UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Mackenzie]

I'm sure that's the right approach to take and a good assessment.

[The Oracle]

Sounds like we're still recruiting Shallman as a RB...I like that. He'd be able to hold it down until we get a "super" committed or be a nice complimentary piece.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Rivals from Helmholdt this morning on Kozan .... nothing startling

“Iowa lost their OC last week and now their offensive line coach, who recruited Kozan, is moving over to coach the defensive line. That situation does not appear to be affecting Iowa's chances in a positive way,” Helmholdt heard.

“Now, Auburn picked up [four-star] Jordan Diamond last week and they are happy with their class. I would not say they are "actively" pursuing Kozan - however, they would accept his letter if he sent it.

“That would seem to indicate Michigan has a great shot here, but I am just not hearing a lot of Michigan vibes. That may be because he's not giving out any vibes at all. It does not sound like he has been talking with anybody the last week - college coaches or even his own coach. Really a mystery what is going on in his head right now.”

For whatever reasons, Rivals insiders seem to think that M is not pursing Kozan aggressively but there's a scholarship for him if he wants it and somebody doesn't take it before he finally decides. The reality is that the M offer may be the best one left for him. His alternatives seem to be programs that no one expected he might go to and it seems that might be just what he does.

[iam416]

Saw the Tuley-Tillman has decided to push his announcement back from March to an all-star game in January. I would have had him an M lock if he announced in March. I still think he ends up there, but I'd be a bit uneasy about The Nick lurking around the chicken coop for 8 months.

[SeattleLionsFan]

I'm really starting to wonder about Kozan and where his head is at. I know he's 18 and things are confusing at that age, but at some point, you just have to make the decision...

[lineygoblue]

but I'd be a bit uneasy about The Nick lurking around the chicken coop for 8 months.

Very true. There are very few early commitments that can be considered safe nowadays. As much as we dislike people like Saban, he's not breaking any rules by continuing to recruit a kid who is committed to another team. It may make people like Dumbtonio mad, but there is no rule against it.

I like the way that Brady Hoke does it. He doesn't accept "soft" commitments, and if a kid visits another school after "committing" to Michigan, he doesn't consider them committed anymore. Their scholarship goes up for grabs. This may cost him a few kids in the short run, but in the long run, he'll get more kids who really want to be at Michigan, instead of Drew Henson types who need their ego stroked everyday to stay on the roster.

[Mackenzie]

Sounds a bit like "paralysis by analysis" may be going on with Kozan.

[iam416]

Kozan is a weird recruitment. His knack of timing and decision-making have been a giant fail. By his own words, he loved OSU and wanted to go there. Fickell finally made him an offer. He sat on it and wanted to think things over. UFM came on board and the offer is off the table. Michigan wants him. He hems and haws and doesn't know where to go. For some reason, he picks Iowa. Now he's stuck with Iowa unless Michigan really wants to give him a roster spot.

Kid is good, but he's not good enough, by any stretch, to produce this sort of "drama".

There are very few early commitments that can be considered safe nowadays. As much as we dislike people like Saban, he's not breaking any rules by continuing to recruit a kid who is committed to another team.

Well, with L-T, he wouldn't be committed anywhere. And, perhaps, it's the "Hoke Rule" that has pushed him to delay his announcment. Like I said, I think if decided in March, there's only one choice. But I think Alabama has given him something to think about, and he's going to think about it. And that would make me a bit nervous.

[SeanB]

If I were a HS kid I'd be wary of commiting early to Alabama...you're pretty much just keeping the seat warm until someone better comes along! OF course, HS kids don't see it that way.

I suppose I wouldn't call January too "early" but if the Nick gets someone better to drop after that announcement, well we all know what can happen.

[lineygoblue]

That's why we need an early signing period in football. That way, the kids who have truly decided where they want to go can end the process and be left alone by coaches who 'recruit to the whistle'. They have early signing periods in other sports, and its time for it to happen in football as well.

And, this would address the points that Sean makes as well. Someone who "commits" early isn't guaranteed a thing with the school. They may get all the way to signing day, and find that they are going to be a "grey shirt" or some other sort of nonsense. With an early signing period, those kids who have made their final decision, have a legal document which commits the school to giving them a scholarship.

[JRB]

I am all for Kozan taking as long as he needs to take to make the right decision for himself. I have no issue with any kid taking whatever time he needs. We've conditioned ourselves to forget that National Signing Day is not a deadline, and never has been. It's simply the first day kids are permitted to sign, and we've developed a culture that presses them to commit by that date. The official signing period for the coming academic year began February 1st, and lasts until April 1st. As long as there are schools with interest in signing Alex Kozan that are willing to wait for him to decide, the kid isn't doing anything wrong.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Dont get me wrong. It's a big decision and I don't blame him for taking his time. However that it has taken this long makes me question his decisiveness.

It's not evidence that he's a bad guy though.

[WM Wolverine]

Logan Tuley--Tillman did say M was his favorite, by far.

[iam416]

Correct, WM. That's why a decision today or in March would be a lock.

There is no way M will be in any BETTER position with L-T come January. I think it's likely to be the same position, but you never know.

Ohio State has the same issue with a RB from Virginia who wants to wait until his birthday in 2013 to declare (his birthday is after NLOID). Meh.

[WM Wolverine]

M is in very good position with him, longer he waits to decide, the worse for M but its nice to have a good sized lead than no lead...

Still, I'd trade that for a slim lead who wants to decide before April.