Jordan Elliott (image via Scout.com)
Houston (TX) Westside defensive tackle Jordan Elliott decommitted from Michigan on Wednesday night. He is expected to commit to Texas sooner or later.
Like Elizabeth Taylor, Elliott has been “committed” several times. He was a Baylor commit and a Houston commit before he pledged to Michigan. At some point in there, he was rumored to have silently committed to Texas. Now he will probably sign with Texas next Wednesday. Unless the wind is blowing north, in which case he will end up at Boise State. If he wakes up and sees his shadow on Wednesday morning, he will sign with Punxsutawney Community College. If he doesn’t see his shadow, he’s a vampire. According to NCAA bylaws, vampires are ineligible.
Hit the jump for more.
As you can see from my commitment post, I was not in love with Elliott’s game (LINK). The multiple commitments and decommitments were a turnoff to me, but the football stuff was more so. And after that post, I was once again underwhelmed with what I saw from Elliott at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. It’s not that Elliott isn’t athletic. It’s that there’s more to being a good football player than being athletic. We will see what happens with Elliott’s future, but I can’t say I’m disappointed that his future won’t be at Michigan. Victor Viramontes and Rashad Weaver, to an extent, are decommitments I regret; Elliott, not so much.
Michigan – which picked up two commitments earlier today – is back down to 25 commits in the 2016 class. Defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour flipped from Penn State to Michigan earlier this week, but there are some questions about whether Dwumfour will qualify academically. That puts Michigan in a bit of a bind, because most of its contributors are upperclassmen. Ryan Glasgow, Chris Wormley, Tom Strobel, and Matt Godin are all in their final years of eligibility; Maurice Hurst, Jr. is a redshirt junior. Bryan Mone and Brady Pallante are both redshirt sophomores, but Pallante spent a big chunk of his time playing fullback this past season. Looking ahead to 2017, Michigan’s depth chart at the two inside spots includes Hurst, Mone, Pallante, Dwumfour (assuming he qualfies), and possibly Rashan Gary (who announces next Wednesday). Things are not dire, but they are close to dire.
So where does Michigan go from here? Aside from hoping for a commitment from Gary, I think Michigan needs to scramble for another defensive tackle. Options there include:
- New Orleans (LA) Landry-Walker defensive tackle Tyrus Butler is uncommitted but I have not heard any buzz between him and Michigan.
- Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson defensive tackle Keyshon Camp recently decommitted from USC and named Michigan to his final group; that group also included Missouri, where USC’s defensive line coach landed, but now he took a job in the NFL. Unfortunately, Camp didn’t like the weather at Michigan and claimed that the Wolverines gave up against Ohio State, saying he didn’t want to surround himself with that kind of attitude.
- Euless (TX) Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels recently decommitted from Oklahoma. While he has not named a new list of favorites, Michigan was not thought to be in the running again. He is originally from the state of Michigan.
- Detroit (MI) Cass Tech offensive guard Michael Onwenu is committed to Michigan, though he took a visit to Michigan State last weekend and will be at Oklahoma this coming weekend. He could play nose tackle if Michigan wanted to reallocate him to defense.
- Concord (CA) De La Salle defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa officially visited with teammate Devin Asiasi last week. Most insiders are saying that Tagaloa wants to stay out west.
If the Wolverines strike out in 2016, then they will have to go very hard after players who can contribute early in 2017. They already have several offers out to good players, but that position would immediately jump to the forefront of Michigan’s position needs for the 2017 class.
You need to login in order to vote
I’m sure Camp will enjoy a more winning attitude at Pitt
You need to login in order to vote
O well good luck in your next destination and thunder and suggestions as to why prospects like him who flip flop so much never pan out
You need to login in order to vote
I wouldn’t say they NEVER pan out. Jordan Payton had a pretty good career at UCLA (about 1,000 yards receiving the past two years), and he was a serial flip-flopper. But I think kids who change their mind don’t really know what they want, and they’re easily swayed. If things don’t go their way immediately, they think “Hey, Coach X really wanted me at School X, so maybe I should go there” or “I had all these schools fighting over me, so I’m sure I could find a better situation.” I also wonder about their family background, because I know my parents would say, “You gave your word, and you’re sticking to it” unless something REALLY bad happened (such as the PSU scandal, etc.). If you don’t have someone teaching you about following through with your word, then that’s a tough lesson to learn.
You need to login in order to vote
Probably 99% of the time flip floppers do not pan out. Elliott’s flip flopping is a huge turn off for me as well.
You need to login in order to vote
Hopefully Harbaugh and Co. have a plan B and Plan C after Gary. With the loss of Jordan, even if we get Gary, we probably need at least one other true DT/NT in this class. We have a major roster hole there and badly need at least one guy in this year’s class who will be able to step in and be a solid rotation player in 2017.
You need to login in order to vote
Your Elliot compilation is priceless…. best laugh i’ve had all morning.
You need to login in order to vote