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Witherspoon sticking with Michigan
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Marcus Witherspoon has decided to stick with his original commitment to Michigan.
The linebacker from Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, N.J., committed to Michigan in June but decided to look at other schools when head coach Lloyd Carr announced his retirement in November.
Witherspoon took an official visit to Tennessee on Jan. 12 and left impressed with the Vols.
Witherspoon said he decided to stay committed to Michigan because of the Wolverines’ academics.
“It was a hard decision,” the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder said. “I just made the decision based on a business standpoint.
“It’s not anything wrong for Tennessee. It’s just what I thought was better for me.”
Witherspoon was visited on Monday by UT head coach Phillip Fulmer, defensive coordinator John Chavis and defensive backs coach Larry Slade. Witherspoon told UT’s coaches during their visit that he was headed to Michigan.
“They said if I did change my mind they’d still be with me,” Witherspoon said. “They were good about it.”
Witherspoon said his relationship with UT’s coaches made it difficult to turn down the Vols.
“It’s a hard thing to do,” he said. “They understood. That makes them good people.”
Witherspoon officially visited Rutgers this past weekend. He said he wanted to see up-close the job done by head coach Greg Schiano.
“Coach Schiano is a great man,” Witherspoon said. “What he does for (New) Jersey, he put Jersey on the map. I respect him and wanted to go see him.”
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by marc_ash on January 28, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Put a line through his name and move on. Nothing else to say about this one.
Posted by Volchaz on January 28, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
agreed, big game tonight, and tomorrow night too. Recruiting season is coming to a dramatic finish.
Posted by BluetickBlues on January 28, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh well. We got our man Marlon Walls a true Vol who wants to be here.
Posted by Kwitcherbellyachin on January 28, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In other recruiting news, from Lugenbill's chat on ESPN.com:
"I do know first hand that David Cutcliffe leaving Tennessee was a huge blow to Pryor as Tennessee had a much, much better chance than any of you out there truly know."
Posted by dburgVol on January 28, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed BluetickBlues, I prefer a homegrown prospect that "follows his heart" over one that is just looking around.
A.J. Alexander committed to Florida State.
Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More accurate to say that Alexander re-committed to FSU.
Posted by pdhuff on January 28, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Walls sticking is better than a Witherspoon stuck to the Wolverines. Any DTs?
Posted by kdt0725 on January 28, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Still not shaping up well. Whats with the zero star prospect? Desperation? I doubt we sign any more 4 star players were in with a few but not leading for any of them. Worst recruiting class that I can remember.
Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 28, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we just lost alexander 4* WR to fla st too
Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 28, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we just lost alexander 4* WR to fla st too
Posted by dburgVol on January 28, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is sphs_vol? I hope you know that your signing day forecast kept me up all night! Please tell me again, I have to have some more info. If you arent right, I will never speak to you again, but if you are right, I will mow your yard for the next half century.
Posted by BigVolinCarolina on January 28, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure hope Coach Fulmer wasn't banking on AJ Alexander and this Witherspoon kid as part of the "big finish".
The SEC East is no longer Florida and Tennessee. Georgia, USC and Kentucky are in. Once again, I will stick to what I've said all along: if you believe that parity exists in college football, then that puts a much higher premium on actual game prep & gameday coaching.
Obviously, recruiting is the foundational for success; however, if a decent number of recruits are close in talent, then it doesn't matter how many *'s are by a kids name because they can't all go to the same school.
No one can seriously argue that majority of the games we lost in the past 5 years were games that we were outcoached in. The scores show it.
If we make the most of what we do have, kids will want to come here. I'm still not convinced we're getting the most out of what we have, and I haven't since 2001.
Posted by GreerVol22 on January 28, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you commited because of academics huh? RUsure it wasn't the fact that RR promised you a sweet ride and some play time with dance team now was it???
BS dude, you went after the bigger payday...have fun playing for the second best coach in the Big 10.
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