|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
The decommitment factor
Updated: Friday January 12, 2001 10:31 PM
With non-binding commitments comes the inevitability of decommitments. Prospects change their minds, quite frequently in fact. Occasionally schools pull scholarship offers from committed athletes when they discover they can get another youngster that they want more. Here are three examples of significant, highly pursued prospects who have undergone the turmoil of a decision change in the recruiting process. Doug Justice, LB, 6-3, 215, 4.8, Port Orange Spruce Creek, Fla. "I have good anticipation and I study a lot of film," said Justice. "I see the field really well and I have pretty good speed. I'm a hard hitting, aggressive, impact player." Final 10-game (8-2) stats: 120 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 picks. Excellent student: 3.8/1100. Justice committed to MICHIGAN on Dec. 31 over NOTRE DAME and FLORIDA. "MICHIGAN had everything I wanted. I felt like I got along with everyone there. I've always loved their tradition and the entire city of Ann Arbor. I'm not taking any other trips." Or so he thought. "MICHIGAN coaches called me on Jan. 5. They had an offer for me but a prep school kid qualified and they gave my spot to him. They said I could come in next January but I don't want to wait. I am no longer committed to MICHIGAN. It was very disappointing but I understand. You learn ... you grow." Justice now favors FLORIDA (1/12 official trip) slightly over NORTH CAROLINA (1/19), NORTHWESTERN (1/26) and NOTRE DAME (12/1). All offered except the Wildcats. Dan Stevenson, OL, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Barrington, Ill. Stevenson, a SuperPrep All-America with a 24 ACT score, committed to NEBRASKA in late August but didn't officially visit Husker campus until late November. "I went on my official visit and I didn't think I meshed with the people," said Stevenson, who benches 340. "I can't really pinpoint it. I just didn't feel comfortable. I just knew it would not be the place for me and that I had made a mistake." He now favors WISCONSIN (12/1 official trip -- "They have a great campus. State Street is a really cool place and I've got a lot of friends that go there.") and NOTRE DAME (likes tradition, possible 1/19 trip) slightly over TENNESSEE (11/11), FLORIDA (possible 1/19 trip) and MIAMI (12/8 -- "They said I was one of the two best offensive linemen they had seen on tape all year."). "I'm pretty well balanced with quick feet. I see things well. If I lock up on a guy, I don't let them get away." Marvin Simmons, LB/SS, 6-0, 215, 4.5, Long Beach Poly, Calif. "I'm a menace on the field," said Simmons, a SuperPrep Elite 100 choice. "I have good vision and change of direction. I hit harder than most guys. I really like hitting and using my hands well. Playing one-on-one is a part of my game I could improve." He benches 385. "He is a muscle and he is very fast. He really lays the hat on you," said one recruiting coordinator. Simmons committed to UCLA last February. He was frequently the subject of decommitment rumors but continually dispelled their validity. "I'm still committed to UCLA and I will take no other trips," he said in November. "Now, I feel like no trip is more important to me than UCLA. I really put some thought to it. I had a nice talk with coach [Bob] Toledo and I know that it's not all about partying. There is no reason for me to fool around at other places since UCLA is where I want to be. I won't be taking any other trips." This past weekend Simmons, who has offers from schools nationwide, indeed decommitted from UCLA in favor of USC. "UCLA is an offensive oriented program and Pete Carroll has coached good defenses in the NFL," explained Simmons. "He'll pay attention to it. Every little thing counts. I have nothing against Bob Toledo. But he thinks offense wins games. "The USC will 'backer spot is looking wide open and they have promised me I can wear number 55. Every linebacker who goes to USC wants to wear the number that Junior Seau and Willie McGinest wore and Willie went to my school. I'm gonna wear it. This decision is final. I'm visiting USC officially this weekend." For more detailed information on these and other players, visit www.superprep.com. Here are the latest commitments: MARK ANDERSON, TE/DE, 6-7, 260, 4.9, Lewiston Fergus, Mont. -- STANFORD over WASHINGTON LUIS CASTILLO, OL/DL, 6-4, 265, 4.8, Garfield, N.J. -- NORTHWESTERN over DUKE, N.C. STATE, MINNESOTA and SOUTH CAROLINA WILL CONWELL, LB/DE/TE, 6-5, 215, 4.7, Kent Kentwood, Wash. -- WASHINGTON over WASHINGTON ST, OREGON and UCLA TIM DAY, DE/TE, 6-5, 255, 4.75, Las Vegas Western, Nev. -- OREGON ST over OREGON, UNLV and NEVADA RYAN HAMBY, TE, 6-5, 220, 4.8, Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio -- OHIO ST over MIAMI (OH), INDIANA and ILLINOIS LYLE MAIVA, DL, 6-2, 300, 5.0, Honolulu St Louis, Hi. -- OREGON over WISCONSON, HAWAII and ARIZONA RASHON POWERS-NEAL, RB/LB, 6-2, 215, 4.6, St. Paul Cretin-Durham, Minn. -- NOTRE DAME over GEORGIA TECH, NEBRASKA, STANFORD and MINNESOTA ERIC SHYNE, DB/RB, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Pomona, Calif. -- WASHINGTON over OREGON BRANDON SPINCER, SS, 6-2, 205, 4.5, New Orleans St Augustine, La. -- SAN DIEGO ST over LSU, TULANE and GEORGIA TECH BRANDON WILLIAMS, LB, 6-0, 200, 4.5,Port Allen, La -- LSU over AUBURN, TEXAS A&M, ALABAMA and FLORIDA ST
| ||||||||||||||||||||
