Michigan offers scholarship to ex-Penn State recruit Ross Douglas day after he decommitted amid NCAA sanctions
Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, convicted of child rape, has spurred significant NCAA sanctions at the school. The Nittany Lions already have lost elite recruit Ross Douglas, and Michigan contacted the cornerback Tuesday.
Four-star cornerback Ross Douglas tweeted Tuesday morning he was "re-offered" by the Wolverines, after being extended a scholarship by the school during his initial recruitment.
The Avon, Ohio, native eventually chose Penn State over Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and others from around the country.
But Douglas decommitted from the Nittany Lions shortly after the NCAA levied significant penalties against the school on Monday -- including forfeiture of 10 scholarships per year for four years and a four-year bowl ban, both of which will impair Penn State's competitiveness for years to come.
A day later, Michigan is after Douglas.
After receiving his offer from the Wolverines on Tuesday, Douglas tweeted to current Michigan commit -- and close friend -- Dymonte Thomas that he will be at the Big House on Sunday for the program's annual cookout with recruits.
The Wolverines have 22 commitments for their 2013 class, including one cornerback, and are expected to have room for about two more pledges. Signing day is Feb. 6.
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.
Comments
A2comments
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
"The NCAA unloaded unprecedented sanctions against Penn State on Tuesday for its role in the Jerry Sandusky scandal." It was on Monday.
snapshot
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.
Sandusky's photo is perfectly appropriate since this child molester and Penn State "sports heroes" like Paterno who aided and abetted his perversion caused Douglas to come to U of M. That some folks think it is "inappropriate" to expain the history is why this tragedy went on for ten years at Penn State. Penn state should be barred from sports for the next 40 years, much as any 'child molestor" or his co-horts would be sentenced to prison if they were just run of the mill child molestors.
Terry Star21
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:51 a.m.
Welcome Ross Douglas to the greatest college football team in America. Here you will receive superb education and coaching from three of the nations best coaches, play in the nations best stadium, cheered by America's best fans. MgoBlueForTiM......grab onto the crystal football
Halter
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
I think this is great news. Go Blue! Its not about poaching and being fair. Its about winning. And if he can help us win, I'm all in. PSU's going to lose a lot of their players -- might as well come here rather than somewhere else.
Yost Ghost
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.
No offense, but it's really about a student athlete making the right choice for himself and his future. Also, I doubt many players will actually jump ship, maybe a handful. The only other player I'd really like to see in Maize nBlue would be Anthony Zettel.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Here's a picture of this young man. Much better looking than the beast. http://www.freep.com/article/20120724/SPORTS06/120724046/ross-douglas-michigan-football-recruiting
bunnyabbot
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 8:56 p.m.
I have to agree with another commentator, the child rapists photo is not appropriate with this article. If someone wants more info a link can be made within the article, however showin the rapists photo whenever Penn State is mentioned needs to stop.
JRW
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
Sad day for Penn State in a string of sad days and events. Good for UM; other big schools will get those Nittany transfers, so why not go for it? It does feel a bit like vultures circling in Happy Valley, but that's the world of high stakes Div I collegiate football. It's sad that the players are going to suffer for crimes committed by a coach and the ensuing cover-up by school officials and coaches. Hopefully, the Penn State recruits that come to UM or go to other schools will find a good spot for their college careers.
Calvert T. Hoskins I
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
I just pray that complete healing comes to everyone involed from the victims, the University, and the students/student athletes including the administration this is very disheartening and painful. Though I bleed Maize and Blue I feel for Penn State. GO B1G!!
Hailmary
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.
As the Penn State tragedy unfolds I begin to see how it has affected thousands upon thousands of folks and I find no joy in it. Mich. experienced it's own turmoil although smaller by comparison and it was very upsetting to the program and fans alike. I can't imagine what this has done to loyal Penn State students, alum, faculty, administrators and yes, the fans. I hope Mich. takes heed it only takes one predator to bring down an empire and right now Mich. is on shaky ground with these out of control student athletes. Coach Hoke, it may be time to, "Crack the Whip".
tim
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
I agree with michboy, just like with Richard Nixon --- the coverup brought PSU down. JoP allowed boys to hang out with Sandusky after PSU staff saw him molesting kids. What JoPa did was evil.
michboy40
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
I disagree hm. It is not the predator that brought the institution down. If JoPa fired Sandusky on the spot and had him arrested, non of this would ever have happened, and psu would be alive and well. As for michigans players? Yes, they need to crack the whip there. I don't want the haters to have ammo...probably too late for that though
D21
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
Not just the predator but those "enablers", too. GO BLUE!
Captain Dave
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 6:18 p.m.
Douglas is BLUE. Committed today.
brimble
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.
Is the photograph of Mr. Sandusky appropriate here? Is Mr. Douglas not the story here? The very reason for his transfer is to escape from the shadow of the controversy, and this story literally casts that shadow over his transfer, not so much in the reporting of the facts, but in the choice of illustration.
MRunner73
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
If Michigan doesn't start making some inroads, all of the other schools will. It seems the athlete makes the first move by decommitting then- in which opens up the bidding wars.
michboy40
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
I don't think the Paterno family would approve of this kind of poaching! They will be issuing a statement later this afternoon to let the world know that it's not fair.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
They're quite busy today. This morning, they issued a statement saying that Joe had no knowledge of Fitz Toussaint's drinking issues and therefore should not be held responsible.
Irvine CA
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
How about also offer to Redd? We need RB too, and Redd can contribute right away.
umgoblue47
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
SILAS REDD is considering a transfer to usc. GO BLUE!!!