Michigan Wolverines Recruiting: Former Top Recruits Save the Maize and Blue

Since we're getting closer and closer to football season, let's start out with Jerimy Finch.

If you follow Michigan closely, Jerimy was once a verbal commitment for the Wolverines as a four-star safety and would have filled a much-needed role on defense. 

Finch was the No. 1 ranked player in Indiana out of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis and the ninth overall safety prospect in the country in the 2007 recruiting class.

This was a big pick up for the Wolverines at the time, but the joy didn't last long as Jerimy decided he wasn't committed to Michigan and verbally committed to Indiana.

Yes, he left Michigan for the football power IU. Okay, it was near his hometown, so it makes some sense.

When signing day approached, Jerimy pulled another rabbit out of the hat and ended up signing an LOI with the Florida Gators.

After playing his first year, he broke his leg on special teams and transferred back to Indiana, where he'd been until Friday when he left IU's program .

"We thank Jerimy for his contributions to the program and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors," Indiana head coach Bill Lynch said in a statement.

It seems, IU had high hopes for him this year:

"Jerimy's had a good spring," co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Joe Palcic told me in April. "We've been a little bit down on him, but he's had a good spring, and I think he'll have a chance to help us.

"It's definitely been a process, and he's finally taking it seriously, too. His biggest problem was just his ability to stay on keys and do the right things in coverage. He's doing a good job of concentrating, and he's finally in position now where he's about ready to step up and play for us."

So, the college career of Mr. Finch will continue at a new university. 

Now on to Michigan basketball.

Alex Legion actually committed to Tommy Amaker then de-committed but ended up signing a LOI to go to Michigan.

Then, Bill Martin let Tommy go and brought in John Beilein.

Alex then asked to be let out of his LOI and signed with Kentucky .

Alex was out of Detroit but played at Oak Hill Academy. He's a 6'5" guard and was rated the No. 33 player in the 2007-2008 class.

After his first semester at Kentucky (under Billy Gillispie—Alex was his first recruit) and with six games under his belt, Alex decided he'd had enough of UK and transferred to Illinois, where he played 22 games during the 2008-2009 season and averaged 3.5 points per game.

After 11 games in 2009, Alex got the itch again; he went home during winter break and never returned to the team.

Now he's at Florida International where he's being coached by Isiah Thomas.

It's funny how things work out. 

When these players left Michigan many fans couldn't believe it. Now it seems both players have enrolled at three different universities with a very poor track record of performance and absolutely zero loyalty.

So thank you Mr. Finch and Mr. Legion for not sticking with Michigan. Leaving was the best thing you could have done for the Wolverines.