UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[lineygoblue]

Maybe. He will have a hotshot coming up right behind him, and he could feel like he's in a repeat act of Tom Brady/Drew Henson

[The Oracle]

Maybe. He will have a hotshot coming up right behind him, and he could feel like he's in a repeat act of Tom Brady/Drew Henson

I don't think guys like Morris and kiel get scared by competition, especially kiel who'll have a year up on Morris, and is just as talented if not moreso.

[hodgkal]

Let's not forget a fundamental truth: all other things being equal, a good big guy can almost always beat a good little guy. Are we filling up this 2012 class too early and foreclosing the chance to land some 5 stars that will linger until late in the process? Just asking. It's not a complaint, just a worry.

[lineygoblue]

I think that if there are any 5-star's that want to commit to Michigan at the end, there will be a way to accommodate them, within the rules, of course.

[Jeff Buchanan]

That question is being asked frequently at Rivals so, you aren't alone in asking it, Doc.

The general consensus is that needs are being met and you have to trust the ability of the coaching staff to asses those and evaluate who best fits those needs and then who gets offered/encouraged to commit.

No question, biggest need was on the DL and Hoke has gone out and gotten 4 of the best in the midwest. There are still some big fish out there and the thinking is that they can take 5.

LBs have been a pleasant surprise and most would argue that the quality of the LBs already committed in the 2012 class is on Mattison .... he is a guy who is perceived by recruits to be able to get you to the next level. Most seem to be very satisfied with the recruits in this position group.

DBs ....... Terry Richardson would be a big get and there are others that will decide later that M is still in contention for and could accommodate them in a 25 man class.

Pro-style WRs are the biggest need on the O and M is in on some very good players. That position group is still a ? as to how it will turn out. QB too ..... interesting situation with Morris and Kiel. No one I know of is saying that Kiel is M's for sure but Rivals has commented positively on the likelihood.

OL is coming along .....everybody knows this is hard to qualify position group. Clearly M is transitioning to a different body type and skill level on the OL. That is going to take time.

Maybe WM can chime in; he has a broader source base than I do .... my source is Josh Helmholdt at Rivals.

[Hannibal]

Brian at mgoblog had a good remark about the scholarship limit issue that we face this year. "While Michigan won't put themselves in a situation where they sign a bunch of guys and then say "medical scholarships for everyone," the best interests of the program are now aligned with certain guys leaving it." I think that sums it up pretty nicely. This is one year where being able to oversign would help us tremendously. With that said, by the end of this fall when we're still waiting on a few kids to decide, we'll probably have had some attrition.

[Jamie H]

Let's not forget a fundamental truth: all other things being equal, a good big guy can almost always beat a good little guy. Are we filling up this 2012 class too early and foreclosing the chance to land some 5 stars that will linger until late in the process? Just asking. It's not a complaint, just a worry.

That is very true at some positions (esp. linemen) but not as much at others. In the NFL, there has actually been somewhat of a move away from exclusively big RB's and WR's towards smaller, more versitile players. Now you're seeing more RB's who can catch the ball out of the backfield than big bruisers, and you're seeing more 5' 10" receivers like DeSean Jackson who are fast and quick rather than big. Obviously 6' 5" guys like Calvin Johnson are still guys that you draft at the very top, but the NFL is no longer scared to taking smaller guys who can make plays with assets other than height.

At CB, the general issue is that you need agility, acceleration and speed above all else. I think a lot of times, the more height you have, the less agility you have (in general). So at CB a 5' 11" guy who is really fast and agile may be more effective than taller CB's.

This article is a few years old, but it talks about how there are very few CB's in the NFL taller than 6' 1". So I'm not going to get upset that a college CB is only 5' 9.5". Maybe he'll have issues at the next level, but he's plenty tall for Michigan.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2422307

[WM Wolverine]

If the coaches have one spot left and a kid lower on their recruiting board wants to commit, they can delay a recruit to commit if they feel they have a really good shot at someone they prefer. Alabama/Nick Saban is notorious for throwing out a ton of offers and telling kids its not a real offer, LSU, Fla under Meyer and Tenn w/ Kiffin used this practice. Before filling your last spot at a position, the coaches will always notify the higher ranked recruits that they have one spot left at that position.. Plus like JB stated, most programs will keep a couple scholarships 'open' for the elite recruits (5-star types) in case they want to decide come signing day...

As for the remainder of the recruiting class, I'd say its shaping up to being an excellent one, just don't judge it by its skill position players. M isn't going to take a lot of numbers at those positions and most of those they are targeting aren't local kids who are longer shots than those that are in B10 country...

OL recruiting is looking really positive, M is in on a number of top 200 types who list M in their top 3 or 4. For the most part these guys haven't visited AA much and will take their unofficials in June, July and will make decisions later in the summer. Same goes for the DT's M is in on.

[Pasadena Blue]

wasn't TR supposed to decide today?

[WM Wolverine]

Yes and no, he's already decided just waiting to make announcement which is scheduled for Thursday. That announcement might not happen if all his family can't make it.

[lineygoblue]

We've heard all kinds of things about TR's announcement. We've heard it was supposed to be Thursday, but he decided not to commit now, because he wants to take visits. Then, we heard he wants to announce, but is waiting for family to be present for his announcement. We've heard that Alabama is his choice, we've heard Michigan is his choice. We've heard he wants to visit USC before deciding.

I guess we'll know where he's going when his LOI arrives.

[Jeff Buchanan]

My view is that he is an 18 year old enjoying screwing with everyone who is hanging on his every word.

I've just gotten used to not following much of this seriously. When they suit up and start to play, that means they signed with M and didn't quit after spring or fall camp. I'll decide how good they are from a fan's perspective after they've played a game or three.

[lineygoblue]

While perusing Rivals today I noted that Tom Lemming has some nice things to say about Hoke and Michigan recruiting.

Among the things he said, is that if they get to a point where they can actually sign 24-25 players, they could end up in the Top 5 in recruiting. His service is more based on numbers, rather than actual need.

He also said that Mattison is among the most liked/hated recruiters in the nation. Liked by the kids, hated by other recruiters.

[Hannibal]

We have needs big enough to fill up 24. If we limit the class to 20, we'll be leaving a hole somewhere.

[Jeff Buchanan]

According to the same Lemming article Liney is referring to, M has between 200 and 300 offers out - possibly more than any CFB team in the nation. Hoke will sign as many players as he can sign legally.

The BT has a rule that you can sign (I think) 5 over the number of scholarships you have to give and there is some lattitude in figuring how many you actually have to give. The number I am hearing is between 23 and 25 so, if I have it right, M could actually sign 28 - 30 players in the 2011 class. Apparently if it does this, it has to show where the other 5 scholarhips might come from if this option is excercised.

The SEC has NO LIMITS and probably never will. Not because they are cheaters and lie (and they are and do but that's another story) but because it is considered not at all unusual for players offered to not qualify academically, get in trouble before they come to school, or not make the team because of undisclosed injury. Yes, this sort of thing can get manipulated and yes, it does but despite the huge fuss that is made of this, its not that big of a deal.

So, I'm not worried at all about Hoke over or undersigning.