Michigan Tuesday: Wonders Why our 5 Star DB's are in Community College?

To follow up on the theme from yesterday, I was thinking about Michigan's Defensive Backfield is 2 of our recent 5 star DB that signed with Michigan either got to Ann Arbor or stayed in Ann Arbor. 

We all know the story of Demar Dorsey after he signed with Michigan didn't get in, tried to go to Louisville and the NCAA said no.   Demar is still in the State of Michigan playing for Grand Rapids CC.  Let's hope he gets his academic situation clear up and makes it back to D1.  (No MSU or Big Ten please).

Then comes the news that former 5 star CB/Safety prospect JT Turner has resurfaced with Scottsdale Community College.   (I would have picked Scottsdale over GR as well!).  If you remember, JT struggled with life on and off the football field at Michigan.  He really never played any quality time during games and even struggled to get time during the Spring Game.  The rumor was JT had some personal issues going on which lead him to leave the Wolverines at the start of fall camp in 2010.

JT bounced around a bit, originally trying to transfer to West Virgina (a reverse RR?) which didn't seem to work out then a small college in Ohio.   He now is at Scottsdale CC, with reports that Hawaii and ASU are interested in having him join their teams.   Good luck to JT!

These guys got me thinking about a Defensive Backfield this year with:  Dorsey at one corner and Woolfork at the other.  With JT Floyd and JT Turner at Safety.  That could have been a great backfield.  I guess it's time to move on.

Camp Buzz......................

•  Jeremy Gallon seems to be having a strong camp at WR.  I hope he can bring some big plays to  the Michigan offense and the return game. 

• Thomas Rawls continues to get praised for his effort.   Maybe he is the guy to set up at RB.  I still think the other guys in front of him will get more carries.  I am a little torn because with no running back in the 2012 class, I was hoping for a redshirt.  On the other hand if he really has Mark Ingram skills, he needs to be playing.

• Special for Uncle Ron:  A walk on making news on the defensive line is Nathan Brink who seems to be pushing Big Will for playing time.  The knock on Nathan was his weight (being too skinny).  His weight is now up to 263 pounds and is 6'5.  The buzz is he has great effort and has very good DLine skills.   Nathan is from Holland, Michigan and it would be great if he could contribute this year.  

• Highly ranked 5 star Basketball player from the 2012 class Mitch McGary will be visiting Michigan for an official visit in September.  

Michigan Tuesday: Thinks There is a 30 - 30 Documentary at WVU

So how is that West Virgina Football Program doing these days?  The Bill Stewart hire after RR left for Michigan has to be considered  a very poor decision after he blew out Oklahoma with RR's players in the Fiesta Bowl.  I remember a prominent booster said something to the effect, "they just hired the JV coach" when Bill took over the program.

Back in December, I predicted the 1 year coach in waiting would not work.  In fact, it was the most bizarre college coaching situation I have ever seen.  The first day of business school they tell you partnerships don't work.  This one didn't even last 6 months before Bill tried to go project "National Enquirer" on Dana Holgorsen.

Well done Bill!  Your first head coaching job you got fired for a racially-insensitive comment.  You get fired from your second head coaching job because you tried to air your coach-in-waiting dirty laundry in the media. 

I see now why the WVU fans were so upset when RR left.   It set the the program back years.    He is available for hire if the Mountaineers current coach goes on another casino bender.

Think about all the drama this program has had the past 3 years. 

• A healthy QB thump (or finger I don't remember) away from the NC game
• RR takes the Michigan Job
• The RR shredding documents thing
• WVU blowing out Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl
• Bill Stewart gets the head coaching job
• RR fights the buy out
• Michigan pays most of the buy out
• NCAA investigates RR practice schedule at Michigan and WVU
• RR fails at Michigan
• Dana Holgorsen is hired to replace Bill Stewart in 2012 and will be coach-in-waiting in 2011
• Bill Stewart releases "dirt" on Holgorsen to the media
• Bill Stewart gets fired  resigns

This has to be a 30/30.

• Pryor signs with Drew Rosenhaus.  Shocker, I guess Rob Pelinka wasn't available?

• Kyle Dodson a 4 Star Offensive Line prospect spurns the Buckeyes and committed to Wisconsin last night.  Michigan was also recruiting Kyle.  Many had thought he was a Columbus lock.

• Love this quote from new Wolverine Erik Magnuson on taking other visits:  “I’m not sure. I will definitely be going to Michigan for an official visit, and if coach is ok with me taking an official visit to place where I have friends at, then I might do that, but if not then it’s not a big deal to me. I’m going to Michigan. I don’t care about any other school.”

Michigan Thursday: 1/8/2011 is a Make or Break Date for the Wolverines 2011 Recruiting Class

Why you ask?  Well, first of  I assume that the Michigan coaching situation will be decided by then.  Michigan plays in the Gator Bowl on New Years Day and Stanford plays in the Orange Bowl on 1/3. 

So what's so special about the 8th?  January 8th is the day of Army All American Game where top 2011 recruits like to pick a hat for their school of choice on National TV.   By this game, Michigan should know if RR will continue his head coaching duties or another head coach has been hired.  If RR is retained Michigan has a legitimate shot at these following Army All Americans:

• RB Dee Hart of course
• Safety Wayne Lyons
• WR/LB Kris Frost
• CB Blake Countess

Bowl Practice:  RR gave us an update on Bowl Practice and how it's progressing.  They have had 5 practices so far and basically working on fundamentals (freep): "You get the timing back, you get some of the conditioning back a little bit, you can see the first couple days we were a little bit rusty, especially throwing the football, but as we went along, we've been getting better,"

"I can see from all the guys their legs are fresh, and Denard is obviously the healthiest he's been since the season started," Rodriguez said. "He's running a little faster, which you'd expect."


Austin in Austin?  There are rumors that former Michigan assistant coach Teryl Austin will be Texas's new defensive coordinator.  I have also heard Randy Shannon former Miami head coach name as well.

Hands off the MAC!  In less then 2 weeks, three BCS programs have picked off coaches from the MAC.  First it was Jerry Kill going to Minnesota, then Al Golden at Miami and now it's another coach from Miami but this time it's Miami of Ohio.   Pitt has hired Mike Haywood who turned around the Miami program from a 1 year win season a year ago to MAC Champions this year.  Mike was a former assistant under Charlie Weis at ND.   In a related story the MAC is looking for some good young coaches. 

Does anyone else think that the situation at West Virgina next year is going to be awkward? Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen has been hired as WVU's OC and "coach in waiting" for current coach Bill Stewart for one year.  Bill is planing to resign or retire after the 2011 season.  Does this make any sense to anyone?  I'm guessing they had a small window to hire Dana or they were going to lose him to Pitt.  So they put this plan together so that Bill could coach the bowl game and step down after.  I don't see any upside for Bill Stewart to coach next year.  Pay him his salary and let him go find another job or head to Florida.  There are a couple of openings in the MAC. 

Max Issak a 6'3 240 DE from NJ and current Pitt commit is re-thinking his verbal and might be interested in re-considering Michigan.

Information about Miami's coaching search:  It seems they contacted Jim Harbaugh and he wasn't interested.

Michigan Tuesday: Michigan Adds a LB to the 2011 Class and a New DC Candidate

If your a 2011 recruit and you want to commit to the Wolverines right now, you love the Michigan football program and really don't care who is coaching the Wolverines.   That is the case for 6'1 225 pounds inside linebacker from Holland, Michigan Desmond Morgan.  He hopes his head coach is Rich Rod, but if it isn't he is still going to the University of Michigan.  This is your classic smart physical player that is built to stop the run and maybe cover a tight end every once in awhile.  

He is rated 3 stars by all 3 services and carries a 4.0 grade point average.  ESPN really likes Desmond and believes he could contribute on special teams as a freshman as he learns how to be a D1 player.   It would be great to redshirt Desmond which would mean Kenny Demens and Mike Jones have the LB role locked up.  Still this was a good pick up in an area of need for the Wolverines.

For more info on Desmond "don't call me Howard" Morgan, check out Mgoblog. 

New DC Candidate? If RR is still the Michigan coach in January, most believe he will be looking for a new Defensive Coordinator and now it seems he might have the opportunity to get a familiar face because: West Virgina's head coach, Bill Stewart will be fired resigning after the bowl game.  Making RR's former DC who stayed at WVU, Jeff Casteel presumably available for hire.  The rumor mill already has Dana Holgorsen, current offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State replacing Stewart.  Wow, that was fast.  Does this mean AD's actually hire or have hiring conversations with other coaches before their current coach is let go?  That is strange.  :) 

I guess those Big 12 assistant coaches know what they are doing.  If my count is right that would make 3 Big 12 assistants getting head coaching jobs so far. 

Yes, I know what 32% of Michigan fans are thinking right now.  Why doesn't WVU just wait a few more days and they can have Rich Rod back?  Very funny 32% very funny.

• The Avery Walls decision is in and it's:  CAL, surprisingly.

• Dallas Crawford is being recruited by USC right now.  This is another decision that depends on the future of RR.

Michigan Thursday:Agrees with Alvarez's Sarcasm

Barry Alvarez was asked what he thinks the Big Ten should name the two football conferences: "Let's say you call (the divisions) Bo and Woody," he said, referring to football coaching greats Schembechler at Michigan and Hayes at Ohio State, respectively. "If I'm Ohio State, I'm saying, ‘This league's about us.' If I'm Michigan, this league's about us. I don't want to identify (them) with another school. They can call (the divisions) A and B as far as I'm concerned." I agree Barry, Bo and Woody makes the most sense. Good idea.  He wouldn't have gone for two against Minnesota either.

• Dhani Jones has designed a new bow tie to support Mott Children's Hospital.  The Bow Ties will be sold at Moe Sports Shops and Underground Printing for $55 per bow tie (his number at U of M).  He will also be at Underground Printing this weekend for those of you in A2. 

Want to hear from RR on Big Will and a change at LB?  Here are some quotes from the Detroit News:

Rodriguez said he expects to see Kenny Demens, J.B. Fitzgerald and Mark Moundros in the mix a bit more against the Hawkeyes. "Particularly if they have a good week in practice," Rodriguez said. "Kenny Demens in particular has had some real good practices and has shown some pretty good things when he's had an opportunity out there. So it looks like they've warranted the opportunity to see what they can do in the game."

Big Will:  "I think he's a better player than he was a year ago," Rodriguez said. "He'll continue to get better because I think the game is important to him.
"He still has to work on some things to be an every-down player for us and be able to help us in our base situations, and he knows that and he knows the things he has to work through. He's still a young player. He's got a good attitude and he's working to get better. There's another level he can get to, and we're hoping he can get there quickly."

• Brian at Mgoblog, tracks all the plays on offense and defense of the State game.   The defensive players that had the worst day were:  Ezeh, Banks at DE (also Black but he is a true freshman looking to hit the QB), true freshman CB's, and Cam Gordon (mostly for poor tackling).  Wrap up Cam!  Wrap up!

TV Tonight:  2 Thursday games: Kansas vs Kansas State and South Florida vs West Virgina.