Who was the "Worst Decommitment Ever"?

Submitted by Maize.Blue Wagner on

I realize this is a morose topic a few weeks out from signing day; however, as I prepare for This Month in MGoBlog History for January 2007, I came across the news of Indiana Safey Jerimy Finch decommiting. He was a 4 star and 37th nationally to Rivals and was set to join a young, untested Michigan secondary. On January 15 he decommitted and promptly committed to Indiana, though he would sign with Florida. Brian declared this the "worst decommitment ever". In hindsight, this wasn't that big a deal. Finch was later named the biggest recruiting bust for IU in the last ten years. 

This has made me wonder if Brian's statement is still true. Finch was a highly rated player at a position of need. Given what was to come in the next few years, it probably didn't matter much one way or another. Three others come to mind since then that are probably bigger: Dee Hart, Damien Harris, and George Campbell. Hart and Campbell for what they would have meant to to the coach who recruited them. Hart was supposed to finally be the super athlete to thrive in Rodriguez's backfield. Didn't Campbell refer to himself as the "mayor" and was going to put together a magnificent recruiting class. Harris might be the biggest talent of any of these for Michigan to lose. Interestly but probably not coincidentally, all four of these guys decommitted from a coach who was out the door. 

Are there any I am forgetting? Any who could have had a bigger impact on the program or had a lot of success at another program? 

EDIT: I should have checked out Touch the Banner right away, but here's a great list of decommits and transfers. 

MGoBoard
dee hart
Damien Harris
George Campbell
Jerimy Finch

corundum

January 16th, 2017 at 12:01 AM ^

When Jai Eugene flipped to LSU after committing to Michigan during the Army All American game just a few weeks earlier. CB was a position of need and he ended up having a solid collegiate career.

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UMfan21

January 16th, 2017 at 12:01 AM ^

boren. A transfer rather than a decommit, but he went to the enemy and talked smack about his former coaches/teammates. the Halloween costume was icing on the shit sandwich.

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BiaBiakabutuka21

January 16th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^

but my answer is Demar Dorsey.  It came after the Sean Parker non-commitment / switch of a silent commitment.  I was 100% all in for Rich Rod.  He needed a safety to shore up the pass defense.  Turns out, the problems were much bigger than one player but at the time, not having Demar Dorsey and his "No Fly Zone" really hurt.  I was convinced that MIchigan's own athletic department was not letting in Dorsey as an attempt to hurt Rich Rod.  I think I even called the athletic department to complain about it which I have never done for any other reason.  I was in my early 20's and didn't have as good of coping skills that I do now.  So as I said, not a decommit, but definitly the recuriting loss I felt the most.

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GoBlueInNYC

January 16th, 2017 at 7:52 AM ^

Dorsey is a perfect example of someone who needs a viable non-college path to professional leagues. It's fantastic that guys can use their athletic skills to get an education, but denying someone a chance at the pros because they can't get in or get through college is kind of ridiculous.

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Gucci Mane

January 16th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^

Sammy watkins was a big loss. . That class was about to turn into an amazing offense until rich rod got fired.

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Gucci Mane

January 16th, 2017 at 2:08 AM ^

Thinking of watkins for sure. He would have been in the class before rich rod got fired. Although treadwell was also supposedly a silent. Either way we had a great chance to land both. The southern money bought them though. And in the case of watkins firing rich rod lost him.

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MUUM79

January 16th, 2017 at 12:34 AM ^

Cant remember if Jake Fischer was a commit or a Mich lean before RR was let go and he committed to Oregon. He turned into a 4-year starter and an NFL player.



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Leaders And Best

January 16th, 2017 at 10:14 AM ^

The strange part about Jake Fisher's recruitment was that his decommitment followed the release of Rich Rodriguez. I would have thought linemen would have been more likely to stick around with someone like Brady Hoke, especially from in-state. But the program was in so much disarray at the time with the coaching change happening late after the bowl.

Fisher hurt so much because he was at a huge position of need and from in-state as a lifelong fan. Having him, Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield, David Molk, and Denard would have been deadly. We would have had 2 All-American tackles bookending our OL for 3 years as both guys were ready to play early, and Schofield had started his career playing at guard.

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Wolverine Devotee

January 16th, 2017 at 12:37 AM ^

Here's some flameout names that you may or may not remember from the last 10 years-

Taylor Hill, Marcus Witherspoon, Davion Rogers, Conelius Jones (actual spelling), Tony Posada, Chris Barnett, Austin White, Chris Rock, DJ Williamson, Christian Pace, Justin Feagin, Boubacar Cissoko, Teric Jones, Terrence Talbott, Cullen Christian, Tamani Carter, Greg Brown.

All off the top of my head. Some never even made it to campus, some quit before camp even started.



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