Ex-Penn State commit Ross Douglas joins Michigan 28 hours after Nittany Lions hammered by NCAA sanctions

Douglas announced via Twitter he has committed to the Wolverines' 2013 class. The Avon, Ohio, native is a four-star recruit and ranked by Rivals as the 22nd-best cornerback in the country.

He is the first player or recruit to defect from the Nittany Lions after they were hammered by NCAA penalties, which include the forfeiture of 10 scholarships annually for four years and a four-year bowl ban.

Ross' official announcement came about 28 hours after the NCAA released its penalties.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said Tuesday he spoke extensively with football coach Brady Hoke about the Wolverines' strategy as it relates to the Penn State sanctions, which include waiving the one-year wait period for current players who wish to transfer.

Of course, the recruits also are fair game, since they can't sign binding national letters of intent until Feb. 6.

"This is all fresh and very new, and I can tell you I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with (Hoke) yesterday in the aftermath of the announcement," Brandon said before a golf outing with Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis. "One thing I can tell you is that we're never going to make public statements about our recruiting strategies or tactics.

"This is a brand new set of circumstances that nobody has really dealt with in this way, and we're kind of trying to find our way through it."

Michigan now has five defensive backs committed to its 2013 class, after taking four in its previous two classes. It took six in 2010, so although five is a lot, it is not unprecedented.

The Wolverines' class now stands at 23 commits, and is expected to have room for about one more pledge, barring attrition.