UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[WM Wolverine]

An 'actual' 6'5" is plenty tall enough for tackle if you have quick feet and long arms. Most recruiting experts like him quite a bit, have him staying a tackle and have him as a 4-star. Not a surprise but a really good pick-up for the offensive line.

[WM Wolverine]

Offense is filling up fast, only needs left are a RB, another WR & another OL...

Good news is M is in on elite defensive talent; guys like Peppers, McDowell, Hand, etc and in the lead for 4-stars guys like Westphal, Kyron Watson, etc. I've got M taking 3 DB's, 2 LB's, and 3-4 DL.

[hack]

This is shaping up to be very possibly an exceptionally exciting class.

[WM Wolverine]

It's going to be a small class, in quality its potentially a top 3-4 class but might end up ranked in the 5-9 range due to its small size.

[hack]

Size no matter -- when you're talking about potentially Peppers, McDowell, Hand, etc, it's just really exciting to imagine the defense that one day emerges.

[lineygoblue]

Its the kind of talent we need to get the program back where it belongs.

Of course, since Brady Hoke has 'never won anything' .. its all going to be wasted ...:-P

[hack]

Yeah. Bummer.

[WM Wolverine]

Lacking in the '12 class was 'elite' talent, it had oodles of depth (top 150 - 300 type talent) but not enough recruits top 75 caliber... Despite that, I think it's shaping up to be an excellent class that's getting raved reviews from those able to view practices...

Class of '13 class saw some improvement in top talent (top 100 types) but you could still argue that the elite programs (USC, Florida, Alabama, Texas, FSU) are getting the 'elite' talent while M is doing really well in the tier after them... This class ('14) M has a chance to get as good as talent as anyone, thanks to Hoke & Mattison. It's a small class and some of their 'top' recruits are from outside the midwest (Peppers, Hand, etc.)

BTW it sounds like M is slow playing Lawrence Marshall DE as they really like their chances with Hand & McDowell and probably only take 3 DL in this class. I like Marshall a good bit but this staff thinks they are in as good as position w/ Hand/McDowell that they can let Marshall go to Sparty and probably feel if they really wanted to, they could probably flip Marshall from Sparty later on.

[iam416]

Another huge season of spring recruiting for Coach No-Titles. I recall two years ago what a tremendous spring he had and how it was almost a surefire top 2 class. Last year's brilliant 32* weekend (albeit, in February), I think, had the top spot all but assured for M. For M fans, spring, truly, is when hope springs eternal.

Unfortunately, the harsh reality of the field beckons come autumn. Now -- I will concede -- a few were honest about coach UFM. OP famous proclamation was the first. Then Liney confidently predicted UFM wouldn't lose a game last year. So, there are a few M fans out there who get it.

In the meantime, Peppers is a stud and total M lock. Hokattison continues to dominate on the recruiting trail leaving only scraps for UFM and the rest of the B10.

[iam416]

but you could still argue that the elite programs (USC, Florida, Alabama, Texas, FSU) are getting the 'elite' talent while M is doing really well in the tier after them

LOL at omitting Ohio State.

[hack]

I am enjoying noting the disconnect there. Meantime, you'll end up 1-2 against Michigan in the ``Still RR's Recruits'' era. Not a good outcome when it's your best shot at piling up some wins against us.

Am looking forward to getting to the real meat of the Five-Year War.

[iam416]

LOL. Ohio State has been piling up wins against M for a long time. Coach No Titles ain't going to change that, though he did manage to edge the worst Ohio State team in decades in AA to end years upon years of futility.

And, heh, you actually thought M would in in Columbus. LOL.

[hack]

Forgive me for failing to anticipate that our OC would design a very effective system for telling the defense what's coming and how to stop it. And you still couldn't put M away until late.

The circumstances that allowed for that sort of ludicrous stupidity are gone. Michigan is no longer in square peg/round hole territory. And it is one year further away from RichRod and one year closer to the full-Mattison environment I am so excited to see.

Sucks to be you.

[iam416]

Damn. Here I thought Gardner played last year. And here I thought Mattison coached last year as OSU mudholed M with Hyde. Bah.

Good to know that M plans on improving. I'm not sure if OSU has the same plans. Don't really know if Braxton is going to do any better. It's up in the air. If I had to judge by his one season gain under UFM and Herman, I'd say it's likely he might be a smidge better. But that's all speculation. Gardner emerging as a dominant B10 force probably isn't.

I guess Buchanan shorted me on the line when said OSU +3! Probably should be at least 7 and the hook!

[hack]

LOL. Sad reality is that when you are as stupid as UM has been, the upside is that you can get a hell of a lot better fast when you get a decent coaching staff in. Growth from a small base is a silver lining. You're aware of this. Isn't a nice thing for you to contemplate, though. Miller is amazing. Too bad he has no shot at a winning record against Michigan.