go16blue

November 18th, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^

Booo... Why would he even go to Oregon as a TE, they hardly feature them in the way we probably will. Unless he wants to play DE, in which case I dont see how Michigan wouldnt be the perfect situation... I'll hold off judgement until we really know whats going on, though.

DGDestroys

November 18th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^

I understand where you're coming from with that, but take a look at the statline of the starting TEs for us and Oregon right now...

David Paulsen- 17 catches/233 yards/4 TDs

Kevin Koger- 17 catches/195 yards/ 3 TDs

I know, the TE will grow and grow in importance in the future, but for now, I think it's understandable if a HS kid doesn't see the big difference lol

JD_UofM_90

November 18th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^

I was really excited to see him play TE for us.  We have a bunch of highly rated guys still on the board, that we are really going after.  I think there is a good chance that we will have to turn away some dudes, because we run out of available spots in this recruiting class.  If he really wants to play for Michigan, he is really taking a big chance going to visit Duckville.

go16blue

November 18th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^

With 5 or 6 4/5 stars lined up for 4 spots, a decommit would hardly be devistating. That having been said, decommits are never good, who is it? Visits to other schools pretty much mean decommits with this staff, as I understand it. The prospect can still favor Michigan, but we will reopen the spot for recruitment.

DGDestroys

November 18th, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^

If you'll remember, Oregon offerred Brown shortly after he committed to Michigan, as a TE. There may have been some sort of disconnect between Brown and the coaching staff, or perhaps the coaching staff wasn't as enthusiastic about him as a TE as he was. I'm not jumping to conclusions yet, but the coaches did tell TRich that if he took visits, they wouldn't consider him committed. 

neoavatara

November 18th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^

Hoke will approach it the same way he did with TRich...tell him if he visits, he is not considered committed, and there may not be a spot when he gets back.

I actually have mixed feelings on that rule, but it is Hoke's rule, and Hoke is not one to mess around. 

neoavatara

November 18th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^

If you have early signing, like in bball, then you are really committed.

In football, whether looking or taking visits or not...it is still a verbal.  Heck, think of the players we have lost and gained without having this rule.  This rule doesn't really stop anything.  It does make it clear what Hoke thinks about it though.  Even with this rule...do you really think no one will defect at the last minute?

bluenyc

November 19th, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^

that doesnt completely surprise me.  am i disappointed in his visit, yes.  do i consider him committed.  no.  i understand the kid, him being 17 and so.  as i said before it would interesting to see what hoke does.  if he lets one person go on a visit what about the others, and if pharoah went without saying anything, oh well. 

DGDestroys

November 18th, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^

I can understand where you're coming from, but I don't think thats the point. There could be a variety of reasons why a kid defects at the last second, but most of the time, it's because their  feelings will change, but likely had been 100 percent committed up to that point.

With a kid who's 'committed but visiting', it's more like a kid isn't sure where he wants to go, but wants to use the coach's eagerness to lock up a top prospect to form a comfortable safety net. It's been my opinion that nothing good can really come of 'visiting for shits and giggles' with your buddies, anyway. If you don't take it seriously, then the other coaching staff will have wasted time they could have spent on prospects they're more likely to land, and money they could have spent on other recruits. If they do, then the commitment wavering begins.

IMO, these kids need a thorough lesson on 'commitment'. If you're not sure where you want to go,  don't commit anywhere. This is obviously a different case when someone thinks they know where they want to go but changes their mind, but I think you get my point

WolvinLA2

November 18th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^

Of course it's still a verbal, just like Hoke saying "I won't give your spot away to another kid" is just a verbal. My point is, if you aren't upholding your end of the verbal bargain, Hoke shouldn't either.

A verbal is not binding, so a player can reopen his recruitment at any time. As soon as he does that, though, his spot can be filled. You can't make reservations at two restaurants in this game.

DGDestroys

November 18th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^

It depends. If a coach tells a kid that they're all done with his position and then keeps talking to other prospects at the same position, then a committed player has the right to be upset. But that rarely happens, and most players commit with the understanding that they'll have competition from the same class...