Post
by JRB » Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:22 pm
No, actually, I wasn't implying that-- I've flat-out stated that in the past, but I don't think it has much bearing on these two individuals. Posada was a marginal recruit, to be sure, but every school takes an offensive line project or two, especially when it becomes a position of need, and he did have other quality offers. Posada simply came in grossly out of shape. Stokes was not a marginal recruit-- he was ranked just outside the Rivals top 100, and there were no reports that he wasn't going to pan out. He was a late commit in Rich Rod's first full class in 2009, and I think he's decided this coaching change wasn't for him. It happens.
Michigan just lost TE recruit Chris Barnett, a four-star prospect who also came in out of shape(though in his defense, he was coming off a serious knee injury). Barnett was a bit of a problem child as a recruit-- he transferred between high schools five times in four years, and had ties to the alleged street agent Baron Flenory. Hoke accepted his commitment and letter of intent, though, just as he did with Posada, so those two departures can't be blamed just on Rodriguez. There are also rumblings that LB Isaiah Bell will be departing the program soon. If that's true, Bell looks to be a depth-chart casualty-- he was another marginal defensive recruit who's been beaten out this year and figures to fall farther behind once the LB-heavy 2012 class comes in.
"Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope." F. Scott Fitzgerald