UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Hannibal]

We'll still be competing with ND and OSU for most players. QB is the only position where we probably won't.

[Pasadena Blue]

I think we may also be looking for a different type of RB, tight ends, etc.

I agree most high school OL-men are pretty raw and could be molded to fit Spread or a Pro-Set.

Depending on how this season goes, it's also possible that Borges may choose to keep some elements of a Spread-Coast going forward.

Shane Morris runs at least a 4.6 40, so he is no slouch ... I could see him running on occasion.

[Rob F]

We'll still be competing with ND and OSU for most players. QB is the only position where we probably won't.

Not necessarily---there are many variations of the "spread" offense, but for the most part, they call for smaller quicker O-linesmen as they fit the blocking schemes of the spread better. Like Pasadena said, though, most HS linemen are raw enough that they can be taught what is necessary to fit the scheme, as long as they already somewhat have the quickness and body type needed.

Also (as PB also wrote) the different types of offenses have different needs in TE's and RB's, but i might add, too, receivers---small slot/smurf guys vs. bigger, taller Calvin Johnson/Braylon Edwards types

[Jeff Buchanan]

Based on Hoke/Borges recruiting on the OL, there is no question, none at all, that they are moving away from the most skilled zone blocking body types (e.g., Molk) and towards hulking NFL type assignment or gap blocking players.

To me, that signals that when Denard is gone (end of 2012), this is going to be a pro-style, power offense (2013 forward). Except for the RB position recruiting (which is hard to explain why), recruits fit a pro-style offense.

On ufm's offense ...... there is going to be a lot of similarity to the offense that ufm puts on the field and the one Hoke puts on the field. I'll leave the better observations regarding that to talent but ufm isn't going to be recruiting small, middle weight wrestling champion, zone blocking OL-men like Molk (and he was unique player that is probably going to play on Sundays despite his size).

[WM Wolverine]

Large OL, lots of TE's/H-backs, tall WR's, pro-style QB & an actual FB...

Yes, they are going to a power rushing, pro style offense.

[Chuck Mallory]

It will be great to see Michigan winning the battle of the LOS once again. We have the young OL talent coming in to do that. Defensive line now needs to get a little stronger. Its already heading that way with players like Pipkins.

[Hannibal]

Too much is generally made of "spread player" vs "pro style" player. The battles that we lost for OSU and Auburn this last cycle for Jordan Diamond and Brionte Dunn are perfect examples of how spread offenses compete directly with non-spread offenses for positions where the demands are supposedly different. Rich Rodriguez's crappy recruiting helped reinforce this belief that spread guys tend to be undersized, underrated "system" guys. OSU and Michigan will compete head to head for the top recruits in the Midwest, other than QB and probably tight end. If you look at Florida's recruiting under Meyer, he didn't recruit from a different set of players than FSU, Miami, Alabama, etc.

[iam416]

Mike McCray will announce next week. That means Ohio State will not be a factor and it's likely M or Illinois (IMO).

Interestingly, UFM offered two other Ohio LBs ahead of McCray, who is rated in the top 50 overall by Rivals (puzzling rating, tbh). Was it Liney who stated that UFM recruits by rankings?

[Hannibal]

What other offers does McCray have?

That's a weird final two.

[iam416]

That's not his final 2. He has 6. That's my personal take on his final 2 -- though Tennessee is probably pretty high, too. His final 6 is: Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina and Illinois.

Other significant offers include PSU and UNL. And Rivals has him rated #45ish overall -- and ahead of Dymonte Thomas -- which I still don't understand.

Anyway, from everything I've read on him for awhile, he would have accepted an OSU offer on the spot. But, apparently, UFM likes Courtney Love and Ben Gedeon better and McCray isn't going to wait. Incidentally, M is very much in the hunt for Gedeon who, I think, was the first LB UFM offered in-state.

[Hannibal]

Why don't you like McCray as much? Just curious.

[iam416]

I was more harping on the relative ranking in Ohio. IMO, there is no way Thomas is any lower than 3 in Ohio. McCray isn't anywhere near the recruit he is. Personally, I have McCray nearer 10 in the state. My problem with McCray is that he doesn't seem to play as fast as an elite LB recruit should. I think Gedeon and Love both play faster/are faster. I'm not, FWIW, overly enamored with Love, either.

From what I've read, McCray was told by OSU that they didn't think he was fast enough, and wanted to see him at camp. My guess is that they're unsure if he's a true LB recruit or a rush end. That would accord with my very, very unprofessional take on him.

[Rocky Bleier]

Word at Mgoblog is Alex Kozan chose Auburn.

[Da Geezer]

Finally agreed on the money amount, huh?

[Pasadena Blue]

pretty good OL class for Auburn to take on 'Bama. This is not necessarily a bad thing for us, keeping him out of the B1G.... although, we will potentially be in a tough spot for a quality center for the next two years. I am worried about Rocko's ability to take over for Molk.