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August 16, 2010

Michigan under Rich Rodriguez has struggled with depth and transfers. Especially on defense. It doesn’t look to be getting much better.

Today’s announcement that redshirt freshman cornerback Justin Turner is leaving the Michigan football program shines an intense spotlight on one of U-M’s biggest concerns for this season — secondary depth.

Turner, from Massillon, Ohio, asked for and was granted his scholarship release Tuesday, according to U-M spokesman Dave Ablauf.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Turner, the top-ranked recruit in the 2009 state of Ohio class, was expected to compete at either safety or cornerback, depending on his skills or the need.

Turner was a 5-star recruit and he’s looking at his options now that he is free.

…Turner is looking over more than a half dozen offers from Division I colleges since he announced he would leave Michigan. Turner fell out of Rich Rodriguez’s good graces this summer because, reportedly, he missed some summer workouts.

That probably isn’t the end of the story and there is likely a Justin Turner side to this, too. Turner has not spoken publicly about it.

People close to him say Pitt and Cincinnati are the two schools most likely to attract Turner.

Now few programs in their right mind would turn down this kid. There is one red flag, however, relating to Turner.

It sounds like the 11 pounds Turner put on in the offseason were not the good variety, and that he was never in a position where he was physically ready to play because of sheer lack of desire.

Turner ended up redshirting in 2009 because of some delays because of academics.

You hope it was just a clash with Rodriguez and the coaches there. If it is a conditioning issue and Turner isn’t willing to put in the time, then he wastes his own talent. I don’t see how Pitt wouldn’t at least take a shot at him.

It isn’t quite the minimal risk that Josh Marks was (and failed), but it’s worth a scholarship spot for the potential.





Jamie on ESPNU. Nothing new, but he was true to his workman-like mien, he wore a ratty old gray Pitt T. This, in contrast to Gary Williams’ designer polo.

Thus, Pitt will demolish MD come 11/18.

Comment by Steve 08.16.10 @ 6:35 pm

I’m still puzzled why they didn’t reschedule the Sun Bowl that year….

Comment by Freebird 08.16.10 @ 7:31 pm

get this kid in

Comment by Tony Cancilla 08.16.10 @ 8:43 pm

I just heard that Turner will pick Pitt, where he will be moved to the defensive end or running back position.

Comment by Brian 08.16.10 @ 8:52 pm

Wasn’t there a mini-scandal last year about Michigan forcing players to practice/workout more in the offseason than NCAA rules allowed for? Maybe he clashed with the coaching staff over something related to that. Heck, he might have even been one of the guys who ratted Rodriguez out to the newspapers on the whole thing.

Just throwing it out there. As the article noted, they’ve had six defensive backs leave the program in the last year or so, so I think it’s fair to say that there’s a bit of instability in Ann Arbor right now and bailing out probably shouldn’t automatically mark you as a bad kid. The sphincters on that coaching staff have to be like “locked bank vault” tight right now given their lack of success recently, and they’re probably taking it out on the players.

Anyway, yes, I’m trying to talk myself into Pitt getting this guy.

Comment by Jeff 08.16.10 @ 11:29 pm

Basketball on a football thread:

link to weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Comment by BigGuy 08.16.10 @ 11:53 pm

[…] is probably a bigger blow to Michigan and ol’ DickRod than for Penn St. or VT. What with Turner leaving and now Troy Woolfolk out for the year. It hasn’t been a good time to be a CB associated with […]


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