UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[WM Wolverine]

There are ways around it, regardless a LOI is an entirely one-sided contract that favors the universities.

[jaadam4]

Wow.. Where there was smoke.. There's fire..

per freep

This is not a development that Michigan State football fans will want to hear.

Malik McDowell, the five-star defensive end from Southfield who verbally committed to Michigan State on National Signing Day last week, might take unofficial visits to Ohio State and Florida State, his father told rivals.com.

McDowell’s family has not returned phone messages from the Free Press since before Signing Day.

McDowell’s parents, Greg McDowell and Joya Crowe, publicly stated their desire for Malik not to go to MSU before Signing Day. When he announced his decision for the Spartans on Wednesday morning, his father said he would support the decision, but his mother did not attend the ceremony at Southfield High.

MSU beat writer Joe Rexrode broke down McDowell’s options for attending MSU late last week. It could get complicated. Check it out.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding until a national letter of intent is signed and sent to a university. The McDowells have until the end of March to do so.

Today, Greg McDowell told Rivals that Malik is “open” to taking additional visits to OSU and FSU, who were his other finalists, along with Michigan. Greg McDowell said U-M is still in the picture, too.

"We plan on doing some unofficials and see if he and his mom can resolve this,” McDowell said. “It's possible she'll be open to Michigan State as well, so we'll have to see.

"We plan on getting down to Florida State as soon as possible, and with Ohio State being a three-hour ride, we'll drive over and sit down."

McDowell took his official visit to Florida State on Jan. 17 and his official visit to Ohio State on Jan. 31.

[jaadam4]

I don't think that sounds very good for U of M but it's better than MSU

[iam416]

I think it's either MSU or OSU, and I give the latter about a 1% chance. I think his parents (it's his dad, too) will eventually get to a place where they'll sign off on MSU. I think the alternative, at the moment, is OSU.

[jaadam4]

I don't buy it. MSU is out and if I were them I'd bite the bullet and tell him to kick dirt. You can't let recruits and the families play games like this.

Had he done this to Michigan there's no way they'd still want him. 5 star or not.

But since he didn't I hope M puts the full court press. This could be huge for us

[jaadam4]

The only thing I don't get about the situation is, if the mother doesn't want her kid to go to a party school like MSU then how the F is she ok with FSU? That's all that school does

Ive partied down there and it's truly insane.

[The Oracle]

I don't buy it. MSU is out and if I were them I'd bite the bullet and tell him to kick dirt. You can't let recruits and the families play games like this.

Had he done this to Michigan there's no way they'd still want him. 5 star or not.

But since he didn't I hope M puts the full court press. This could be huge for us

Yeah, ok.

[WM Wolverine]

There is a sliding scale in terms of talent and willing to take a kid. MM is good enough of a talent to live with some drama after signing day...

I'd guess his parents eventually get on-board, barring that MM might revisit his decision and decides to go elsewhere.

[Hannibal]

The only thing I don't get about the situation is, if the mother doesn't want her kid to go to a party school like MSU then how the F is she ok with FSU? That's all that school does

Ive partied down there and it's truly insane.

It might just be football loyalty. Maybe they just hate MSU. If that's the case, it's a really shitty reason to try and influence the biggest decision of their kid's life.

[iam416]

I don't think that's it. I don't think it's partying necessarily. I've "heard" that several "we don't even go to class" comments turned her off as well as interactions with Dantonio. That, and she seems to have a slight sanity deficit.

[WM Wolverine]

Sounds odd, in one article what really turned it off was one incident at Sparty on his official visit. She didn't and wouldn't go into details. Something likely happened, was said at Sparty, but we'll never have a clue what.

[iam416]

Yeah. And some people know about it -- I'm sure Webb knows what it is -- but for now discretion seems to be the proper course of action. Probably was revealed in confidence or something.

Eh, whatever. The kids is going to end up at EL.

[iam416]

Hmmmm. Well, Webb doesn't think he'll end up at EL. That would put OSU in the running big-time.

[jaadam4]

I think he'll go FSU..

[lineygoblue]

If mama gets her way he won't be going to school in Michigan.

OlieO could luck their way into getting him. Its not a very long drive and its out of state.

Of course if he goes on a visit to Tallahassee, they'll bring out the big guns and put on the full court press, and that will be tough for any other school to overcome.