Kevin Sousa setting up new visits
I thought it was noteworthy to post that Kevin Sousa is officially setting up new visits with other schools. The fact that he is doing so immediately following his Ann Arbor visit probably says a lot. I know Tom had suggested something along these lines in his weekly update, but now it appears more official. I can't be sure whether this was mutual or "mutual," but the chances of Sousa playing somewhere else next year are beginning to grow.
He has already scheuled an official visit with Middle Tennessee State for this upcoming weekend.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:18 AM ^
I know this is part of the recruiting game, but this just doesn't sit well with me. It feels slimey. Also, listening to you guys this sounds a lot like the rationalization Alabama fans make to excuse Saban's behavior. Everything's ok as long as we're winning NC's right?
October 21st, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^
My suggestion to you would be to not read any posts/articles on recruiting (this is a serious suggestion, not a snarky, smart-a** one). This is how recruiting works. I would guess that you probably have not followed recruiting for very long, but this is the way it goes at ALL big time schools and has done so for quite some time.
I guess this falls under the "If you don't like my answers, you should stop asking scary questions, Vincent. (paraphrased)" type of response, but...well, there it is.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I don't think anyone who spends any bit of time on Mgoblog is naive to what goes on in college recruiting. But I think a lot of these issues can/should be ferreted out before a recruit is allowed to commit (e.g. Daren Kitchens, Travis Williams, etc). Sousa has other BCS offers and he'll be ok, but getting the cold shoulder during your official visit would no doubt suck.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
we landed DR and Tate. Good trade in my book !!!!
October 20th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
didn't Newsome decommit because he was worried about competing for PT with Tate? Talk about irony.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
I don't think so, Newsome's decommitment came before Forcier's commitment. I suppose that he could have been upset that Forcier was being recruited, but I don't recall that being the reasoning at the time.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:27 AM ^
IIRC it was alleged that Newsome was using us to get his name out there and draw more attention to himself. Now he's been passed up by a true freshman. Enjoy the pine dude. Irony's a biatch.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
to Sousa to go where his heart is, If it's sit learn and then compete come to Michigan. If his heart says he got a promise for early playing time and that is his dream is to play early got to MTSU.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
I think Sousa will end up being a decent QB, but he is a project, as he is talented yet raw. Let's trust RR in his evaluation of talent, i mean he seems to be pretty good at that. If we get Williams awesome, but we do have some guy named Devin waiting in the wings..
October 20th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
I hope stuff like this doesn't burn bridges with high school coaches. There was a quote from his high school coach talking about what a talent this kid was and how we should keep that in mind or something to that effect. If he does end up committing elsewhere because we told him to take a hike I am pretty sure we're never getting another kid from that school again. The coaches should be vetting these offers better and ensure we only offer the kids they really want. Or at least wait till we strike out on the higher rated kids before we go after the kevin sousa and greg browns of the world.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
Well obviously every HS coach is going to talk his kid up, he's going to want his guys to go to the best schools possible.
I think we all knew when Marquise Williams started lookin at Michigan again that this became a real possibility.
October 21st, 2010 at 6:23 AM ^
Lake Nona is a new school and a bad program right now. I wouldn't be too worried that burning a bridge might affect Rodriguez's recruiting there, at least not for several years.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
Michigan did Sousa a huge favor by recruiting him, putting both him and Lake Nona on the radar, so to speak. So it's hard to imagine much in the way of hard feelings there. I'll bet he gets some new offers now that his status with Michigan is unclear.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
Well, if Michigan is basically rescinding its scholarship offer, then I would expect there to be some hard feelings. I couldn't blame the kid or the coach for feeling slighted. It's only natural.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
We are upgrading at QB and the kid gets notice early enough so he can make other arrangements. Until they change the date for kids to sign the binding letter of commitment this is the way it works.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
If we're reading the tea leaves correctly, this seems to be being handled as well as it possibly could in the world of college recruiting. To quote the great Hyman Roth...
October 21st, 2010 at 10:24 AM ^
I've always been in favor of two signing dates. An early one where coaches and kids can sign and be done, and the one have now for those that want to "play the field".
It's similar to the supplemental draft in the NFL.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:12 PM ^
What's confusing is: why MTSU? He had some other much better offers than that.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
He wants to play right away? IDK. A quick check of MTSU's stats shows they aren't exactly lighting it up in the passing categories.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^
as he said, the schools he's visiting have kept up with him. MTSU is probably just doing a great job of developing a relationship with the kid and is being rewarded with a visit.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:54 PM ^
I don't understand the slow rolling of the kid even if the coaches are recruiting another qb. It's highly likely one part of the three headed monster at qb will transfer. So why not take two QB's? Make one QB#3 for the first year and redshirt the other. I know you can't really recruit as if you're planning for things like that, but it makes sense.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^
This should not surprise anyone. I have always had the impression that each coach / HS senior are always looking for the best situation for themselves. Each coach wants to get the best players they can get and each HS senior wants the best situaiton for themselves.
This does not reflect poorly on anyone and shouldn't. IF RR believes there is someone else out there (Williams?) that is showing mutual interest, then it is his obligation to our team / program to explore those options.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:07 AM ^
Don't see this anywhere, and maybe we don't care. Can't start a thread. I guess Latwan Anderson has left the Miami football team. I also guess that he can play right away if he were to transfer because he is on a track scholarship.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:58 AM ^
I would see the day when Michigan recruits would end up at places like Tulsa, Middle Tennessee State let alone Syracuse.
October 21st, 2010 at 6:09 AM ^
QBs who are looking to make the NFL but are told they will have a lot of college QB competition may benefit from playing for a lesser team and getting all the playing time.
McNair, Favre, Roethlisberger, Flacco all made it to the NFL from small schools. Also, Sousa and others may have been sold on early playing time and can't imagine now not playing for 2-3 years. Just trying to validate it a little.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:26 AM ^
and a kid like Sousa just started playing football 2-3 years ago. That's not what Michigan needs now and there is no way he can compete against our 3 QBs (maybe in the beginning of the year, Denard wasn't considered a viable QB, so the competition was only 2 guys).
If he came to Michigan, he would have to sit for 3 years and hope to play for his last 2 (but Michigan likely gets another top QB next year or the year after).
That being said, he would add depth and would at least get a good degree at Michigan.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:52 AM ^
Why isn't a project QB what Michigan needs right now? We have three highly touted QBs in classes just ahead of him. If you ever take a project at the position, it should be in 2011 because he has a few years to sit and learn.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:42 AM ^
October 21st, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
I understand what you are saying. Recruiting is a tough business. I just feel that 2 wrongs do not make it right. 18 year olds can change their minds often, especially when their life path is at stake. However, one recruit should not make or break a program. I think kids have more to lose than programs. Not sure what is going on with Sousa, but with reading all the comments, it seems like the choice may be ours. Feel bad for the kid, he doesn't deserve this. Just because other kids will or may have shafted us, does not mean we should do it to this kid. Maybe, I should follow the advice of a poster above and sit out recruiting.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
Do the coaches want to take two QBs in this class or do they just want Williams ahead of Sousa? When I read the Sousa committment post, I said to myself.. "Nice. It's a QB version of Patrick Omameh". Perfect fit for us given our depth chart and the staff's proven track record for developing QBs. So what happened? Is Williams that much better? Does he have more upside than Sousa?
October 21st, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
This is just the name of the game..when you've already got a date to the dance but 2 days before Gisele Bundchen says "Hi, my name is Gisele and I want to knock erasers with you" you dont ask questions you just go for it.
As long as it doesnt get Saban like where kids are on campus and then you flip them the bird, it aint no big.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
October 21st, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
QB is one of our lowest concerns on this team right now though, never hurts to get our guy for 2013 though.