TomVH: An Interview With Dwayne Stanford
Taft WR Dwayne Stanford has been at the top of the conversation when it comes to wide receiver prospects. It doesn't hurt that his teammate, DE Adolphus Washington, is a top recruit also being courted by Michigan. Stanford and Washington had previously been unable to make their visit to Michigan and Stanford finally rescheduled his trip for this weekend. Here's what he had to say about the upcoming visit and where he's at.
TOM: You and Adolphus are making your way up to Michigan this weekend?
DWAYNE: No, Adolphus can't make it this weekend but I am going. He's going to Kentucky on Friday and I'm going to Michigan on Saturday.
TOM: Don't you guys usually travel together? Is this the first visit you'll take without him?
DWAYNE: I visited Tennessee during a football game and he didn't go, but other than that yeah we've been together. This will really be one of the first unofficial visits not to a game that I've taken besides camps or anything.
TOM: With this visit what are you looking to learn from Michigan? Do you have any questions you want answered, or coaches you want to meet?
DWAYNE: I just want to go up there and talk to some of the players and the coaches. I want to find out exactly how they want to use me. I'm really just going up there with open eyes. I'd like to get to know the wide receivers coach better. I had misplaced his number so I have some questions for him about how they'll use me. I basically want to put a name to the face and develop that relationship.
TOM: I know I spoke with you briefly when the Ohio State allegations came out. What were you and your family thinking when it happened?
DWAYNE: We were all in shock. I didn't think that Coach Tressel would resign or get fired, I thought he would stick it out. Fickell is the head coach now and he'll do what he can to win them a Big Ten Championship and if the NCAA lets them, go to a bowl game. Ohio State is bigger than one coach, the tradition they have. At first it did hurt their chances with me, but I talked to the wide receivers coach and he's brought everything up for me. I don't want to say they're at the top but they're up there.
TOM: What about Michigan, where do they stand right now?
DWAYNE: Michigan, they're not at the very top either but they're up there on my list because of how persistent they've been to get me up there. They have a great tradition, won championships, won Big Ten titles. They're in a rebuilding stage which is even better because I could help Michigan get back on top. They've been at the top parts of my list for awhile now.
TOM: I know you go to some of the same camps as Michigan commits, and they have some Ohio kids. Do you ever talk to any of them?
DWAYNE: Yeah, I was at a 7 on 7 with Joe Bolden and he was trying to recruit me. I've been talking to the quarterback Shane Morris, too, I've been talking to him a lot. He's going to be up there this weekend I think, and he was saying we need to show the coaches the future and all that. I'm also good friends with AJ Williams, too. He's always in my ear.
TOM: What's next? I know you've said you want to wait to make your decision, is the timeline still the same?
DWAYNE: I'll have my official top five out in September. My top eight right now is Michigan, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Miami, Florida State, North Carolina, and Tennessee. I'm going to go out to Tennessee, North Carolina, and obviously Michigan this summer. As far as a timeline it'll probably be towards the end of the season. It's really whenever I feel comfortable with the school and with my parents. I'm just projecting that it will be at the end of the school year.
That confirmed, because the interview seems to suggest he will be.
We would take Wormley and Washington, as well as STanford. Heck, some said we would consider taking Wormley, Washington, and Pittman. I don't think that is true, but who knows...Hoke loves his linemen.
I just have this feeling that both Stanford and Washington end up at TSIO, despite all the mess. I have no evidence for that, just a hunch. I think they are playing the game right now in case the hammer falls on TSIO hard.
...but it's probably going to, so we're in good shape. These guys don't want to spend their first two years sitting out during bowl season and their last two playing on a scholarship reduced-to-nothing team. People see that teams like Michigan, Wisconsin and PSU, who OSU have to play every year, are looking stronger by the day, and if OSU takes too much of a step back they'll lose a lot of games.
Remember, Signing Day isn't until February. We're still months away from when these kids will actually sign LOIs. I know we're in danger of our class filling up (no matter what) but don't forget that before NSD we will know a whole lot more of what exactly is happening to OSU for the future, and so will these recruits.
While I'd love to have everyone commit now, you can't blame any recruit for wanting to wait and see what happens with OSU. If the NCAA wusses out and it's not that bad, they'd go to OSU. If the hammer comes down as it should, they will look elsewhere and see what happens. Can't blame the recruit for taking their time
I think getting Stanford to a campus visit cuz most recruits that visit are very impressed with the coaches and love the relationships so we will see!
So the more I think about it, it might be good that we get Stanford up here separate from Washington. Many have said that he would be OK committing early if he was comfortable somewhere. Washington seems dead set on the UA game. So if Stanford comes alone, and we really impress him, then that could not only possibly lead to an early commit, but also have Stanford be talking UM up to Washington until we can get him to visit.
I am not basing this on anything, just my opinion. I would love Stanford all by himself, but Washington doesn't look like he will come here. I don't see a reason for Washington to go to Kentucky this weekend. It might be much closer, but they want to be a package and he should come here. Please tell me I am wrong.
I'm cautiously optimistic about Washington, mostly because Sam Webb is saying we're in good shape. But I do think we're in better shape with Stanford. In have no idea why he's going to KY. Perhaps some friends there. But a good visit with Stanford would help with Washington.
If he has friends there. he should visit next weekend. I just find it very negative that he would visit there instead of coming here with Stanford. I hope I am wrong. If he doesn't come this weekend, when is he going to come.
IIRC, Washington is also a pretty good basketball player. Hence the Kentucky visit. That plus for a Cincy kid, Kentucky is almost the home team.
I hope you are right that the Kentucky visit is for some basketball. I would think if he is serious about football, he would come here. Doesn't make me feel good.
I am kind of worried about Michigan's chances with Washington. This is the second time he has postponed a visit to Michigan, and this time he apparently postponed it for a visit to Kentucky (which is not as rich in tradition as Michigan), and is the first time he did not take a trip with his buddy Stanford. Could this mean that he has somewhat of a higher interest in Kentucky then Michigan? If so, I would tend to believe that Michigan is low on his list with regards to his top five. Anyone else feel this way?
The first time he postponed the visit was bad weather or the coaches weren't there (I think) So he has interest still.He probably already planned the visit to kentucky before the michigan one.I wouldn't worry to much.
Sorry, but I just read bluenyc's post which is pretty similar to mine.
Stanford is coming to scope things out. If the visit goes well, he will tell Washington that Michigan is the place to be.
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