Rawls: what's the status with this guy?
But should we take it as a bad sign that there hasn't been any word yet on his grades after the winter break?
January 14th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
.. we havn't offered him yet.
could change with the new staff, but IIRC he was pretty high on us.
plus we know how flint area runningbacks turn out..
January 14th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
Rivals board posting says that Rawls is an academic "risk" which Hoke may not take as many fliers on as RR did. Bonus we won't see as many guys not make it in academically. Con: We won't ever get guys like Dorsey, etc. (I know we didn't get him, but we won't be in the running with guys like that). However Rawls does have some connections within the program (Fred Jackson I think) that could allow for a flier to be taken. It is up to Rawls to get in. Hoke staff will not be taking fliers very often...
My opinion is with this class we should be taking as many fliers as we can on the chance that a kid does surprise us and make it in because this is a rare class where we really need all the bodies we can get and we have the schollies to take chances...
January 14th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
With the inevitable re-hiring of his coach's dad Rawls is a lock for Michigan if he can get his test score high enough enough to qualify. Will be sheduling a visit this month according to Sam Webb and would fit perfectly in Hoke's power running offensive plans.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^
Have a look back at the guys who Brady Hoke recruited to Michigan, and then get the idea out of your head that he cannot pull highly regarded players to this school.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
A) WTF are you talking about?
B) The point is RR offered a lot of kids who were around the academic "line" and we didn't really know if they could make it in if the commited. Hoke won't be doing that.
I have no idea where you pulled that assumption from what I wrote. Reading Comp. 101.
January 14th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
jg was confused by your comment saying that hoke will never get duys like Dorsey and believed you were indicating that he couldnt recruit high level guys like that.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
The anti-Rodgriguez faction that resided within Admissions will now become the "Whatever Hoke Wants" Admissions.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^
Admissions are admissions at any school. They don't screw around with coaches and stuff just because. It is pretty cut and dry even with athletes. Rodriguez recruited the same way at West Virginia as he did at Michigan. He and his staff took chances. It worked at West Virginia and did not at Michigan. It's too bad, because some of those guys could play, but that's the risk they decided they wanted to take.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
Last year, Hoke signed 6 Jucos at SDSU. Let's not get carried away with the idea that RR went after academically questionable students, but Hoke finds Rhodes Scholars who happen to be "TOUGH!"
January 14th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
This often happens at lower level Division 1 schools. I'm not saying Hoke won't do it here, but I would bet he doesn't look into it often. The smaller schools offer these kids, with only 2, maybe 3 years to play, a chance right away. These kids jump at this plus it's a lot easier to get in a questionable academic kid from a juco to SDSU than UM.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
is the key...don't know if he has the scores yet.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^
a player as smooth as rawls
hoke has said he wants to focus on MI and midwest players...this may be a good litmus test
January 14th, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^
I can't see it as that. Hoke has no control over whether the kid qualifies academically, and if he does, it sounds as though he'll come here with little effort on the coaching staff's part.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
he can take rawls a kid who is a real MI guy (whatever that means) or a kid from FL who is in the same boat talent wise and grade wise
I honestly don't know who Rawls would be competing for to get that scholarship, but I think Hoke is more likely to take a kid from MI than from any other state in his first year
mark snyder wrote an article about it today
January 14th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
... this program hasn't fallen for the "We need to win recruiting in Michigan" meme. As many a poster here has shown, our historic in-State recruiting has never been a large part of our recruiting class. Get the best players you can, from anywhere in the country.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:14 AM ^
From everything I've heard about Rawls, he's not being sought because he's a Michigan resident; he's been sought because he's a great talent.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
That said, we still need to get those few great players from the state of Michigan. It's a huge bummer that we're losing guys like Lawrence Thomas to Sparty. Maybe Hoke can rebuild that fractured relationship with Renaissance?
Also, Rawls is supposed to be legit. Would love to have him if he can get in.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:55 AM ^
Not to be a Debbie-downer, but we're not looking for the "best" of anything. We prefer coaches who already know The Victors, players from the state of Michigan, etc. We hopefully will still be very competitive in the Big Ten with those self-imposed limitations.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
If Rawls isn't an academic risk and is able to get a high enough score, I would love to see him added to this class.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^
The only issue is test score(s). Webb essentially said that if he gets what he needs, committing to UM is a done deal. If he qualifies, I can't imagine that Hoke would turn him down, especially given the connection to Fred Jackson Jr. and Sr.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
that kids like Rawls, with a world of talent, can't hit the books and become academically eligible. Is high school really that hard?!?!
I really hope he can get his $hit together but you would have wonder, if he can't make the grades in high school, how in the hell is going to make the grades at the University of Michigan? Don't get me wrong, i would love to see him wearing the Winged Helmet but I just have to question his results in high school AND THEN making the jump to a top-notch academic University....
I'm pullin' for ya Rawls, hit the books my man otherwise you will regret it later in life.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
Take it easy man -- let the kid figure it out.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
Did you really neg me for asking questions? I said "I'm pullin' for ya Rawls" but just questioned the struggles in high school compared to U of M...
Prime example, my cousin was in the top 5% in his class of over 600 and Michigan DENIED him. He HAD the grades AND the test scores and it wasn't enough. So Rawls doesn't meet the requirement NOW, I post a few questions and HOPE he can make it to Michigan and get negged for it.
TGIF, I hope you feel better!
January 14th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
1.) Yes, seriously.
2.) Yes, you said you're pulling for Rawls but also said it in a way that made him sound like an incompetent person with "IS HIGH SCHOOL REALLY THAT HARD?!?!" For some, it is.
3.) Your cousin was not a football player.
4.) Have a great day.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
I would have said "Rawls doesn't deserve to be at Michigan because he can't get the scores in high school." Which clearly I didn't say...
I WANT this kid to succeed in life, PERIOD! That's why i said "hit the books" because he might have a GREAT opportunity at the University of Michigan but he has some stuff that he needs to accomplish first!
Sorry for being a little critical of a high school student. I wasn't implying that he's "stupid" or "dumb". I just want the kid to go after his dream of playing for the Maize and Blue, and do whatever it takes to achieve that!
You, have a great day!
January 14th, 2011 at 10:06 AM ^
Sam at WTKA commented extensively on Rawls this morning. Here's the link. Start at the 1minute mark.
http://www.wtka.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.podcasts_sel&id=10282
January 14th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
plans to do a visit to A2 some time this month.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^
sorry out of the loop on college admissions
when are the tests? what are the tests?
I remember there being like 3 weeks a year you could take the SAT or ACT
January 14th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
I got to watch him play several times this year! Bottom line this man is a stud! if he can get his grades together, this is a must pick up!