'15 OH CB Shaun Crawford (Notre Dame Commit 6/15/14)

[HoffVir]

decommitted from Michigan

Where did you see that? I've only seen a couple tweets from Ohio St about him planning to decommit.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Too legit to decommit.

[FootballFlash]

Ruffling some feathers in Ann Arbor......

http://www.freep.com/article/2014051...higan-football

Brady Hoke explains no-visit policy for committed Michigan recruits: 'We want to make sure'

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke wants recruits to be sure when they make a commitment to the Wolverines. He sees the commitment as a two-way street, which is why he has a problem when verbally committed players want to visit other schools.

It’s a fitting topic right now, as committed 2015 four-star defensive back Shaun Crawford of Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward visited Notre Dame during the weekend and reportedly has trips slated to Ohio State and Miami (Fla.).

Speaking on WTKA-AM (1050)’s “Michigan Insider” show this morning, Hoke discussed his program’s policy. He can’t speak specifically about unsigned recruits such as Crawford, per NCAA rules.

“We want to make sure,” he said. “We want him to understand. We don’t pressure guys into making their commitments. We talk to them about how they feel about their commitment. We don’t want them to back out of a commitment, because we have an obligation and honesty when we do offer a guy and accept that commitment. We stop recruiting a guy at that position because we’ve got one that we can count on.

“As we go through the process, there’s a lot of conversation on what this commitment means and how we handle it and how we look at it and how we evaluate it.”

Crawford has not officially announced that he is decommitted from Michigan, but in these situations in the past, U-M has made it clear that the player’s spot in the class might not be saved.

To handle some of these issues, Hoke strongly supports an early period for official visits in the NCAA, possibly in May and the start of June. Official visits can be paid for by the school.

An early visit window would allow for an early signing period, possibly near the fall, well before the current Signing Day in February. That’s what occurs in college basketball.

“It would be great for the kids and coaches out there,” Hoke said. “I think it would really help the families and the student-athletes who are being recruited. … Guys are going all over the country, and families are trying to give their sons the best view of every opportunity that is out there. But at the same time, they’re spending a lot of money. … We’ve talked in the Big Ten about an early visitation period. That would help the families and help those young men.”

With Michigan’s national recruiting base, it would benefit the Wolverines, too.

Hoke also touched on other topics on the radio:

■ He enthusiastically supports the Big Ten’s upcoming nine-game conference schedule and is bothered that the SEC and ACC will remain at eight conference games.

“As a conference, we all voted, and it was a pretty unanimous vote to got to a nine-game schedule. And I honestly believe, because of trying to find enough games to play, the amount of money being spread around to pay for people to come to your stadium, it only makes sense that we ought to play nine games. When you look at all the power conferences, we all should do it, if it’s going to have something to do with the playoffs.

“For two conferences to play eight, I don’t see that as equitable across the board.”

■ Hoke is in favor of increasing the cost-of-attendance payments to players under NCAA rules, primarily to help with incidental costs beyond a player’s reach, such as traveling home across the country.

■ The Wolverines’ offensive leaders are still emerging. Hoke cited the receivers and quarterback Devin Gardner but also said “it’ll be a work in progress” based on how voluntary workouts jell the group this summer and then into the fall, with the coaches.

[HoffVir]

Tom Loy ‏@TomLoy247
#Breaking #Bolt: Four-star CB Shaun Crawford decommits from #Michigan. Story: http://notredame.247sports.com/Board/87/Contents/Shaun-Crawford-Decommits-From-Michigan-28792728 … via @BGInews
10:06 PM - 23 May 2014

[JDriveSthND]

Tom Loy ‏@TomLoy247
#Breaking #Bolt: Four-star CB Shaun Crawford decommits from #Michigan. Story: http://notredame.247sports.com/Board/87/Contents/Shaun-Crawford-Decommits-From-Michigan-28792728 … via @BGInews
10:06 PM - 23 May 2014

Looks like the class will be up to 9 within the next couple weeks!

[JDriveSthND]

Cancelled his OSU visit for this weekend! Here comes commit #10!

[Dayton_Domer]

Irish baby!!!!

#WeAreND

[jbrown_9999]

Irish baby!!!!

#WeAreND

Per 247 Sports

http://247sports.com/Player/Shaun-Crawford-27039

[mlcspinner]

Welcome to the ND family

[Purebred Irishman]

http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/2014...ord-commits-2/

Once again, Notre Dame has plucked a prospect from a Big Ten recruiting rival.
2015 Ohio cornerback Shaun Crawford, who was once pledged to Michigan, has committed to the Irish. He tweeted the news out on Sunday.

“Making my Dad PROUD on Father’s Day.. I officially committed to the University of Notre Dame. he road to success.”

While not as surprising or sudden as 2015 Indiana linebacker Josh Barajas’ recent flip from Penn State to Notre Dame, Crawford represents another key defensive piece to the Irish’s 2015 recruiting class.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pounder from St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio is Notre Dame’s 13th commitment in the Class of 2015 and the fourth defensive player to commit to the Irish within the last week, joining defensive linemen Brandon Tiassum, Micah Dew-Treadway and Elijah Taylor.

He committed to Michigan last summer after not initially receiving an offer from Notre Dame. The Irish came through with that offer a few months ago as Brian VanGorder replaced Bob Diaco as defensive coordinator. It was pretty clear the offer could end up resulting in a flip as Crawford’s early interest in Notre Dame was serious.

A May 17th visit to South Bend was described as a “night and day” difference from a previous visit last summer. In addition to VanGorder,

Irish defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks and head coach Brian Kelly showed a sincere interest in adding Crawford to Notre Dame’s recruiting class.

A week after that trip, Crawford publicly decommitted from the Wolverines. By the team he cancelled a planned trip to Ohio State at the end of May, it was clear the Irish would be virtually impossible to bea

In addition to Michigan, Crawford had offers from schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida State among several others.

ISD expert Sean Mele believes this is a big piece for the Irish’s 2015 defensive class and cautions others not to write him off because of his size.

“You look at Crawford on paper and wonder, ‘Why all this fuss about a kid who’s barely 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds?’ Then you press play and it’s pretty clear what he brings to the table,” Mele says. “The Lakewood, Ohio native plays the game without any fear. He hits like a truck that just got insurance and runs like a deer during open season.

“He attacks the ball downhill with tremendous closing speed and when he arrives he uses blunt force to make himself known to whoever’s carrying the football.”

Mele admits he was surprised by the toughness and physicality Crawford displays.

“I did not expect the St. Edward High School star to be the type of player I saw on film,” he says. “I guess I expected a more finesse, coverage-type player – not a ‘head hunter’ who has little regard for his own body when attacking the football. Forget about his size – I’ll take 11 ‘Crawfords’ over 11 ‘prototypical-sized’ players any day of the week.”