Demar Dorsey released from letter of intent, won't play at Michigan
Demar Dorsey, the most controversial and highest-ranked member of Michigan's 2010 recruiting class, is no longer a Wolverine.
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said Wednesday that Dorsey, who was expected to contribute to the Wolverines' thin secondary this fall, "will not be admitted to the university."
"The reasons behind that are really between the admissions office and this young man," Brandon said. "That’s about all I can say about it."Dorsey was considered a borderline academic qualifier when he signed a national letter of intent in February, but his father, Eddie Jackson, told AnnArbor.com that his son finished high school with a 2.5 grade-point average and scored 18 on his ACT, enough to make him eligible by NCAA standards.
Jackson said Michigan "didn't give us no real solid reason" why Dorsey's admission was denied, but he speculated the firestorm over his son's legal troubles was a factor.
Dorsey was arrested three times as a 15- and 16-year-old and confessed to two burglaries, but never was convicted of any crime.
“Truly, I feel that it probably (did play a part), but I’m not going to speculate or try to slander nobody,” Jackson said. “But if it did, kids go through problems. Wrong place at the wrong time. You have to give a kid an opportunity to redeem himself. He hasn’t been back in no trouble since the incident. The kid’s been straight, he’s been focusing doing everything he needs to do.”
Brandon said Michigan's admissions department renders final decision on who gets accepted to the university using "a variety of criteria."
"They have a process that they follow," Brandon said. "The process that’s been followed most recently is very consistent with everything they’ve done in the past. The situation that exists with any student-athlete who signs a letter of intent and ultimately does not get admitted is not a new situation, and it’s certainly not a unique situation. It’s happened before, it’s happening with other individuals, it will happen in the future. It’s an unfortunate part of the process."
Susan Peal, the manager of the National Letter of Intent Program, said less than 2 percent of the 36,110 recruits who signed NLIs across all NCAA Division I and II sports last year - just 668 - requested their release before enrolling in school.
No data was available on how many releases were at the institution's request.
"You hope that when coaches are recruiting prospective student-athletes they have a good idea whether they’re going to be admissible or not, but it just comes down to institution policy," Peal said. "That’s the hope that as long as the perspective student-athlete does not become a non-qualifier" he'll be admitted to the school with which he signs.
Jackson said Dorsey, ranked the No. 12 overall recruit in the country by ESPNU, faxed his release request to the university on Wednesday and will sit down this weekend to re-open his recruitment.
"He's holding up pretty good," Jackson said. "He's disappointed (in Michigan's decision). Being a kid, you get disappointed cause it was the school you were going to go to. But like I tell him, you live and you learn. You have to look at life, things happen for a reason. You never know.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Elaine F. Owsley
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.
John-Maize Blueblood - If you subtract his sports ability, how likely would he have been admitted or given any other kind of scholarship, never mind his law breaking.
Marvin Face
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 12:16 p.m.
Its hard to believe he won't be admitted to Michigan with these little nuggets of the english language from the young man: "didn't give us no real solid reason" and "...but Im not going to speculate or try to slander nobody,
John-Maize Blueblood
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 12:14 p.m.
@ Elaine, Do you seriously consider the scholarship extended to athletes "Free Education?" I think athletes more than any other scholarship recipients earn their so-called "Free Education." Do you think busting your butt playing sports and still having to make time for academics a free ride? Do you think running the chance of seriously getting hurt or even getting handicapped as a young person for the rest of your life a free ride? Last time I checked, athletes in sports like Football and Basketball actually help generate income for the university, thereby paying back exponentially for their scholarships. Let me guess! You must be one of those couch potatoes to reason that way on scholarships extended to athletes.
GoblueinNE_PA
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
Gatling Unlike you, I don't have selective memory. I remember national signing day, when the Michigan class was ranked in the 20 to 25 range before the surprise Dorsey announcement. Then it leaped up the boards. As this very article points out, he was the highest rated player in the class, to think that it doesn't drop in quality w/Dorsey no longer a part of it is foolish. This is a major blow to RichRod's 2010 class. BTW, I wish Demar luck with his future endevours.
Tolulope
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
He had a 2.5 with a 18 on the ACT. If they let him in with those grades AND his troubled past, they would be CLEARLY bending their standardsonly because he's an athlete
Elaine F. Owsley
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.
I am heartened to hear that there are some limitations to handing out free education at UM just because someone can kick/run/jump or whatever is required by a sport.
gobluemark
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
Finally some proof that the inmates er...inmate ( aka RichRod, or insert your own) isn't running the asylum. If you really think that a young person could apply with those grades never mind the past have a shot of gaining admission you are truly "nuts". Oh wait! He runs a 4.3 well why didn't you say. Hey Robbie when did you quit rooting for Miami and start rooting for Michigan? Because they called and they want you back.
trigg7
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 7:59 a.m.
Those who stay will be...in violation. Thats if they can even make it.
NoBowl4Blue
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 7:50 a.m.
Allow me to put it like Gomer would, Surprize Surprize Surprize.
John-Maize Blueblood
Thu, Jun 10, 2010 : 5:26 a.m.
IMO I think Politics and/or image may have something to do with Dorsey not getting admitted. Had Rodriguez been winning games and Michigan/Rodriguez not been having so many bad PRs in the last two years or so, the kid would most likely be wearing Maize & Blue this coming Fall.
JimB
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.
Even Dorsey doesn't want to be stuck on a team with a coach that is a dud.
Jaxon5
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 8:48 p.m.
Good. Don't want him.
gatling64
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 8:06 p.m.
GOBLUEINNE this will hae no effect on the placing of the recruiing class We were 12th (on SCout) before he signed and ended up 12th when he signed..We had 27 recruits.He was rated a 4 star.Now we have 26.You are a good example on why he should have been admitted. He learned his math the old fashioned way..he earned it.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 5:01 p.m.
I guess I'm not going to comment on this young man becuase I have yet to meet anyone that was at the last supper.
GoblueinNE_PA
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
This is a huge blow to RichRod's 2010 recruiting class. With Dorsey, it was top 15 class. W/O him, this class probably isn't a top 25 class. Not a good sign for a coach in trouble.
3 And Out
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 3:39 p.m.
Jim Harbaugh was right a few years ago...and finally Michigan is recognizing that they shouldn't lower their admissions to meet the desperation recruits of a failed current head coach.
ShadowManager
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 2:27 p.m.
Leaders & Best, I guess not.
Cash
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 2:21 p.m.
I hope where ever he goes, he is very successful. Young man, the best way to deal with this is to prove UM wrong. Prove that you made mistakes as a child and won't repeat them! Make your dad proud. Good luck to you.
gatling64
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
this is too bad.I could see him as president of MSU some day.
Robbie Webb
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
Mr. Sunset, wrong. Dorsey was most certainly not the only elite athlete in this class. And it's not the first time Michigan has had trouble with a recruit pre and post enrollment.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 2:03 p.m.
We should not pretend that admissions standards are constantly bent for athletes. However, his recent past is quite troubling. It's too bad this is the only way RichRod can attract an elite athlete.
ex734
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
Good luck to the kid. Hope he gets his life in order and works hard not just on the football field but in the classroom as well.
81wolverine
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 1:52 p.m.
Oh well, probably for the best. I'm sure he was denied admission for a good reason which the school probably wants to not disclose for privacy reasons. Although we could have used his talents on the football field, his past history would certainly have made him a "high risk" student-athlete at Michigan. Michigan has taken chances on kids in the past that also did not work out. Anyone remember Kelly Baraka, an all-everything RB from Kalamazoo in 2001? He had multiple pot arrests, enrolled at Michigan, and was bounced out shortly thereafter. He just wasn't suited for being a college athlete. Dorsey may be different. He may be the same. But, evidently, the admissions office saw at least one red flag.
ex734
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 1:51 p.m.
Good luck to the kid. Hope he gets his life in order and works hard not just on the football field but in the classroom as well.