UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Let's be prepared to call it a class. Anything M gets on top will be cherry.

[WM Wolverine]

I've felt that way some time ago.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Sad face

[WM Wolverine]

My thoughts on Dec 23rd:

M's class is pretty much complete, just adding toppings.

All 'needs' filled, would be nice to have a blue chip NT but not sure if that'll happen as Solomon is heading to Georgia and there isn't the optimism there once was for Tufele and there never was a lot... Would be great to have another blue chip WR like Nico Collins... Would be excellent to land the #1 overall recruit in Najee Harris...

M will probably take another OT like Becton or someone similar... M will likely take a 5th DB, whether that is Elijah Hicks or someone else they like.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Damn optimism. It's always hurting me.

[Hannibal]

Extremely disappointing OL class, given our needs there. It will be a great overall recruiting class on paper but without quality in the trenches, that's one more year of getting our ass kicked there when it matters most. I have said that 2019 is our next chance to beat OSU but without a stellar OL class I'm now moving that back to 2020. I was hoping that 2017 would be the last OL class for a long time with a burned redshirt but that trend will probably continue through 2018.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Given the Hoke OL recruiting disaster, I'd agree.

OTH, there are plenty of examples of college level offenses with decent OL play from other than top 100 guys.

This is just such a hard position group to predict anything with regard to performance. Clearly you increase your chances of elite OL play with proven guys who performed or where graded out well as seniors in HS and at camps but it's never a slam dunk.

Too early to tell and even following fall camp we're not going to know a whole lot until we see who's playing and what the OL looks like against Florida on 9/2.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

I thought this was interesting...

Composite Rankings for Clemson's Offensive Line:

- Mitch Hyatt (SO) - LT - 5*
- Taylor Hearn (RS SO) - LG - 3*
- Jay Guillermo (RS SO) - C - 3*
- Tyrone Crowder Jr. (RS JR) - RG - 4*
- Sean Pollard (FR) - RT - 4*

M isn't as bad as we think they are...

[Detroit Dan]

Right. I think we learned this year that multi-year experience is not that big a deal on the o-line. If a player doesn't show something good in his first year or two of playing time, additional years are unlikely to help.

As Hannibal said, our best bet is to get good young players in the lineup this year, then let them play together for a couple of years. If they're gonna be good, they'll be good by 2018 or 2019 at the latest. They could be good in 2017.

Redshirts are a thing of the past for teams such as Michigan, as in basketball.

Jeremy Clark is probably better off going pro this year rather playing college ball for a 6th year. Football is a tough sport, and you've got to make your money while you can. If he's going to recover fully eventually, pro teams will realize that and grab him. Might be a good pickup for the Lions.

[froot loops]

I'm not sure that's the lesson you want to learn. Experience matters on the line.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Ifeatu Melifonwu looks very illusive on tape. However, he is playing subpar comp.

[Detroit Dan]

I'm not sure that's the lesson you want to learn. Experience matters on the line. [froot loops]

You're probably right -- not my area of expertise. It just seems the trend is going the other way -- younger players getting into the starting lineup sooner.

[Rocky Bleier]

Ifeatu Melifonwu looks very illusive on tape. However, he is playing subpar comp.

I tried to find the word illusive in a dictionary, but it eluded me. Actually, it means illusory. So maybe this guy Melifonwu is just an illusion?

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Eventually I'll learn how to spell. *elusive*

Reminds me of a buddy of mine. He'd correct me anytime I mispronounced a word. He'd always say to me "I just don't want you to sound stupid in front of other people."

[Rocky Bleier]

I just thought that particular mistake was funny. Where I live people say, "I'll borrow you a dollar." Drives me crazy.