati. I moved down here this fall. I still have my season tickets and have gotten to see the games in person, but now that we've got an away game, I'm looking for a place to watch the game.

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^

I really hope we got recruiters looking and talking to this guy.
I know he hasnt visited school (should have been at ND game) and from what Ive heard no one from Mich has come to town to watch him play.

I know theres still time, but man I dont know whats worse for him not to go to Mich or for him to go to Penn State.

ThWard

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:54 PM ^

Benpom, if you're being sincere, well, um OK. Keep cheering the program on and all that.

But:
(1) Worse for him? Or worse for you? I'm willing to bet the kid could make worse mistakes then going to PSU where LBs end up in the NFL on a regular basis;
(2) You hope we have recruiters looking and talking to him? What? Rest easy. If he doesn't come to UM, it won't be because no one from UM ever thought to talk to him.

People - I love the passion. I like following recruiting to. But if a kid decides to go somewhere else it doesn't mean (1) UM didn't try to get him, or (2) the kid is making an enormous mistake. It also doesn't mean (bonus) (3) there's anything random fans could or should have done. That's just weird.

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^

Maybe its just me, but i want this guy at michigan. We could really use the strength at line backer. I know were not at the top of his list, which is why I wanted to say something.

You say stalker, but i was getting dressed out of the same locker room at the same high school 10years ago... my little brother... six years ago. I'd like to direct him to the good guys.

And dont get me wrong, my dad and his whole fam were PSU grads... so i got nothing against the program but (1)i think our team is going places (2) with addition of Robinson the D is gonna tighten the screws.

Also dont think this kid could make any wrong decisions - with the choices he faces. Just wanna see him in Maize and Blue

rlew

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:21 PM ^

Dude, what you suggest sounds crazy. All of your proposals sound nuts to everyone that's responded. Maybe you're not understanding what people are saying or we're not understanding what you are saying because we're communicating on a message board, but if I hadn't done the research (above), I'd have concluded with 100% certainty that you're a troll by now.

That's how odd this sounds.

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:41 PM ^

but i surely dont qualify as a booster.. in no way an agent or rep of the program.

Just dont want a home town kid to make a super huge mistake.
And talk about a new favorite player on the team... i think itd be nice to have him over this weekend for the Indy game and call rich rod from my house.

Holler MS...

IN THE NAME OF ALL THINGS NCAA AND HOLY I WILL NOT TALK TO HIM... AS I DONT WANT TO CREATE EVEN A HINT OF IMPROPRIETY

HermosaBlue

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^

http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/092408aad.html

A. NCAA Regulations

The University of Michigan is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g., University staff and faculty, coaches, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA rules and regulations. Under NCAA rules, all alumni, friends and employees of the University are categorized as "representatives of the University of Michigan's athletics interests."

ALL ALUMNI. Don't mess with the kid.

ThWard

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 PM ^

Ask yourself - if you were a HS recruit, would you want some stranger telling you where to go to college? Is there ANYTHING you can offer him by way of advice that the coaching staff can't?

Think about how annoying that would be for a recruit.

I mean, honestly.

benpom

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^

was a pretty decent wrestler out of high school and had great coaches who told me Mich was the school (the only good school) to go.

Granted my career ended after my first year at mich - no olympics or WWF for me... but, yeah, advice from coaches and local friends was what took me to Ann Arbor.

Common Sence also says were on up swing w/ great S&C coach and D coordinator, while Jo Pa is on his way out and PSU.

ThWard

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^

Benpom - find the distinction between advice from "local friends and great coaches" who told you to go to Michigan vs. some random guy Fortt's never met.

I couldn't parse your last sentence.

I'll trust our recruiters to do their best and the Fortts to figure out what fits best for the kid, and I'll hope no one in the lunatic fringe of the UM fan base tries the telemarketer approach, i.e., "if he only knew how great UM was... wait, maybe he needs to hear it from a stranger, unsolicited."

Yikes.

Dude - if you meet the kid normally, through your friends, sure, tell him "Go Blue." Anything beyond that would be annoying, I would think, to any HS kid in the country.

Foote Fetish

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 PM ^

"Dear Mr. Fortt,

Please go to U of M. That would be awesome. Also, please bring Seantrel Henderson with you. And Sharrif Floyd.

And please convince Taylor Mays to transfer from USC.

Love,

-Me

P.S. I love you."

West Texas Blue

September 23rd, 2009 at 5:57 PM ^

IIRC, Fortt said that he was going to make his college choice within the next few weeks. Considering we haven't gotten an official visit, Georgia got an official, and he's visited PSU several times unofficially, I'd pretty much say the ship has sailed with Mr. Fortt.

death_roh

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 PM ^

If someone can get Fortt's cell we can all periodically call him throughout the recruiting season. Then we can inform snyder UM is at the top of his list. this is perfect

MWW6T7

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^

I don't know about anyone else but I seriously got worried that this guy might have an unhealthy infatuation with this kid. I mean really? Invite him over for the game? That comes off kind of creepy inviting a total stranger over to your house that does not know you any better than we do and telling him you want to discuss his future.

CPS

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^

Says the law talkin' guy with a fine legal career who wrote the original post and followed up over the course of an hour with eight poorly punctuated, poorly capitalized and poorly written comments of his own, each slightly creepier than the last, in order to argue with the responses.

ThWard

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^

Lame shot re: "extra time." You've posted 9 times in this thread. Come on, man.

And you weren't joking (if you were... um, why?). But I am glad to see that you're slowly backing away from the precipice of crazy.

Leave the recruiting to UM's staff.

MWW6T7

September 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^

So just to get it straight , when you say "well all come over to your house and watch the game " did you mean every body here or you are actually going to bring a well to my house because if everybody is coming that is cool. You are all "well"come, I just gotta get some more salsa and beer but seriously , there is no need to bring a well. I have a water hose and some cups but thanks for the thought. That is what matters!

petered0518

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 PM ^

Why is accusing other posters of having too much time to post on the board one of the first defenses of a person feeling threatened?

This is like going to a strip club and calling everyone there perverts after you find out they don't like you.

The King of Belch

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^

Pure D Scout Guy.

First up, isn't the guy's name KHAIRI Fortt? Why yes, YES it is! Know how I know that? Because before I pos complete bullshit I immediately learn the guy's RIGHT FUCKING NAME. Of course, I don't have the balls to post complete bullshit.

I know UM grads. You sir, are no UM grad. Not even close. I'd peg you as a 13-year old kid with a grand sense of self delusion.

Keep posting, though, this shit makes my day all the time, every time.

GBOD79

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^

Man I thought I followed recruiting closely. You would do much more harm than good if this is even a real thought. You should follow the advice of our head coach and only worry about Michigan Men.

BleedMaizeNBlue

September 23rd, 2009 at 6:39 PM ^

So if we get our minds off of how creepy this post is, I say Michigan starts recruiting the guys with the coolest names ... how nice would it be to have a Obi Ezeh, Khairi Fortt, Aramide Olaniyan line-up. More importantly how much fun would it be to listen to the BTN announcers completely butcher all of their names. I mean, if the guy can't get Craig Roh right, imagine the possibilities.