VT still on his list. Almost a year until signing day MT @Hokie_Haven Four-star 2015 DE Michael Barnett is no longer committed to #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) February 13, 2014
Also, good follow up by Andy Bitter:
Which is why "commitment" 12 months out is really a relative term. There's a whole lot of recruiting going on, even with "committed" guys.— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) February 13, 2014
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Comments
And this is why we should never, ever give up on a recruit, even after he has committed elsewhere.
If others are going to continue going after our guys, we're only hurting ourselves if we don't go after theirs.
I wish I could upvote this more than once. Couldn't agree more.
I couldn't agree more.
Look: looking at how many players we lose to teams that are already stacked with 4*s at the same position, I don't know just how much improvement we can hope to have without a recent resume of marquee wins.
I do like the direction our recruiting is headed.
I love the Blacksburg area. Grew up in Craig county. But there are certain features that make it a hard sell for the average teen where "fun" is based on amenities that Bburg has in short supply, or doesn't have at all.
But there are certainly attainable goals for recruiting improvement, and one of the avenues to reaching those goals is to recognize that "gentleman's" rules regarding recruiting are a suicide pact. You recruit the players you want until signing day.
You can bet your ass your competitors are.
Does VT not have booze and women between the age of 18-24? What does a recruit want
Well you left out the food.
I might get downvoted for this next statement but... Maybe its just CFB knowing... nevermind I have awoken from my sleep and say Virginia Tech .. Fu** yeah!!!!!!!!!
I've said this here before...
Ain't no ring on dat finger until wedding day in February. It's ALL fair game until then.
No sweat. I think he likes cake anyway.
Better now than on Signing Day when we have no possible way to land a suitable replacement.
Move along folks, nothing left to see.
This. Better to have him decommit now and still give us time to find a suitable replacement then have our coaches scrambling around last minute.
Gives us a lot of time to get him back too. Don't give up hope.
Either way, we have a lot of time to do what we need to do.
I'm not too concerned and there are some silver linings.
a.) I imagine he got swept up in the moment being offered at a camp in person by the coach himself. It's probably hard to say "no".
b.) This removes the idea that the coaches "have one" for his position and cool on any other targets that they would consider.
c.) Other targets at the same position won't write us off because we already have his commitment.
Overall, it is just too dang early in the process for me to be upset at a kid for stepping back and taking a longer look at things. He is deciding about the next 3-5 years of his career after all. Hopefully we can get him back to the 'Burg again in some warmer months and VT can work its magic on him again and he'll stick with us.
I think your first point is spot on. Just offered everything is awesome there heck yes I'll play! Oh wait it's still a year out if I enroll in January and now I have a trip school x which has just as nice stuff....perhaps I should wait.
I bigger flag to me would be decommitting now and committing somewhere else. Those guys seem to have issues making a decision.
I think that's also why signing day is when it is as not signing on the spot and then trying to back out. Verbal commitments really mean nothing IMO, especially with 18 yr old kids.
There is a good chance that all of our early commits end up not coming to Blacksburg, but that's ok. We just keep hammering on all guys regardless if they have committed or not. Its all about the finish line.
We flipped Durkin and Ford last year. The year before we flipped Jamieon Moss and Johnathan McGlaughlin. The jury is still out on Moss but McGlaughlin is probably our best recruit in 2013 and could be one of our best O lineman ever. Very good chance Durkin and Ford could turn out to be our best gets for 2014.
#keepgrinding
#Moorehead
I'll agree Mcglaughlin is gonna be a good player. Best in the class? There was a Fuller in that class!
Agreed!
But we have struck out with too many O-linemen for too long, and have ALWAYS done real well in the defensive backfield; Mcglaughlin may be a bigger upgrade than even a Fuller!
McLaughlin - no "g"
I see a "g" in there!
I can understand DE Barnett committing at camp and then changing his mind; The coaches, players and atmosphere all pushing you to accept, even if your mind is not made up. Its hard for polite young men to say no to adults when asked.
How many of you would commit on the spot if asked by Bud Foster!? Then they head home and their parents tell them "Hey, lets not rush into these things. Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban called while you were out and we told them they could come by and talk. Dad has already told everybody at work that he's gonna meet Nick Saban. Wouldn't want to be rude..."
Its a tough spot these kids are put in until the papers are signed.
Look at this link that a Alabama fan sent me at work.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1959658-4-star-michael-barnett-decomm...
Easy to dislike Alabama fans, titled his email "good read" and I found this link inside.
Ef them.
Pfft. It looks like they're reading WAAAAAAAAAAY too much into that based on his tweet that he thanked them for the offer and their staff wants him to visit. Whoop-dee-f*&%ing-doo. To me it appears that he learned a lesson with the VT offer and is trying to take it in stride now. It ain't over 'til it's over and it seems some Tide fans are pretty damn full of themselves as if Saban making an offer is the dream of every player in America.
Not seems...It is a proven fact Bama fans think that. Ask one, they will not deny it.
Can't argue with that.
Yea, the ones standing right behind me in the Atlanta Dome fit this mode. Most were OK, just very passionate (I have no problem with that). But there were a couple real A-holes.
We are still on his list so give it time, maybe it will work out.
Any chance the 2013 class has 3 first round picks?
McLaughlin (no G)
Facyson
Fuller
Absolutely. LONG way to go however, but if the 2016 or 2017 draft happened today I think all of them would be picked the first round. Like I said their careers are fortunately far from over in Blacksburg and a lot can happen in the next few years.
I think if Facyson showed he can stay healthy and had another season like his first, then yes first round. But he needs to show more than what he has shown to get into the first round, need an example: look at Jayron Hosley's stock heading into the draft.
Kendall, well, he is a Fuller
Haha, I posted that 7 months ago. A lot has changed and I agree with you.
Found this the other day and it is super interesting:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings
Projects prospects for the next few years. I know its a far ways out but here are some of the highlights:
Mcglaughlin 14th best 2017 OT
Kendall 2nd best 2017 CB
Facyson 4th best 2017 CB
Edmunds 4th best 2017 RB
Kalvin Cline 15th best 2017 TE
Wow, nice catch. thanks for sharing.
Looks like they forgot on though:
Rogers 1rst best BADASS eternity
For 2015:
Luther Maddy #10 DT
Kyshoen Jarrett #8 SS
David Wang #15 C
Brent Benedict #15 OT
That's all I saw in the top 25 for each position.
Also, AJ Hughes is ranked #5 P for 2016.
AJ would kick their @$$ if he isn't ranked.
Good find by the way.
Barnett has a right to decommit to VT. It's early and it's best for him to check out other schools. Vt is a great school and should have nothing to fear. Vt is still in his top 3 and Michael Barnett may end up signing with Vt next February. If not, there are great DE prospects leaning toward the hokies.
Not sure if anyone posted about this anywhere else, but Michael Barnett has committed to F$U.
Look forward to seeing him play for Auburn ;)
As soon as they can run those bills through the money counter and band them up, he will
A commitment from Josh Sweat to VT will outshine all the recruits who committed elsewhere. I already forgot about Barnett.
Good luck to Barnett. More playing time for Mr. Sweat :)
He flipped again, now to Georgia.
The title should be renamed to "Michael Barnett decommits (again)"
What's that country song? " Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers "
Yeah. I'm good with this.
Rivals has him listed as committed to both Florida State and Georgia right now...
Crab legs and Peach Cobbler.
What's so hard to understand?
Better to be the dumped after a few dates than at the alter.