Michigan Tuesday: Doesn't Like LOI's

With the recent issues at Ohio State, Florida and UCLA with position coaches conveniently taking other jobs the day after NSD has started an old debate about not signing LOI's for the top players in the country.  

Andy Staples:
Though most players don’t realize it, they do not have to sign the NLI to receive a scholarship. They need only sign a financial aid agreement at their chosen school. The financial aid paperwork provides (almost) the same guarantee of a scholarship as the NLI, but unlike the NLI, it doesn’t strip the player of the only leverage he’ll have until he graduates from college.

Why is the NLI the worst contract in American sports? It requires players to sign away their right to be recruited by other schools. If they don’t enroll at the school with which they signed, they forfeit a year of eligibility. Not a redshirt year, but one of their four years to play. In return, the NLI guarantees the player nothing.

Most people say, "commit to a school not to a coach" which I agree with, but to say that relationships don't matter in recruiting is just not paying close enough attention.   Roquan's coach makes a good point:  “Well, a school is a building. What separates all of these schools? The things these college coaches sell these kids on are relationships. It’s the people.” Harold, who has obviously heard many of these lines over the past few months, then gave his best college assistant impression. “I can develop you like nobody else,” Harold said. “I’m going to be your coach. I can get you to the next level. I can care for you.”

He is saying that everybody has good facilities now and many have good academics, the difference is how the recruit relates/bonds with the coaches.  It's a fair point. 

So if your a top 100 player you probably have "right" to not sign an LOI as the team would hold a spot for you.   If your a 3 star long snapper, you probably want to protect your spot in the class and should sign an LOI.    

The AJC is saying Roquan won't sing an LOI after his near miss on signing day:  Perhaps most significant, Smith’s coach also revealed that the linebacker won’t be signing a letter of intent after finalizing his college plans. Smith will commit, and then officially be a signee on his first day of summer classes.

If Mike Weber hadn't signed an LOI he would have a ton of options, now he only has a couple and will most likely go to OSU and start a new relationship with his RB coach.   He pretty much confirmed he will be attending OSU on twitter, even though he has been seen wearing Michigan gear.    Michigan is in great shape at RB with new recruit Higdon and the likes of Green, Smith and Isaac.