Michigan recruit Demar Dorsey signs junior-college letter of intent as fallback

Demar Dorsey, one of the prizes of Michigan’s 2010 recruiting class, has signed a national letter of intent with junior-college football power Fort Scott Community College. But that doesn’t mean Dorsey won’t be attending Michigan.

Fort Scott coach Jeff Sims said Dorsey, a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Lauderdale Lakes (Fla.) Boyd Anderson High, signed his letter of intent months ago as a fallback plan in case he does not get into Michigan.

There’s no timetable on his admissions process.

“He’s going to Michigan. He’s going to the University of Michigan,” Sims said Friday. “If something happens that he can’t, we’re an option. He’s going to Michigan, we’re just a backup plan if he doesn’t get his scores.”

Sims said he routinely recruits “Division 1 players that are at risk,” but never tries to sway them from their commitments. The ones forced to go the junior-college route enroll at Fort Scott.

He would not say if any other members of Fort Scott's recruiting class signed Division 1 letters of intent.

“Demar is going to Michigan, and he’s working very hard to do that," Sims said. "If he doesn’t get the scores that he needs, then he will end up here.

"We are his backup plan to cover his butt."

So does Sims think Dorsey will end up at Fort Scott?

"To be honest, Michigan would be able to tell you better about that," he said. "I don’t even really delve into that, I just kind of wait. Usually the way it works is I get a call in August and, ‘I didn’t make it, Coach.’ Fine, let’s get on a plane and get over here. That’s typically how it works."

Michigan cannot comment on a recruit's academic standing due to federal laws, though coach Rich Rodriguez said on signing he did not expect all of his recruits to qualify.

Dorsey did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.