Exit Thomas Rawls
MLive reporter Eric Woodyard has tweeted that Thomas Rawls is transferring to Central Michigan. The writing was on the wall for Rawls after being passed by not only two freshman tailbacks but—at least in the land of depth charts—Drake Johnson. Rawls didn't see a carry after the opener despite the chaos at tailback, and wasn't going to next year. This has likely been in the works for a while, as Michigan started pursuing a tailback in the 2014 recruiting class a couple months ago.
Rawls was a Signing Day add in the Rodriguez/Hoke transitional class with generic three star hype from everyone except Fred Jackson, who made ludicrous comparisons to Mark Ingram because that's what Fred Jackson does.
I'll wait until spring practice is over to update the Attrition Watch fully; for now just know that Rawls is the eighth member of the 21-man 2011 class to depart. With Desmond Morgan, Frank Clark, Blake Countess, Brennen Beyer, and Raymon Taylor looking like starting-quality players, the 2011 outfit is marginally better than 2010. Marginally being your key word there.
Michigan will go into spring with a tentative depth chart like so:
- Derrick Green
- DeVeon Smith
- Justice Hayes
- Drake Johnson
January 25th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
to the young man. He never really panned out like we all had hoped he would.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
Good luck in MP, Thomas. Go Fire Up Chips!
January 25th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
WIth all the added offers to RB's not exactly a shock. WIsh him well and hope he gets quality playing time at Central. Now on to the recruiting speculation and what this means for Michigan in the future.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
Rawls looked pretty good in his TD run last season. 4.2ypc the year before, 6.1 the year before that. Statistically he was not bad, I always thought that if he had a little quicker feet, he would be a good BT RB. Maybe he will be a good MAC RB.
Does he have to sit out a year...anyone know?
January 25th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
Had high hopes for Rawls. I hope he finds success in Mount Pleasant.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
This means there are two total seniors on offense- Devin Gardner and Jordan Paskorz.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
Attrition doesn't mean a thing. You might lose 45% of your RS and Senior class but that's not the problem. No, not at all. It's the coaches and a lack of development.
/s
January 25th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
Actually its a combination of both things. Most people know and understand this. The problem is there are factions on either side that excuse one or the other so viciously that it brings an insane amount of negativity to any situation discussing Michigan's failings.
This is actually good attrition. Rawls goes somewhere he may play, Michigan frees up a scholarship for a player who will likely contribute more than Rawls could if he stayed.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
Yeah, that's pretty scary. If anyone wants to see the lasting effects of the Process, just check out the depth chart by class. Equally scary: there are 0 offensive tackles in the next TWO senior classes.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
If I counted right there are only 10 offensive seniors in 2013, 2014 and 2015 combined. That tells you something about how unbelievably young we were last year.
Edit: I guess that number is technically 14, but if we are talking about guys who are expected to ever start a game? That number is closer to 6.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
Which of the 2010-class attrition do you attribute to The Process? Cullen Christian and Ray Vinopal I can see--they landed on their feet playing FBS-level football. But who else? Demar Dorsey? Antonio Kinard? Davion Rogers, Austin White, Jerald Robinson...go down the list, what did any of that have to do with the coaching change?
January 25th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
and what did the inability to recruit a full class in 2010 have to do with the Process? I talked about attrition because it's the only piece of that year's puzzle that could even arguably be linked to the coaching change.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
"Thomas Rawls, potentially, he brought too much to the table here at Michigan. His talents were so great that, realistically, he had to transfer to Central Michigan so that two Michigan University communities could appreciate his contributions. Aside from that, I fully expect him to bring more sunshine to Mount Pleasant. I'm sure if he were to visit Soaring Eagle not only would he be the luckiest man in there...he'd probably leave with all the ladies. I'd wish him luck but players like Thomas come along once in a generation. I'd say I'd miss him but he'll be part of my memories forever"
Best wishes Thomas.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
Does anyone know if he'll have to sit out a year at CMU? Best of luck regardless.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
Transferring from one FBS school to another requires one to sit out a year.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
Except if you have graduated and the school you are going to has a master's degree program not offered by your old school. I have no idea if that applies in Rawls's case, but Gardner graduated early so it isn't unheard-of for guys in their 4th year to be doen with a degree.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
He will be a true junior this year, so can sit out this year, take a redshirt, and still have 2 years of eligibility.
January 25th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
He played in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (even if it was just one carry).
January 25th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
Wish him the best. Sad to see him go, but probably for the best if he wants to see playing time. He was kind of stuck in no-man's land as a power back without a great ability to move the pile, but maybe with more playing time he'll find a better niche.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
Sounds like one of them good problems.
(For both parties involved).
January 25th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
New Transfer Request?
January 25th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
I can understand the desire to play and it definitely looks like the opportunity was not here. I wish him well.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
It's an FBS school. So, yes, he sits. The only exceptions are for hardship cases and grad students.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
qualify as a hardship?
January 25th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
I'm surprised he didn't apply to the NCAA for asylum.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Fire Up Chips!
January 25th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
DEATH TO PROCESSES
(and backboards. Still backboards)
January 25th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
four deep at running back, three of whom were highly rated, I feel pretty good about that. (But yeah, o-line)
- Derrick Green 5-star
- DeVeon Smith 4-star
- Justice Hayes 4-star
- Drake Johnson 3-star
January 25th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
If they don't take a RB in this class (which it seems like they won't), that's moderately scary depth. Drake is coming back from an ACL tear, so who knows how he'll be, and Hayes is projected to be more of a slot. So now you've got just Green and Smith. With the wear and tear RBs go through, that's not good.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:12 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised to see Houma and/or Shallman taking reps there.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^
Could definitely see Houma and Shallman taking reps on the scout team (since someone has to), but since they are both FBs, I doubt we see either much at RB.
Unless all hell breaks loose of course.
January 25th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
Some analysts were even saying he might be better suited at RB
January 25th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
Seriously though, good luck to him at CMU, I was really hoping he would have panned out here.
January 25th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
Wondering if this means that we'll be taking a RB in this class...
January 25th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
If we do, it'd be from someone committing without ever seeing campus. Jones cancelled his visit on the 31st (due to Michigan pulling back according to TomVH), Mack doesn't have anything scheduled, and Enwere is supposedly solid to Cal now.
So unless they throw out an 11th hour offer to someone, those are the options at the moment and none of them look good.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
Back when Rawls came to Blue, but I am not so sure that his comments on the exit will ring true.
I wish him the best and it would be great to see him attain a high level of competence for the Chips. Interesting that he would pick a FBS school and sit out the year. It shows that he is not afraid of competition.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
I was wishing that he would say something to that effect. He is the master of hyperbole and there is always a place for such on any team.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
I too think the RB depth is dicey. Perhaps Houma could move to RB as he is more agile than the other fullbacks and Nuss does not use the FB much.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
January 25th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
And God help us if anything happens to either of them.
January 25th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^
It's scary low next year. I would say Hayes is staying at running back and Shallman will move to RB as well. I would say if they aren't taking a RB in 2014 they need to take 2 in 2015.
January 25th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^
will be missed, but it was a smart move. as a huge _Theory of Justice_ fan, he had one of my favorite names on the team
January 25th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
Good for Rawls. Central is a lot like Michigan, except with a bigger stadium and a better O-line.
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