Elite offensive lineman David Dawson affirms commitment to Michigan football team
Update: Football commit David Dawson won't attend Florida camp after speaking with Michigan coaches
The Michigan football team currently features the nation's best offensive line class for 2013, and David Dawson is considered one of the jewels of that haul.
When reports surfaced Friday afternoon that the Detroit Cass Tech star plans to camp later this month at Florida, though, questions arose regarding his fealty to the Wolverines. But Dawson has squashed those rumors.
"I'm a #MichiganMan," he tweeted. "So what u hear or read is irrelevant!! #GoBlue #TEAM134"
Michigan offensive lineman commit David Dawson (center) will reportedly visit Florida for a football camp.
AnnArbor.com file photo
That raises several interesting questions, notably whether it violates the no-visit policy that was installed last year by Michigan coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines already exercised the rule once, dropping 2012 tight end Pharaoh Brown last year after he visited Oregon.
Dawson surely will receive the Gators' best pitch during his trip, but his situation also is different than Brown's because he's not taking an official visit.
So, does it violate Hoke's rule?
“No,” Dawson told ESPN during a recruiting event Friday in Beaverton, Ore. “It’s a camp. All the great players in SEC country, that’s what I want to see.”
Most commits do not attend other teams' camps, since the camps typically are designed for uncommitted players to make their cases for scholarship offers. But Dawson also isn't alone.
Classmate Jourdan Lewis attended Alabama's camp last month, yet remains a member of the Wolverines' class.
Dawson is a four-star recruit from Detroit. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound guard is ranked No. 8 at his position according to Rivals and No. 7 according to Scout. ESPN pegs him No. 1.
He committed to the Wolverines in February -- a commitment that, at least for now, appears to be firm. Yet, nothing is final until he files a letter of intent, and he can't do that until national signing day Feb. 6.
Until then, he's bound to draw attention from schools as his national profile grows during a strong offseason. In fact, he didn't receive his Florida offer until more than month after he committed to Michigan. The Gators visited his school days later.
Fellow Michigan guard commit Kyle Bosch told ESPN he's heard his classmate's pledge isn't resolute.
“He’s been talking about decommitting,” said Bosch, a guard from Wheaton, Ill. “If he does, we’ll move on. One guy doesn’t make a class.”
Still, Dawson maintains he's not going anywhere.
"David Dawson is staying committed to #Michigan .... Everyone relax" tweeted 2013 quarterback Shane Morris. Dawson retweeted the post.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
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