Exit AJ Dillon
MA RB AJ Dillon has flipped to Boston College, a school with some jive turkeys doing their edits.
Not everyone is going to understand or agree with my decision, I did what's best for me -> https://t.co/LdpTsP0R8q #DecideToFly pic.twitter.com/MmzEdjMKgy
— AJ Dillon (@ajdillon7) December 14, 2016
Watching an offensive player agree to play at Boston College is always a sad thing, but per Sam Webb they sold him on the opportunity to definitely play running back and Michigan said they said "90%" with a chance of linebacker. Meanwhile NM RB O'Maury Samuels's visit was postponed for an SAT retake, so his recruitment is obviously in some question.
Michigan is of course trying to reel in CA RB Najee Harris, the #1 recruit in the country. If they get him, this is a non-event. If they don't... eh, Michigan has Ty Isaac, Chris Evans, Karan Higdon, Kareem Walker, and Kingston Davis plus whoever they do end up bringing in this year. Dillon is an excellent athlete who is a coup for BC; Michigan looks like they'll be fine at RB for the next couple years either way.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
BC's revenge for us taking Don Brown.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
AJ is an intriguing player, but I think we won that deal.....
December 14th, 2016 at 11:15 AM ^
They would need to take our next 40 running backs.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
Hahaha
December 14th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
BC was so excited to get him they spelled his name wrong!
LOL - way to ingratiate yourself BC
December 14th, 2016 at 7:54 PM ^
Must be a staee grad in the SID's department of course....
circled for the benefit of the staee trolls!
December 14th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
Its a sign Harris is coming to Michigan. He didn't want to compete behind him. Fingers crossed.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
Well, we've lost our second-best RB in the class. Samuels would be our first-best, so hopefully we don't lose him, too. Getting Harris would make up for losing either/both.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Whether it's academics-related or based on his own questions about PT, I think Samuels ends up elsewhere. From what I've read elsewhere here it seems like Taylor might not end up in the class, either.
If Samuels doesn't come here, I hope he stays out on the west coast. I'd hate to see him wearing green and white.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^
He seems like a true Harbaugh-type player -- hard worker, great attitude, etc. and if you watch the highlight video linked here earlier this week (a game against a Florida school) he seemed to be the only one of the stars not actively mugging for the camera.
Unfortunately he does seem to be the least talented of the original 3 (maybe the coaches see differently) and unlike Samuels or Dillon doesn't really have a backup position if RB doesn't work out due to his size.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^
Reminds me of Eric Mayes:
"Mayes played for the University of Michigan football team as a walk-on and was later elected co-captain of the undefeated 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team that won the Associated Press national championship. Mayes, called "Zeus" by his teammates, was such a motivational and inspirational leader that after suffering a season-ending injury during the teams national championship run, his teammates handed him the Big Ten Conference championship trophy, hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him off the field after defeating Ohio State at Michigan Stadium, 20–14."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Mayes
Granted, Taylor is much more than a walk-on, but every championship team needs guys like him—they're a component of the "glue" that helps the team stay together during the tough moments that every team faces.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
Each to his own, but Taylor is smaller than Smith and rated significantly lower. He also didn't have great numbers in high school, though he was playing against tougher competition than Smith did. Regardless, I hope we get someone better than Kurt Taylor, whether it's Samuels or Harris or someone else.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
You reference him as our "second best RB" and Brian lists all the other RBs on the roster if we dont land Harris yet the write-up claims the reason for the flip was our insistance he play LB.
That doest seem consistent. If we wanted him as a LB who cares what our RB depth is and if we wanted him as an RB, why did he leave?
December 14th, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
Second-best RB in the class, not on the team.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
But from the sounds of Brian's write up we wanted him as a linebacker, not a running back, and hence his flip to BC.
But then Brian goes and lists all the running backs on the roster and you reference the running backs in the class which to me makes no sense. If we wanted him as a linebacker shouldn't he have listed the linebackers ahead of him on the depth chart?
I get that he wants to play running back. What I dont get is where we wanted him to play.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
Right. If they say 90%, then I view him as a running back.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^
Do you think our running back by committee style this year impacts our RB recruitment? I think it was more a function of our personnel rather than a commitment to a certain offensive philosophy but i'm sure recruits took note. I know you can couch it as early playing time for the younger guys but i think most 17 yo recruits hope to be the feature back in college.
I'm sure Wheatley is telling young Mr. Harris - hey every starting spot is earned....come on and grab it.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
Pulling in Jordan Anthony from IMG (RB/OLB), IMHO, would be a step up over Dillon and Samuels. Losing Dillon - if not a leading indicator of pulling in Harris - may be an indicator of pulling in Anthony or possibly both Harris and Anthony.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
They are recruiting Anthony as a LB, even tho he is listed by some sites as a RB. They told Dillon 90% chance of RB, but maybe LB. I dont think the two had much of an effect on each other.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
Anyone else hate those mouthguards with the teeth? So so glad we do not use them.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
I absolutely hate them. So stupid and tacky looking.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
...the dudes who used to wear the iridescent contact lenses to make themselves look like a jungle cat or some shit.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
to the kid.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
Gotta respect the kid for wanting to go to a good academic school. He didn't flip to a school like Rutgers. He clearly wants to play school.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
Mostly disappointed because our offense could always use a bruiser in the rotation at RB. Dillon seemed to have the best combination of size and athleticism since...? /shakes fist at Derrick Green
December 14th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Good luck AJ.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Best of luck to him.
But has BC's stands ever been as full as they are in that picture?
December 14th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
can't blame anyone for making a decision that they think is in their best self-interest. i hope he does great.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
It's time to update the site's tagline with some portion of the "jive turkey" quotation. "Do not be deceived..." has served its purpose.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
"Exit" does not seem appropriate for recruits, as they never joined the team in the first place. I suggest reserving "Exit" for current players/coaches and something to the effect of "We Hardly Knew Ye" for recruits.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
I really like that idea, save Exit for the guys on the team and have a more specific headline along with some literary nerdiness to designate a decommit. Very Mgoblog idea.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 12:03 PM ^
What about "we never wanted you anyway"?
December 14th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
I've always thought it'd be a nice feature to have a "Goodbye" post for each graduating scholarship player that reviews his recruiting rankings, contributions, funny stuff along the way, etc. It'd be a lot of work, but it could be a good way to fill the football-less summer.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
He'll enjoy himself out there. Boston's a cool area.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
Sorry, just preparing myself for another winter here.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
and from where we sit, I assume that this is a result of good things coming to us soon.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
Gotta do what's best for him. And if he becomes the guy that helps take down Clemson or FSU, even better.
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