UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[WM Wolverine]

Highlighter yellow 'sells' better than maize/corn yellow. Adidas/Nike I'm sure have done studies to see which shades sell better.

[hack]

Anybody's gonna decide to buy or not buy Michigan gear based on that? Really?

I wonder if the dyes are cheaper. I once worked for a company that decided on a fairly maize-esque color scheme for its publications and were reportedly paying quite a bit compared to other yellows they had considered. Just guessing.

[WM Wolverine]

Yes, I do. If the maize is highlighter'ish yellow and/or the 'orang'ish' yellow I've seen on M apparel, I wouldn't buy it regardless of its design.

[hack]

So in the case of Michigan, you have a massive group of older people who buy gear and look for the traditional color. To offset those people you'd have to have a great degree of certainty that tons and tons of kids are going to spend a lot more per person on the newer ugly colors.

I'm not ruling it out -- they have those highligher yellow/royal blue shirts in the stores for a reason. I wonder -- what's the average alumni per capita spending on gear/ year vs. kids and students...

[WM Wolverine]

On the other hand, so much of the M apparel only comes in the highlighter yellow and blue so if some buy M apparel, that is likely there only option.

[hack]

At Moe's there are more options, IIRC. But I mean the shirts that are actually closer to glowing-snot colored with the royal blue. The highlighter yellow is still paired with navy.

It would be interesting to note sales and take surveys. There's obviously so many more alumni than students and younger that wear Michigan gear.

[Da Geezer]

No recruiting information at all? What is the deal on Scout that says Speight is an outstanding recruiter?

[SeattleLionsFan]

I don't know but I do know he was invited to play in the UA game this year. His tape doesn't impress me, but maybe he's got soemthing.

[WM Wolverine]

Been busy, this time of year we mostly see new offers flooding out but that process is getting quicker each year. Right now M's plan A's all have offers, just a few edits to my recruiting board which I haven't had time to update much with new info:


*QB: Wilton Speight

*RB: Jonathan Hillman & Joe Mixon

*WR: Drake Harris, Artavis Scott, Corey Holmes, John Smith & Dionte Sykes (no offer yet)

*TE: Garrett Dickerson

*OL: Alex Bars, Mason Cole, Tommy Doles, Orlando Brown & Sam Mustipher...

*DE: Lawrence Marshall & De'Shawn Hand...

*DT: Malik McDowell & Bryan Mone

*LB: Michael Ferns & Nyles Morgan

*CB: Parrker Westphal, Jabrill Peppers, Adoree Jackson & Nick Watkins

*S: Montae Nicholson & Erick Smith

[WM Wolverine]

I expect a class size of ~20 depending upon attrition; a class that small will need to fill needs/numbers where M is doing quite well after two strong & large classes back-to-back...

How many I think they take: QB (1), RB (2), WR (2), TE (2), OL (3-4), DL (3), LB (2), DB (3) - 18+ a spot or two for blue chippers.

[Rob F]

I wouldn't mind seeing 2 QB's, since we signed none in 2012. IMO, that's a position you never want to run short of bodies---it spelled disaster, as we all know, when Denard got hurt this past season at Nebraska.

As far as this particular class goes, as much as I want to trust the judgement of Hoke and staff, there are plenty here and on MGoBlog who are not impressed with Speight. What happens if, as feared, he is a dud? Then when Gardner uses up that medical redshirt year we hope he gets, it leaves us with Morris and possibly nobody ready to step in in case of injury in '15 and even possibly '16.

[Rob F]

Besides that, competition is a good thing.

[DennisT]

Might be a tough sell for a top flight qb to come in a year after Shane. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if that was their thinking.

[The Oracle]

Wouldn't shock me if Speight ends up fairly highly ranked. Top 250 or so.

[hack]

They've been pretty good so far at finding kids that rise up the charts late. Wouldn't be surprised either way. My question is development once they get here.