UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Da Geezer]

It may be a bagfull of cash. What it is NOT is a better college education, no matter what the discipline. For Hand to imply that there is some sort of equality in terms of academics when UM is compared to Alabama or Florida is dishonest.

In fact, UM is increasingly being left out of listings of great academic institutions. In SI this week, there is an Ode to Stanford (and Northwestern) and to the Eugene School of Wet Weather. UM should always complain to the national media when it is not acknowledged as the finest academic institution in the Midwest. I suspect that the J-school at Northwestern causes media to be biased toward that tiny institution.

[Jeff Buchanan]

These kinds of ratings are always pretty subjective.

Do you think, in the case of Oregon, that their recent success on the football field has anything to do with that and that M's decade of hibernation in that regard is the reason for it's relative disappearance on the list of superior academic institutions?

I'm waiting for osu to bump M as the best University in the mid-west. Heh, heh.

[Da Geezer]

for those interested, the 2014 rnkings are as follows. Note the enrollment.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities

[Mike]

#4 ranked public institution in the country and you're complaining? The only other entity at UM that is ranked that high is the hockey team.

[WM Wolverine]

Hand is slated for a decision in about a week; Nov 14th... M vs Bama. Hand's likes Bama's for their engineering program...

McDowell will be taking his officials this month and will likely decide between M and Sparty. Hopefully he didn't watch Saturday's game...

In-season there isn't a lot of recruiting going on, I haven't updated the recruiting board on the front page since August 27th and it looks pretty accurate to me. I'd might take a few names off the '15 list and replace them with a couple new names.

[lineygoblue]

It will probably come down to whether he wants to be part of a program that can win the NC now, or one that is still working on the process.

[Hannibal]

For what it's worth, mgoblog's recruiting guy likes M as the favorite for both. The "Alabama engineering" thing is a bad sign though.

[Hannibal]

I hope that depth chart is an important deciding factor for both guys, because we desperately need playmakers, and I think that both of them could start on day 1 easily if they are as good as their hype.

[iam416]

My completely unsupported take is that Hand is more comfortable with the staff and school with M. However, he also likes Alabama and sees them as a perennial national power giving him a big stage, which is much harder to see at M.

I usually go with comfort/relationships in that battle, but the fact that he's talking up UAT Engineering isn't good for M. There's nothing to favor Alabama over M off-the-field. Nothing. But some recruits are uncomfortable saying they want to go with a big-time winner. So, they gin something up instead of just saying, "Alabama is a holy hell ass-kicking machine of doom and I want a ring or 3!"

[iam416]

I hope that depth chart is an important deciding factor for both guys, because we desperately need playmakers, and I think that both of them could start on day 1 easily if they are as good as their hype.

IMO, Hand could get some reps. I'd be surprised with McDowell, but I don't know the depth chart that well.

Peppers is the guy who will play from the get-go. As I've said, he could start for M right now at 3 or 4 different positions. Of all the kids to grow up a M fan!

[Hannibal]

Talent -- our SDE and 3-tech DT suck right now. If those guys are as good as their hype, they would be better than the fodder that we have probably from day one. That is, unless, the light suddenly comes on for a couple of guys who haven't shown any upside at all yet.

[Hannibal]

.. the fact that he's talking up UAT Engineering isn't good for M. There's nothing to favor Alabama over M off-the-field. Nothing. But some recruits are uncomfortable saying they want to go with a big-time winner. So, they gin something up instead of just saying, "Alabama is a holy hell ass-kicking machine of doom and I want a ring or 3!"

That's exactly what I was thinking. :(

That said, I could live with the loss of Hand. McDowell would be devastating.

[WM Wolverine]

Hand will start as a true freshman and make an impact as one, he's exceptionally 'skilled'; he's ready both physically and in football 'skills'. His upside maybe not as high as some other guys in the top 5-10 but he's going to be an excellent college player...

McDowell likely won't need a redshirt but he'll likely be behind Willie Henry & Ondre Pipkins at the least.

[Hannibal]

Hand will start as a true freshman and make an impact as one, he's exceptionally 'skilled'; he's ready both physically and in football 'skills'. His upside maybe not as high as some other guys in the top 5-10 but he's going to be an excellent college player...

McDowell likely won't need a redshirt but he'll likely be behind Willie Henry & Ondre Pipkins at the least.

Is McDowell being recruited as a NT?

[iam416]

Hand will start as a true freshman and make an impact as one, he's exceptionally 'skilled'; he's ready both physically and in football 'skills'. His upside maybe not as high as some other guys in the top 5-10 but he's going to be an excellent college player...

McDowell likely won't need a redshirt but he'll likely be behind Willie Henry & Ondre Pipkins at the least.

Yeah, I was going to say that if McDowell plays a lot then Pipkins is a bust.

I agree wrt Hand.