Exit: David Dawson
According to TomVH($)—and confirmed by Sam Webb and Josh Helmholdt($)—Michigan and 2013 Cass Tech OL David Dawson have parted ways. Dawson had wavered in his commitment back in July, when he mentioned at The Opening that he wanted to camp at Florida, and it appears that there's still serious interest in visiting Gainesville and potentially a couple other SEC schools. Given the visit policy of Brady Hoke's staff, if Dawson wanted to follow through on a visit he would no longer be considered a commit; my guess is that's what caused the mutual break.
While the Wolverines still have four blue-chip offensive line commits in Kyle Bosch, Chris Fox, Patrick Kugler, and Logan Tuley-Tillman, it's likely that they'll look to add one more to replace Dawson. While all of the current offerees on offensive line are committed to other schools, it's possible the staff looks to reconnect with IL OL Ethan Pocic, a current LSU commit who had very high interest before the available spots filled up, and IL OL Colin McGovern, a Notre Dame commit. If the staff decides to go after an unoffered prospect, the likely top target is Dawson's high school teammate, MSU commit Dennis Finley, who impressed at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp this summer.
UPDATE: 247's Steve Wiltfong reports that Dawson will take an official visit to Florida this weekend ($).
Also, Dawson sent out this tweet just a few minutes ago. I expect Michigan fans to show the same level of class:
Would like to wish the university of Michigan the best of luck ..nothing against anybody associated with that program
— David Dawson (@D3_FutureLegend) October 14, 2012
October 14th, 2012 at 1:45 PM ^
Well shucks. Wish him the best.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^
So is this just him wanting to visit other schools, or is he no longer considering Mich at all?
October 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
Judging by how the staff has handled this kind of situation in the past, I'd be very surprised if Dawson was part of this class.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
As it should be. I want Michigan Men that are true blue
October 14th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
What does that even mean really?
October 14th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
Not sure if you can answer this (perhaps naive on my part), but is it Dawson saying "thanks but no thanks" or the coaches effectively saying "no harm, no foul . . . but we can no longer deal with/wait on your vacillation and/or decision timeline"?
If that makes any sense . . .
October 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
I presume this means his offer is no longer on the table, and that Dawson agreed to be released from the non-binding verbal he had with UM. I'm guessing he could come back if both sides came back around, but this feels like a full break.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^
Pharoah went behind the coaches back. Assuming Dawson called the coaches and "de-commiting" before scheduling his official, is it fair to assume his scholarship OFFER has been revoked?
Personally I think he's probably just not a commit and may have a spot available if we don't fill it asap.
Moral: Act like LaQuon. Keep your options open until you are 100% sure.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
Not that several hours ago anybody would have wanted to lose Dawson, but Michigan probably was not going to take 5 OL every class going forward. If Michigan can get somebody at or above Dawson's level in 2014 (and every indication is that Hoke can recruit highly ranked OL), the team probably will not notice the difference over the long term.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
Yes, I don't think guard is a major issue for M. I think the two walkons who played guard yesterday can at a minimum be servicable BIG OL. I'm referring to Joey Burzynski: RS Soph and Graham Glasgow: RS Fresh. Those two combined with the 8 OL recruits in the last two classes, plus Chris Bryant and Jack Miller, make this departure relatively minor even if Hoke doesn't pick up another OL to replace Dawson.
October 14th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
Given our OLdepth chart next year, I've been watching closely when Burzynski comes in whenever an OL goes down. To me, he's looked at least as good as the guys he's replacing. May not be a beast that will pancake his man, but he executes his responsibility on each play I've seen. I though the same of Miller in his snaps yesterday.
If Lewan comes back, our OL next year should be about as good as this years.
October 14th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
This is a major bummer. He was my favorite of the O-line commits this year. Seemed to possess good consistency and a well focused mean streak, which has obviously garnered him a lot of attention elsewhere. Michigan may well be okay without him, but they would be better with him.
Ah well, best of luck to you David Dawson.
October 14th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
Correction: Michigan may well have been better with him, but they WILL be ok without him.
October 15th, 2012 at 11:42 PM ^
" Michigan may well be okay without him, but they would be better with him."
Perfectly said. Loved the mean streak and motor.
October 14th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
We need interior linemen.
Are we devistated? No. Does this mean we're done as we know it? No.
This is Michigan - we'll be fine. But this DOES hurt this class, we need interior guys on the OLine and Dawson was an EXCELLENT OG/C prospect.
Hopefully we can find someone equally as good (or better) to replace him on the interior.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
Wish him the best of luck but would have been truly amazing to get him in with our other elite OL commits, is one of our current commits projected as a center? We needs that
October 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
Kugler can play center—he was expected to even when Dawson was in the class.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:00 PM ^
Sometimes kids just need to get out, go somewhere different. I grew up in Michigan then went to college in southern California, even though I love it in MI.
Best of luck to him where ever he ends up at. Hopefully we can fill the spot with the same caliber of player.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
Honestly, why is UF even recruiting David? SEC slappies say we are all slow, unathletic football players up here.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:32 PM ^
A Texas offer was your gold ticket, they often do not send very many out so when you finally get that offer you take it and hold onto it plus they are bred to bleed orange down there and while the maize and blue does wonders with instate kids, its just not comparable to what Texas does.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
I hate to see him go but it's probably best for all parties. He's been a bit of a drama queen the entire time we've been courting him and it's better that we cut our losses now rather than later. I wish Dawson the best wherever he goes.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 4:38 PM ^
Suxors.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^
Personally, I would like to see them go after a committed prospect before they offer Finely. Not only because Pocic, McGovern, Montelus are higher ranked, but because Finley's sister is at State and I actually think he would be less likely to make the switch. In general though, I'm not very optimistic that they'll be able to swing anyone else and I'm fine with 4 linemen.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
If I remember correctly Dawson didn't get on with our commits at The Opening and was hanging out with Florida guys instead. With that, his penchant for tweeting BREAKING NEWS MAYBE and doing lots of interviews I'd long suspected he enjoyed the spectacle more than other Michigan commits. Maybe despite his ability he wasn't the best fit for this class.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
This is why you never want to have a "favorite commit". That sucks. Big loss. Love the ratioanlization that we go through - big loss.
Hope his parents like the flights down to FL rather than the 45 minutre drive to his games.
One a commit stats chirping about other visits it usually ends up this way - just a matter of how fast. Hope we get someone good to replace him.
October 14th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Wow, too bad for him.He is really going to miss out on some damn good football teams in the future. I'm sure as time goes on, we'll know the true meaning why he left.
October 14th, 2012 at 9:48 PM ^
...miss out on being on good football teams if his new list is any indication.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^
Any time someone poaches someone from Michigan's Cass Tech pipeline its hurts a little more than normal.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
Guy looked very solid at the camps this summer. This loss hurts. Would have been a solid OL contributor.
October 14th, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
Best is highly debatable. All five of the commitments they've had are pretty similar.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^
I'm not going to pretend like this doesn't piss me off...
I absolutely love Hoke's no-vist policy because that serves as an insurance when kids decide their word means nothing.
As a recruit, you're in a win/win situation when you 'commit' (or whatever you want to call it)...You can secure a spot in a class while exploring every other option..
I don't mind if kids want to be careful in making their decisions, because I would do the same... BUT DO NOT COMMIT UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO THERE
It's that simple, honestly.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^
I'm kinda relieved we parted ways. His commitment to Michigan has always been less than solid based on the recruiting dramas that he has caused in the past. At least this happened early enough that the staff has ample time to look at other recruits. Best of luck to him.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^
Some of the comments here are why I don't closely follow recruiting. You run into grown-ass men who bitch and moan about the choices of those who aren't even legal adults yet and likely have zero collegiate allegiance. The obsession with 16- and 17-year-old kids turns me off. Hats off to people like Ace and TomVH for dealing with this.
This is evidently what Dawson wants. Leave it at that.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:26 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^
Don't forget about the hookers.
/s. Sort of.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^
This sucks, but good luck to David!
October 14th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^
Well, hell.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
Very classy tweet by Dawson. Very disappointed by his decision, especially given the support his fellow commits gave him during a difficult time in his life, but I hope he makes the right decision for him.
In the meantime, it is being reported that Michigan has already been in touch with Pocic. If they can get him on campus he may be a likely candidate to flip.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
October 14th, 2012 at 3:03 PM ^
You should probably look at the 2012 and 2013 classes in combination when thinking about future positions. It sounds like Kalis, Bosch, and Kugler are bound for the interior. Magnuson, Braden, and LTT are pretty sure to play tackle. From what I've heard, the other guys--Bars and Fox--could go either way.
We obviously don't know anything about these kids' ability to contribute at this point, but I think we have more sure things on the interior. Adding Pocic to fill a tackle spot would be a coup right now.
October 14th, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
I'd say there's a better chance at flipping Olinemen than usual because of the way their recruitment went. It was pretty clear we wanted Pocic but just ran out of room at the position over the course of about a week. No bridges burned there. It doesn't help that ND is pushing for the top 5 though.
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