Dillon Baxter Update
Just talked to Dillon Baxter, USC RB commit, and he said he's, "Really mad," about the Pete Carroll news.
Michigan was high on his list, and they almost got him to change his commitment at one point. If Pete Carroll does leave, there could be movement.
Just thought I would keep you updated.
January 8th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
IIRC, When Baxter visited didn't he do so with two friends (Shaw and Jefferson) that ended up at OU together? I know OU wasn't on his list, but I guarantee you Stoops is calling him now.
This will be an interesting few weeks.
January 8th, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
I don't know how he could commit to someone like Stoops though, I hear he's still considering the job at ND. Sounds like a shaky future to me...
January 8th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
Stoops is staying; ND hired George O'Leary.
January 8th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
He's actually in the running for the LB coach spot here at Michigan.
January 8th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
But OU already has two very high profile rb recruits in this class, Finch and Clay.
January 8th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
they already have a HUGE class, with 28 commits already. Not that I know anything about their available space, but it seems like it would be a tight squeeze. Plus, the new Happy Michigan Running Back Loving God won't let that happen.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
edited...comments already covered by other poster.
January 8th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
Our helmets have wings! Come to Michigan!
January 8th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
...John Morton, Carroll's O Coordinator ... the same O Coordinator ESPN reports Carroll is courting for his staff in Seattle.
Just sayin'
January 13th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
Where did you hear Morton was leaving? I'm not doubting you, I've just heard that Jeremy Bates, USC's O-Coordinator and QB coach, was going to become Seattle's O-Coordinator.
January 8th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
Florida is also expected to take a shot at Baxter.
If there's one advantage RR has over UF in this, it's the selling point that his offense is much friendlier to RBs than Florida's.
January 8th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
Florida fans are already confident about him, FWIW, which likely isn't much from that bunch
January 8th, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^
yeah but even florida's coach is leaving, er not leaving or oh wait leaving kinda?
January 10th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
I would think that would be a tough hurdle for Urban in light of Baxter's frustration with Pete
January 10th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
I would think that would be a tough hurdle for Urban in light of Baxter's frustration with Pete
January 8th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Hallelujah!
January 8th, 2010 at 10:15 PM ^
The actual chance he has of coming here. And if he does, justice hayes will probably be left out next year since we already have hart plus at least 5 or 6 RB's.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
It's the sound of M accumulating depth. Again.
January 10th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
1+ for the Sig., and the comment
January 8th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
My friend is close family friends with the Carroll's and she said it is a done deal. Her mom talked to Mrs Carroll today. Will be interesting to see how this all turns out.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
and Pete Carroll never got wet. While USC's remaining coaches try to batten down the hatches and do damage control(hello- NCAA&"bye-bye Pete"), I'd expect many of these top recruits to jump ship.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^
Dude, this isn't a Memphis basketball forum, I don't know why your bringing up Calipari's story... Oh wait, it's the exact same situation at USC.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:42 PM ^
Wherever Baxter goes, he's going to make people look silly. That kid is amazing.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Yeah, he's really good. Before this, he was one of the less talked about five stars, which is odd.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^
Baxter is a man amongst boys. He's just clowning on kids, half the time he's not running full speed and still running past a lot people. He's honestly just doing whatever he wants. That's the first time I have seen his highlights, if we can somehow, by the grace of UM recruiting god land this kid, it would be huge. I don't think there is any doubt he would come in and probably be the starter at RB. This boy has speed to burn. Does anybody know what divison level he plays in?
If he is doing that in a high D level that's very impressive. It's impressive either way but damn.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^
I'm not sure what class it is, but it's a fairly big school, IIRC. But San Diego isn't known for its football.
In related news, Mission Bay is the same high school that Arian Foster (who went to Tennessee) attended.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^
Most we've heard before, but some late-night west coast board surfing finds: (I know, rumors, but you know, what else am I doing up now?)
Prater said to be gone - UTenn or UF;
Baxter also gone - us or UF;
**Expert help!! - both are supposed to start class as EE's Monday; They can't start if they're really leaving, right?
McKnight gone early (now apparent that his decision came AFTER Carroll was interviewed last week);
WR Damian Williams just declared
Lastly, much concern over the ArmyAA game tomorrow to see how many "expected verbals" end up being quiet...
January 9th, 2010 at 1:32 AM ^
If Baxter were to make a quick choice and choose us, is there any chance that he could EE? Not like it's going to happen, but rather this is just more of a question about when the last possible date to EE is.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:38 AM ^
If he's eligible to be an EE, I don't see why he couldn't still do it somewhere else, as long as he makes a decision soon. I'd think he's got up to the point where the Registrar (God, haven't said that word in 20 years!) has set the registration cut-off (i.e. drop/add deadline?) for the semester.
I can't imagine the NCAA cares, it'd be impossible to set a uniform date with the schools all having different timetables.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:39 AM ^
Thanks for the explanation. I should have been more clear in my question; I was asking what the deadline for Michigan is, not whether the NCAA has a deadline.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:48 AM ^
However, let's say he missed the date. He'd be done HS regardless, no? What would keep him from getting an apartment near the campus of his choice and doing some "voluntary workouts"?
Could he even be around the team?
January 9th, 2010 at 1:52 AM ^
He would no longer be an amateur (EDIT: he would still be an amateur, but not a prep amateur). He could do what he wants. Hell, Ricardo Miller and Jeremy Jackson have worked out with the team from time to time. They just can't receive any benefits from the college while in high school, and they can't participate in practices.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:43 AM ^
I could be mistaken, but I believe Friday was the last day for someone to enroll in winter classes at Michigan. Pretty certain one of the Rivals guys mentioned it in the run-up to the semester.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Actually, the drop/add deadline for Winter 2010 is January 26. However, it is very rare for an undergraduate student to get admitted after the first day of the term.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
this would be a good opportunity for an exception though.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^
I guess we can knock UTenn off of Prater's list now. Any chance he comes to Michigan? He is from Chicago so "the cold" shouldn't be a deterrent like it is for some people.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:38 AM ^
Just took a quick look at USC's commitment list and this decision has the potential to be a disaster of Titanic proportions for USC. As for this moment, not counting the potential Baxter and Prater defections, USC only has 14 verbals. They are always a late closing team, but man, this has the potential to be really bad for them.
Also, a very good Baxter article: http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1037685
75 TDs this year. Holy cow!
January 9th, 2010 at 1:58 AM ^
Seantrel Henderson
Ronald Powell
Marquis Flowers
none of whom favor them, but they're in (were in) the mix for.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
Yeah, no kidding. I know that they always have like no one committed until the very end, but seriously, this could get really ugly for them. Like a class of less than 10 bad for them. Even if things were to shake out where they land a good coach, most of their top recruits will have been spooked away and it's not like they could really even go out and pull a bunch of lesser recruits that they haven't been recruiting. From this seat it looks like it could be a real mess.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:40 AM ^
Baxter wins player of the year per Rivals. http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1037685
EDIT: shit, to late. See above.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:06 AM ^
I know there was speculation that we almost got him when he took his official earlier in the recruiting process, I'm just curious what Tom and Magnus and the other people more familiar with the situation feel the chances are we actually get the kid, if he decommits from USC, or is this all just wishful thinking?
January 9th, 2010 at 2:16 AM ^
There's absolutely a chance. Some USC insiders who know their recruiting are saying that Baxter is taking this Carroll news harder than any of their commitments, he feels lied to, and if Carroll is indeed gone, so is he. Same insiders are saying Michigan and Florida are two schools expected to receive a long look.
Also, some contact has already been made on Michigan's behalf. If Baxter officially opens things up, UM is going to be right there.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:16 AM ^
http://www.usc.edu/academics/classes/term_20101/calendar.html
Classes begin on Monday, but it looks like he could possibly register at USC all the way through next Friday.
I don't have any inside info. It's tough to change your mind this late if you're going to be an early enrollee. Honestly, I think there's a good chance that he's locked into his USC commitment. It would be a huge blow and a huge undertaking to switch schools on January 9 or later when you're just graduating from high school and entering college.
My guess would be that he sticks with USC.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:18 AM ^
That's probably why he's so angry about this - Carroll leaving means his early enrollee plans are botched, because he's not going to USC if Carroll is gone, and it's too late to enroll early elsewhere.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:23 AM ^
Yeah...but classes start on Monday. I would think that he's already registered. So if he's registered, would attending a different school at this point force him to take a transfer redshirt (a la Steven Threet at Georgia Tech)?
January 9th, 2010 at 3:34 AM ^
I think the NCAA says yes:
-Have you ever been enrolled full time at a two- or four-year school in a regular academic term? (Summer does not count.) -Have you ever reported for practice with the regular squad? -Have you ever practiced or played while you were enrolled part time? If you answered Yes to any of these questions, you are a transfer. That means you now need to learn the transfer rules if you still want to play your sport at your new NCAA school.Not good.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:35 AM ^
Thanks.
Hopefully Baxter hasn't enrolled yet.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:48 AM ^
I would assume that he has until January 29th. That's the last day to withdrawal from classes at USC without receiving an W on your transcript and full refund.
Maybe?
January 9th, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that if classes have not started his enrollment can be canceled as if it never occurred.
I am open to correction on this if wrong but I also assume that even if he enrolled, and was a transfer student per the NCAA, he could still transfer without penalty if he had not reported for any football related activities.
Imagine if Carroll had done this after classes started and there was no way out for this kid - that would have looked even worse.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:56 PM ^
The critical word here is "enrolled." In college speak, it can mean different things. It might mean you signed up for some classes, but haven't attended yet. It might also mean you have actually attended. I have no idea what it means in this sentence from the NCAA. It might take an interpretation from NCAA compliance. I suspect they have precedence for a student signing up for classes but not attending.