OT - Small world/what a bummer/anyone remember the 2003 recruiting class?

Submitted by Sommy on

This really isn't very important, but what an indictment on my failure to follow UM recruiting until recently, and what a reaffirmation of just how small the world is.

I was recently talking with my dad (who is a fairweather UM fan, but sort of follows it). I remember him telling me about how my next door neighbor's grandson played for UM for a split second and then was cut from the team, etc.

I said he was full of crap, and so forth. We used to play touch football on our neighbor's front lawn, and granted, he kicked the crap out of us regularly, but whatever. I figured he was at best a walk-on, since I don't ever remember hearing of him. Whatever.

So, I caught my dad watching the Army All-American bowl today, even though he doesn't really care. Will Campbell came on TV and I had to tell him not to turn it off. He again brought up how our neighbor's grandson was this highly recruited player for UM who ended up not getting on the team because of his academics, etc. I said, "Okay, let's settle this. I'm going on Rivals right now to look it up."

So, I pull up the '03 class. Sure enough, there's the name: "Jim Presley." Anyone remember him? Not only was he in the class, he was the 2nd overall outside linebacker in the country in the class of '03. Holy small world, batman. Just curious. From my understanding, he failed to continue with the team because of some kind of learning disability, which was an obvious shame, but man, what a revelation.

I realize this is from years ago, but I'm still just trying to wrap my head around it since (a) I had no idea this kid that I used to play touch football with was so highly recruited and (b) it was so long ago.

So anyway, carry on.

The Other Brian

January 4th, 2009 at 3:32 AM ^

I want to say he was an academic casualty, but I'm not sure. Not sure about the disability either.

As for his actual recruitment, the only thing I remember about him was that he was really fast for a linebacker.

Promote RichRod

January 4th, 2009 at 4:05 AM ^

Well 2, actually. The first was that a TE that played on my 6th grade football team is now a starting NFL TE. In the playoffs, too.

The second was that my backup at right guard on this same 6th grade team became a star lineman at a major program and is projected to be a decent draft pick in 09. Perhaps even more hilarious is the fact that I now clock in at about 150lbs and this guy is double my size.

I had never followed either person past grade school, so I had no idea this was going on. In both instances, I heard their name on TV while watching random games. Both times I thought "I knew a guy named that." Googled them and sure enough...

ShockFX

January 4th, 2009 at 8:25 AM ^

Jim Presley was a grade below me in High School. The guy was a freak athlete. Track, football and basketball he was all conference if not all-state. However, he was the dumbest person I've ever met in my life. Of his 6 classes, he had 5 with the football coach. Not that I was overly concerned though, his talents were sports, not academics and that's fine.

As to why he never played, there are two versions. First, my high school had a tradition of an "all-night" (until 2am that is) party for graduating seniors with games and food and such. There was this awesome inflatable obstacle course you could race on. Jim messed up his knee doing it apparently and it didn't heal that fast. My understanding, and he lived down the hall from me in West Quad my soph year, was that he redshirted but failed out academically later that year. The bigger issue wasn't his intellect in this case, but that he reportedly never went to class.

Tragic, really, the guy ran a 10.6 100m and was 6'3" 230lbs.

howarddestroysherbie

January 4th, 2009 at 8:54 AM ^

I remember watching him as a running back against my team and he would drag defenders like 40 yards. He was a monster, but I had heard the same story that he screwed up his knee at an all night party for graudation. He looked like he did some roids though, he was 17 and already balding. Doesn't matter now I guess.

befuggled

January 4th, 2009 at 9:57 AM ^

Turned out he was my friend's minister somewhere in Milwaukee. I think he actually recommended that my friend avoid football (he played basketball instead).

For you young whippersnappers out there, Timberlake was the QB on the 9-1 1964 team which whipped Oregon State in the Rose Bowl 34-7.

MinorforPresident

January 4th, 2009 at 10:46 AM ^

Didn't play football but did end up going to Michigan for golf and then this year I am watching the US Open and sure enough who's in the lead on Day 1 - my friend Justin Hicks. It was pretty crazy to see how well he's done.

Sommy

January 4th, 2009 at 6:57 PM ^

The "so long ago" was in reference to playing touch football with this kid 15 years ago, and when you're only 25, 15 years seems like a pretty long time. So, in your face, space coyote.