Kevin Newsome Abandons Ship Comment Count

Brian

goddammitAw, hell. Rivals has an article titled "Kevin Newsome back on the market" and he's not looking to scoop up foreclosed houses (topical ZING!): the rampant rumors from a month or so ago have come to fruition and he's decommitted. No schools have been mentioned yet; the scuttlebutt before was that Virginia Tech and Penn State were the main suitors. Michigan remains explicitly in the running, but it's extremely rare for a kid to re-commit to the school he decommitted from.

Some comments from on high about the reaction:

  • Please check to see if there's already a thread about it on the message board before posting the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th thread.
  • Don't be that asshat who posts something misleading in the subject line only to say "ha ha not really" in the text. This is never funny and makes people think you are mildly retarded.
  • Criticizing kids who decommit is always tiresome; skip it.
  • Not quite as tiresome but nearly so is the sarcastic overreaction post.

I'm bummed because I thought Newsome had enormous upside and the kind of dedication required to reach it. Tate Forcier is visiting for the Utah game, and a consolation prize that completes more than 70% of his passes ain't shabby. We'll see if the rumored Michigan love is for real; Forcier now has a powerful incentive to jump ASAP.

Comments

Thrillhouse

August 19th, 2008 at 6:14 PM ^

other brian - how tall is forcier now? that picture brian posted of the three brothers made him look like he couldn't be more than 5-11. rivals lists him as 6-0 in one place, and 6-1 in another. i guess what was so intriguing about newsome over forcier, atleast for me, was his size. otherwise, i say forcier's measurables make him seem like the better qb prospect. at this point, per the internets, he's more accurate and faster. his size is all that worries me. oh yeah, another thing, any reason why i shouldn't be so cocky about us landing forcier?

The Other Brian

August 19th, 2008 at 6:55 PM ^

Hard to tell how tall Forcier really is. All the numbers the recruiting sites post are usually exaggerated to a degree. I'd say 6'0 is a good guess. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing though. Chase Daniel and Troy Smith were both 6'0.

As for being cocky about landing him, eh. Assuming he's not a psychopath, all signs point to Michigan having the inside track. The "insiders" think there was a really good chance of him picking Michigan even with Newsome on board, and although competition is something that DOESN'T bother him, Newsome being gone now certainly increases the odds of Forcier picking M.

tigersjunkie

August 19th, 2008 at 4:44 PM ^

It always hurts losing a big time recruit, but life isn't over.  I know Rodriquez wants a QB who can run like Pat White but it is hard for me to be sold on Michigan becoming the next West Virginia.  Ideally our QB should be able to run just as well as he can pass, but if I had to choose between a running QB or a passing QB I would choose passing.  Let our stud running backs dominate the ground and our QB air it out down field. 

papabear16

August 19th, 2008 at 4:48 PM ^

I'll bet that, in the end, there's a very simple explanation for all of this.  Of course, I don't know what it is.  But, I know that even were I a terrible fit for the Michigan offense coming out of high school as a four-star recruit (and in my fantasy, I also have a pony and a fighter jet...), I likely would have gone to Michigan.  That would be because I dreamed of wearing the maize and blue since I was very young.  For Newsome, maybe he realized he doesn't want to be this far from home, maybe he's never really liked Michigan, and maybe he alway imagined himself wearing #2, and that's been taken now.  Whatever it is, he ony gets four years to do this, he might as well go where he'll be happiest.

papabear16

August 19th, 2008 at 4:58 PM ^

tigersjunkie, I actually think that's what RR would prefer.  The dream may be someone like Vince Young or Mike Vick.  Jim Harbaugh also comes to mind.  Anyway, from what I hear about any of Newsome, Forcier, and Smith, they can all throw pretty well.  I don't really think that White is RR's ideal QB.

M - Flightsci

August 19th, 2008 at 8:20 PM ^

I... ahhh, called LSU's AD earlier this year (in the spring), claiming to be Russell Shepherd.  Tate Forcier helped my out with the phone # with his online list of offers.  I BS'd my way through a couple of secretary who were very pleasant to speak with, and missed talking to Les Miles by about a minute (secretary #2 said he had just left).  Instead I had a chat with Gary Crowton, the OC (also a really nice guy).  He said he was looking forward to winning a couple more NC's with me.  Haha

 

I think I'll call back and tell him I broke up with my girlfriend and being in the same city as her is no longer an option. 

THE MICHIGAN MAN

August 19th, 2008 at 5:05 PM ^

 

The Oldsome can go to fo$u for all I care. Tate Forcier was my fist preference anyway. We are going to be just fine. Tate and Shavodrick will be a great combo for us.

KBLOW

August 19th, 2008 at 5:41 PM ^

Just give me some Beaver!

Seriously, not that Newsome is a bad kid or anything like that, but I just like everything I've heard/read about Beaver's attitude.

Wolverine Nation

August 19th, 2008 at 5:57 PM ^

If Newsome doesn't want to be one of the Leaders and Best, so be it. No player will ever be bigger than MICHIGAN. He obviously has no respect for our tradition.

Newsome wasn't very smart and probably couldn't handle the Ivy League academics here. I bet he wouldn't have qualified.

He probably bust his knee up on special teams at VT anyway.

Tacopants

August 19th, 2008 at 6:20 PM ^

Newsome isn't an idiot, he's got better grades and ACTs than probably 95% of all 3+* kids.

And Ivy League academics?  I doubt many football players take Math 116, let alone a 400 level Physics class.  Michigan takes football players with ACTs far below the published median, just like every other school in D1

Blue Durham

August 19th, 2008 at 6:37 PM ^

He obviously has no respect for our tradition.

Michigan is the only place that has a unique tradition???  Does that mean that someone going to another school, that person has no respect for the traditions of Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Nebraska, Alabama (those of you at RollTideRoll, please ignore), Texas, Texas A&M etc.?????  I have several degrees from UM, and I have nothing but respect for the traditions at these other institutions.  It's fun and is what makes college football rich as opposed to the sterile NFL.  What an astoundingly boring world it would be if everything great=Michigan and everything and everyone else=suck. 

Newsome wasn't very smart and probably couldn't handle the Ivy League academics here. I bet he wouldn't have qualified.

He probably bust his knee up on special teams at VT anyway.

I don't share your sources/information and clairvoyance. 

FrankMurphy

August 19th, 2008 at 6:07 PM ^

I remember him saying in one of his pre-commit interviews that he wanted to be at a program that ran a pro-style offense, so I always thought it was curious that he committed to Michigan.

As an aside, should this give us cause for concern about RR's recruiting prowess? Little brother has been dominating us in-state, the southern excursion doesn't seem to be yielding any fruits, and Rodriguez hasn't fared any better nationwide than Carr did...

WolvinLA

August 19th, 2008 at 6:39 PM ^

Are you really judging RR's recruiting when he has less than a year on the job, and hasn't even coached one game?  If there's one thing that scares off big time recruits, it's uncertainty, and unfortunately there is a lot of that here right now, as far as big programs go.  Give the guy a fuckin break man.  He has been busier than Carr likely ever was with this transition and all that has come along with it.  In the process he has a top 10 class coming along smoothly, and because we lost one of our TWO 4 star QB's you think this is a caue for concern?  RR hasn't proved a thing at UM, yet he is getting commitments from big time players across the country, and we are in the running for a solid handful more.  I'd chill a bit, Frank.

The Other Brian

August 19th, 2008 at 7:05 PM ^

It's comments like this that really grind gears.

Once again, HOW exactly is Michigan State dominating us in-state? MSU has 9 commitments from in-state players, and Michigan missed out on exactly TWO of them, Edwin Baker and Chris Norman, who happen to play positions that Michigan isn't lacking in depth at

Other than that, what? Larry Caper? Doesn't fit RR's spread. Dana Dixon? No Michigan interest. Bennie Fowler? Typical MSU recruit that they stole from the MAC. Andrew Maxwell? Pro-style QB. Micajah Reynolds? Another MAC recruit that picked Sparty. Blake Treadwell? Son of an MSU coach.

The southern excursion isn't yielding fruit? Ricky Barnum, Justin Feagin, Martavious Odoms last year. Jeremy Gallon and Mike Jones so far this year, with Brandin Hawthorne and Vincent Smith committing at the end of the month. There are still a handful of southern kids Michigan has a realistic shot at this year. We're the clear #1 for surefire 5-star safety Marvin Robinson out of Florida next year. Ricardo Miller is a 2010 WR from Orlando who everyone is raving about as a 4/5 star top 100 talent last year, and he might commit the second in receives a Michigan offer in September.

Anything else?

Alaska Hokie

August 19th, 2008 at 7:07 PM ^

I'm calling bullshit on this one until a news source I trust turns up something else. Rivals is the sportswriting equivalent of the shady guy who calls in with a "hot news tip" and refuses to give his name or contact information and doesn't want you to quote him, either. Frankly, it's in their best interest to create controversy where none exists -- that drives more people to Rivals and Scout to see what all the hubub is about. It's the worst kind of yellow journalism.

Ellipses Man

August 19th, 2008 at 8:08 PM ^

When I said Newsome was weak in his committment, it was an opinion.
It's a hunch. I dont need to be right. In fact I said I hope I'm wrong in that sheridan blog post.
And or I am open to being wrong, which may be why one gets it right or
closer to center. Something to think about there. This will happen EVERY YEAR until Rich builds the monster to perferction. Think Jeremy Finch.....Then You take an
Obi Ezeh. Comes from a well educated family, hard worker, converts from
FB to linebacker. And is stellar! These are Michigan Students and
Football players. Jay Riemersma, highly rated high school QB, loves
Michigan, converts to TE, goes to NFL. Jason Avant, tough life-great
human being...or a Mark Moundrous who just punishes defenders down
after down without care for his personal well being or any
recognition...these are the players who are the measuring sticks even
Bo would tell you to compare these recruits to. The University of
Michigan gets and produces great students, men and woman MUCH smarter
than me! lol. And same with football. You cannot be above the system
and play at Michigan. And that includes the coaches. I did not see that
in Kevin Newsome. I did not see that desire in Terelle. They were men
who were the system. They needed to be above it to function. And I
think if you You Tube Shavodrick Beaver you can see the real reason why
Newsome walked. He wanted the job handed to him. OPINION. The Forcier
family knows Michigan Football. Their other son just got in behind
another tough gritty QB in Mr. Chad Henne. Henne knew from Day One what
it meant to wear that helmet. So that is why you gravitate towards a
Forcier. And another thing, Beaver has, for the RR system, in my
opinion WAY MORE UPSIDE. Do we lose anything besides a recruiting slot
on rivals or scout with this newsome decom? No.

 

Yinka Double Dare

August 19th, 2008 at 8:09 PM ^

It stinks losing Newsome, who sounded like he would have been a nice fit, even academically, but Forcier would be fine as well. A little shorter and smaller, but still quick and that #1 Accuracy rating in the class from Rivals is pretty sweet. Maybe he won't have the deep ball arm we're all used to watching, but I think Tacopants will cease to be a major part of the offense with him.

Let's hope he commits after he visits. He's a spring enrollee as well if he comes, so he and Beaver will both have time to learn the offense in practice and possibly win the QB job for next season if they're good enough. Options are good.  Good options are better.

If Newsome wants a "pro-style" offense, he probably shouldn't go to VaTech though, unless the pro-style he's thinking of is the Bears, i.e. offense can't move the ball for squat but the special teams is really kickass.

Ellipses Man

August 19th, 2008 at 8:22 PM ^

Ryan Mallett had a 3.8 in high school! He's now with Petrino and Fayethille ho's. I'm sure he misses Ann Arbor!

We are losing QB's though and this is a worry of mine. That's why I went bezerker in the Sherdian post. It is because I know what opposing coaches are saying to these guys about Rich and his offense. About Rich and QB's. It's obvious what they imply and whisper. They say things,"Michigan isnt Michigan anymore in the QB department. We here at Fock Lion University are more Michigan now than they are." Or something like that. And with Newsome going, it feels like we are losing the all around guys now. We are and we arent. I think we are losing the all around guys we dont need. It takes years to change the direction of a program and yet maintain it to the levels of excellence it was prior to your arrival. The guys, like Beaver, Stonum, McGuffie, who are committed to the University will slowly unite the old and the new. There will come a day when we may face Kevin Newsome in a BCS game. I know we will face Terelle this year on an end around or something to get Columbus into the game. Michigan will endure.