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Written Scholarship Offers Must Be Written Later

Sorry, Greg Brown. Your offer disappeared.*

A new NCAA rule has been instituted that might affect the football recruiting world a great deal.

Then again, it might not.

A recent rule change has pushed back the date that NCAA institutions can send out scholarship offers. Through the class of 2011, the date has been September 1 of the player’s junior year. That’s why Fremont, OH, cornerback Greg Brown was able to “officially” commit on September 2, 2009. He received a written offer in the mail at the beginning of his junior year and committed on the spot, even though he wouldn’t be able to sign his binding Letter of Intent until February 2011, midway through his senior year.

The new rule won’t take effect until the Class of 2012. That means that kids who graduate from high school in 2012 won’t receive written scholarship offers until at least August 1, 2011. So while Michigan fans might have been expecting Cass Tech linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s linebacker James Ross to receive written offers on September 1, 2010, they’ll have to wait almost another full year.

The intent of the rule change is to cut down on the time that recruits suffer through the recruiting process. It can be grueling, and kids have been known to commit earlier than they want, if only to slow down the number of calls, e-mails, and letters they receive. Rather than being pestered for 16+ months, the NCAA hopes that the grueling part of the process will be pared down to a maximum of six months or so. The NCAA is also attempting to prevent decommits, which often leave a football program (think Michigan circa February 2009) hanging out to dry.

However, the effect of the rule change will likely be minimal. Kids will still offer verbal commitments early. It’s a status symbol to say as a sophomore or junior, “Yeah, I’m going to play college ball at ___________.” The difference is that their verbal commitments will only be in response to verbal offers, which don’t always progress to the written kind. So once August or September of 2011 arrives, we might see some players making a mad scramble due to offers that never materialized. That probably won’t affect many kids, but there will surely be a few.

The new legislation won’t make a huge difference, but it’s a step in the right direction for kids who don’t want to deal with 16 months of bedlam.

*Greg Brown’s offer didn’t really disappear. The new rule won’t take effect until next year.

If I had My Druthers . . . Running Backs

I’m not sure what this guy’s name is . . .

Okay, here’s the list of running backs Michigan has offered. Players who have committed elsewhere are barred from my prestigious list. It’s a dog eat dog world out there, my friends, and you’re wearing Milkbone underwear.

1. Mike Bellamy
Only 5’9″ but has good speed and is extremely slippery. He shrugs off arm tackles.

2. Demetrius Hart
He might be pictured above. He’s fast, tiny, and will run you over if you’re not ready.

3. Mike Blakely
Great speed and quickness, but doesn’t break as many tackles as Bellamy.

4. Savon Huggins
Slightly above average speed, but runs hard and has tremendous balance.

5. Justice Hayes
Good speed and decent power. Good pass receiver, too. Runs a little high.

6. Bill Belton
Tiny, quick-twitch high school quarterback. Extremely elusive, but I’d like someone with a little more power.

7. Malcolm Crockett
Runs hard and makes cuts at full speed.

8. Remound Wright
Only average speed, but runs with purpose. Most impressive: the kid sprints through the goal line, even when nobody’s close to him. I’d love to have him on my team. His video got me pumped.

9. DaVondrick Nealy
Very good speed and moves, but dances a little too much for my liking.

10. Quan Bray
Good speed, but very thin. Doesn’t run as hard as I’d like to see him run.

11. Jarrell Oliver
Just doesn’t have the explosion I’d like to see in a running back. Not the gamebreaker Michigan needs.

12. Demetrius Williams
Good initial burst, but not a natural breakaway runner. Seems to be running in quicksand when he gets into the open field.

13. Melvin Gordon
Good size. Decent speed. Could also play safety.

2011 Offer Board update

Outside linebacker prospect Ryan Shazier

ESPN 150 released

Georgia defensive end Ray Drew

ESPN’s recruiting department put out its top 150 list on Wednesday. Unlike its “watch list,” there are only 150 players here, not 3,574. The following players have Michigan offers:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE – South Carolina
3. Ray Drew, DE – Georgia
4. Christian Westerman, OT – Texas (Texas)
6. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT – Maryland
8. James Wilder, RB – Florida
11. Quan Bray, RB – Georgia
12. Charone Peake, WR – South Carolina
13. George Farmer, WR – California
16. Braxton Miller, QB – Ohio
18. Steve Miller, DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
20. Jay Rome, TE – Georgia
21. Karlos Williams, S – Florida (Florida State)
24. Matt Hegarty, OL – New Mexico (Notre Dame)
25. Desmond Jackson, DT – Texas (Texas)
26. Hasean Clinton-Dix, S – Florida (Alabama)
28. Christian LeMay, QB – North Carolina (Georgia)
31. Savon Huggins, RB – New Jersey
32. Tim Jernigan, DT – Florida
33. Cyrus Hobbi, OG – Arizona
35. Trey DePriest, LB – Ohio
36. Bobby Hart, OL – Florida
39. Kiehl Frazier, QB – Arkansas (Auburn)
41. Ja’juan Story, WR – Florida
44. Curtis Grant, LB – Virginia
53. DeAnthony Arnett, WR – Michigan
54. Sammy Watkins, WR – Florida
61. Brett Hundley, QB – Arizona
63. Avery Walls, CB – Georgia
64. Nick Waisome, CB – Florida
67. Doran Grant, CB – Ohio
68. Jarvis Landry, WR – Louisiana
69. Wayne Lyons, S – Florida
71. Ryan Shazier, LB – Texas
75. Giorgio Newberry, OT – Florida
81. Anthony Chickillo, DE – Florida
83. Mike Bellamy, RB – Florida
87. Josh Turner, CB – Oklahoma
89. Nathan Hughes, DE – Texas (Texas)
90. DaVaris Daniels, WR – Illinois
91. Demetrious Nicholson, CB – Virginia
93. Brandon Fulse, TE – Florida
97. Darius Jennings, RB – Maryland
101. Andre Yruretagoyena, OT – Arizona
111. Brandon Phelps, CB – Maryland
116. Mike Blakeley, RB – Florida
117. Mickey Johnson, DT – Louisiana
120. Sheroid Evans, S – Texas (Texas)
126. Michael Bennett, DT – Ohio (Ohio State)
131. Bill Belton, RB – New Jersey
135. Lawrence Thomas, LB – Michigan (Michigan State)
136. Everett Golson, QB – South Carolina (North Carolina)
139. Jerrard Randall, QB – Florida
140. Garrett Greenlea, OT – Texas (Texas)
142. Dallas Crawford, CB – Florida
143. Kiaro Holts, OL – Indiana
149. Charles Jackson, CB – Texas

Rivals250 released

Virginia cornerback Demetrious Nicholson has dreads.

Following yesterday’s release of the Rivals100, the website released its rankings for the top 250 players in the country on Wednesday afternoon. The following is a list of players Michigan has offered from 101 to 250:

101. Demetrious Nicholson, CB – Virginia
111. Dondi Kirby, CB – Pennsylvania
112. Quan Bray, RB – Georgia
115. Zach Debell, OT – Florida
117. Aundrey Walker, OT – Ohio
120. Nick Waisome, CB – Florida
133. Garrett Greenlea, OT – Texas (Texas)
135. Sheroid Evans, S – Texas (Texas)
136. Brian Miller, TE – Massachusetts (Boston College)
137. Chevelle Buie, RB – Florida
139. Mickey Johnson, DT – Louisiana
141. Deion Barnes, DE – Pennsylvania
147. Charles Jackson, CB – Texas
149. Travis Hughes, LB – Virginia
151. DaVaris Daniels, WR – Illinois
152. Avery Walls, CB – Georgia
156. Brandon Fulse, TE – Florida
157. Jordan Walsh, OT – Illinois
159. Kyshoen Jarrett, CB – Pennsylvania
165. Ryan Shazier, LB – Texas
172. Jalen Grimble, DE – Nevada (USC)
173. Darius Jennings, RB – Maryland
174. Nick Vannett, TE – Ohio
180. Brandon Phelps, CB – Maryland
185. Miles Shuler, WR – New Jersey
187. Brennen Beyer, DE – Michigan (Michigan)
195. Anthony Chickillo, DE – Florida
199. Kiaro Holts, OL – Indiana
200. Bryant Dubose, DE – Florida
205. Austin Traylor, DE – Ohio
206. Remound Wright, RB – Indiana
216. Brett Hundley, QB – Arizona
217. Melvin Gordon, RB – Wisconsin
218. Kevin McReynolds, DT – Washington, DC
226. Nathan Hughes, DE – Texas (Texas)
229. Terrell Chestnut, CB – Pennsylvania
236. Delonte Hollowell, CB – Michigan (Michigan)
240. Bill Belton, RB – New Jersey
242. Steve Miller, DE – Ohio (Ohio State)
247. Trai Turner, OL – Louisiana
250. Corey Marshall, DE – Virginia

By my count, 41 players from numbers 101-250 have been offered by the Wolverines. In addition to the 43 from the Rivals100 (I omitted Ray Drew from yesterday’s list), that gives Michigan two commitments (Delonte Hollowell, Brennen Beyer) and 84 overall targets out of the top 250 players in the country, according to Rivals.