Kozan Awaketh: Down to 2 Schools

Submitted by ypsituckyboy on

Wolverine247 @247Wolverine

Alex Kozan down to two: 247Sports has learned that 2012 offensive lineman Alex Kozan has narrowed his search to ... bit.ly/A7UGI1

This is paywalled, but you can deduce from the non-blocked member comments that UM is one of the final two. Judging from comments on the Hawkeyes board, Auburn, and not Iowa, is the other remaining school at which Kozan may complete his visionquest play football.

Mr Mxyzptlk

February 27th, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^

By all accounts, he is a very talented lineman and could potentially play guard or center.  Rivals and Espn rate him at 4-star while 247 and Scout give him 3 stars.  We are think at O-line and have 4 guys graduating.  Kozan would be a big help at a position of need.

Mdjohnny5

February 27th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^

Looks like Auburn could easily end up with 7 OL in their 2012 class.  So much for the theory Diamond didn't like competition.  However, I do have to question the judgment of anyone entering a class with 6 guys already committed compared to one with 4 (especially taking into account our depth chart in 2013.... ).

 

 

bdsisme

February 27th, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^

I no longer want him for three reasons:

1) If he doesn't already know that he wants to play for Michigan after all this time, his heart may not be all in it.

2) Supposedly one of the major selling points of Auburn was the fact that he'd automatically be accepted into their b-school, whereas he'd have to apply to Ross as a sophomore.  If he is considering the easy way out (Auburn's b-school) over the better b-school simply because he doesn't have to work to get into it, that's not a good sign.

3) We could pick up a better recruit in 2013 with that extra spot.

ThWard

February 27th, 2012 at 6:01 PM ^

Re: #1 -- so because of the arbitrary date NLOI is set for, he's too late in deciding he wants to go blue?  If the NCAA moves NLOI day up to, say January 1, you'll consider February commits (who would normally be signing day commits) too late for purposes of displaying love to UM as well?

Re: #2 -- maybe, but the fact is, it's damn hard to juggle a football player's schedule and Ross.  Possible, but damn hard.  Kid might want to major in business, but also be realistic about his work demands.

Re: #3 -- sort of agree, but bird in hand and all that.  Long day until '13 NLOI day.

Internet_IsForCats

February 27th, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^

about our team and Kozan as well. I see a few issues here (which granted have been discussed ad nauseum in different areas of this board).



1) Has there been a failure to communicate from Kozan? Yes he hasn't been talking to the media, but has he talked to Coach Hoke since his failure to appear his in commitment day?



2) Will Coach Hoke  prefer to pass up on Kozan for some better talent in these later spots? Personally I say no, because our needs are immediate, but I'm just some college kid.



3) Will his apparent indecisiveness effect his standing with our staff?



Interested to see how this plays out; could be a big indicator about how Hoke will handle situations in '13 as well, like the purposed theoretical from Tremendous about Tunsil being able to visit solely because he's such a talent.



This is all under the assumption that he lands with Michigan, because is he picks the other school (presumably Auburn), then whatever good luck to him.



EDIT: Well damn, looks like he's to Auburn. Nevermind then.

 

manchild56

February 27th, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^

he just is one of those few recruits who actually looks at a depth chart? I mean if he is a good center I would still like him as part of our 2012 haul. Taking his time, isn't the same as some players like T.P. who just wanted all the lime light for himself. This kid was quite and maybe just was really torn between playing time and the school he really wanted to go to? I can't blame him it is his future he is playing with.

UMaD

February 27th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^

True freshman OL are rarely ready to play, even highly ranked ones, and particularly at center.  As of now, Michigan has zero proven interior linemen projecting to return in 2013.  In a best-case scenario, Bryant and Miller step up, but there's still no other depth other than the '12 class and '13 class.  3 of the 4 guys in the '12 class project to tackle (though Kalis or Schofield could probably move). Still...you want depth -- THIS REMAINS A NEED.

I'm as excited as anyone about the '13 class, but Michigan is going to need to get their talented recruits up to speed FAST to be comfortable in 2013.  The more options they have the better. Also, it's a long way to signing day.

Kozan would have helped.  But given how recruiting is going, the scholarship won't go to waste.

gopoohgo

February 27th, 2012 at 6:04 PM ^

Good luck to him in Auburn.

Kudos to Michigan for not bending the rules for the undergraduate B school.  If I were a grad (LS&A here) I would cheer for not diluting the degree.

MaizeNBlueTexan

February 27th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^

Sorry but I really would prefer if Kozan didn't come to UM.  You get a whole year (of media attention) to decide where you want to go and he probably knew at least 2 years in advance that he was D-1 caliber player.  You should be able to finalize that decision by national signing day.  To put it in perspective we already have HALF of our 2013 class FILLED! Yes, I realize that is pretty insane and great to have but it is a fact for us right now.  I was in high school and yes I know you want to find a right college fit, but this has been a joke and I'd much rather have players come to UM that want to be here and have set aside proper time to make that decision in a timely fashion.  IF Kozan gets into Michigan and IF he doesn't getting a starting spot soon or after a year I can really see him just bouncing....thats my long opinion and I don't care if you don't like it....but I love you guys anyways because you're michigan fans.

aaamichfan

February 27th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^

I guess I never understood it in the first place, but I'm not sure why people are still talking about this guy. A month after signing day, we've already wrapped up a 5 man OL class for 2013 where every player is ranked higher than Kozan. I could be wrong, but this has the feel of a situation where the recruiting sites are feeding subscribers a plate full of BS.

UMaD

February 27th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^

a) OL usually red-shirt as freshman for a reason and

b) there are zero interior OL returning in 2013 who have a lick of experience at this point.

The best-case-scenario is Bryant-Miller-Kalis, but even that is a very inexperienced group and the depth is questionable.

BlueBrad

February 27th, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^

I'm with everybody that isn't disappointed. I love the fact that all the recent recruits have been excited and jumped on board with enthusiasm. I can't blame Kozan for going elsewhere and he probably would've helped, but I'm glad we have an extra spot for the 2013 class.

Mr. Rager

February 27th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^

Normally I wouldn't do this, but...

Fuck him.  Vision quest my ass.  He was either:

1)  Fucked over by his parents who wanted him to go to a different school (Michigan?) than he did (Iowa)

2)  Fucked over by pigeon holing himself into Iowa, only to have their coaching staff blow up.  He then liked Auburn the most, but they already had like 99 OL commits by the time he would sign

either way, the kid was diseased.  we didn't need anyone around ann arbor that didn't actually want to be there (his parents sure did, though).  fuck him.

Tater

February 28th, 2012 at 1:08 AM ^

Kozan is either too flaky or his parents are.  Either way, Brady Hoke has done well enough that Kozan signing elsewhere really won't affect Michigan.  Good luck at Auburn, and all that, but Kozan really doesn't sound like he would have fit in with the kind of solid citizens that Hoke has recruited so far.