White Men Can't Jump (or Run or Catch Apparently)

Notre Dame recruit Rob Parris was recently quoted by scout.com (registration required) saying some very interesting things. The wide receiver out of Cleveland had narrowed down his recruitment to Michigan and the Fighting Irish. Parris said how he felt more comfortable at ND, how he connected well with the coaches and how his best friend and teammate, John Ryan, had committed there.

OK, nothing wrong with that. All are legitimate reasons for choosing one place over another. But at the end of the story Parris says the following:

"I liked the program at Michigan, but one of the biggest things that scared me about them was the possibility of being a white receiver there. The last I heard, the last white receiver they ever had there had been about 10-15 years ago. They don't have any on the team now and I don't think they've given any other white receivers a scholarship," he said.

That's true. Michigan hasn't had a white wide reciever of note since fellow Ohioan John Kolesar from 1985-1988. Before him, Paul Jokisch, who also played on the Michigan hoops team, caught 58 passes from '84-'86.

But Jeff Samardzija not withstanding, is Notre Dame any different? Before Samardzija, you'd have to go back to the mid-'60s and Jack Snow to find a prominent white wide receiver for the Irish.

If Parris felt so out of place as a white wide receiver in Ann Arbor, why didn't he choose Iowa? They've had three white receivers of note recently, Ed Hinkle, Kevin Kasper, and Tim Dwight. Or maybe he should have gone to Arkansas and played quarterback since Matt Jones did that and he was a first round pick by Jacksonville in the 2005 NFL draft, and he caught 36 passes last year for the Jaguars.

With the dearth of white wide receivers in college football, I'd be hard pressed to say any school, other than Iowa, would meet the special qualifications that Parris is looking for. And remember, Rob, once Jeff Samardzija is done after this year, you'll likely be the only white receiver for the Irish.

Thanks to reader Josh for the link.