UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[paul daugherity]

"It's complete bit obsolete, all tomorrow's become yesterday's."

They have to start delivering on the "tomorrows".

[lineygoblue]

I'm there with you Stan. I'm not upset with any of the guys here, or their optimism or lack of optimism, whatever the case may be.

I just want Michigan football to be a Top Ten program again. I think that's what we all want.

[Rocky Bleier]

I'm with WM. The roster finally has talent and depth. Now it just needs experience. Very young team, though a lot of the kids have been pressed into service early the last couple of years, burning up their redshirts. Experience, toughness and leadership are the keys now. Attrition left a lot of holes from the RR years, and it takes a while to recruit and develop kids to fill those gaps. Feel good about the future, but I wonder when we're ever going to recruit blocking TEs again. A.J. Williams is terrible.

[UMStan White]

Thats a bunch of crap! Teams like Alabama, LSU, OSU haven't suffered through he "talented but inexperienced" syndrome. THe "talented but inexperienced" players from RR's tenure are all gone (except for eighth year eligible Gardner) You guys are still waiting for William Campbell to live up to his alleged talent. Just give him one more year in the "system" Oh..wait.. he's gone. Hoke's first year recruits are now seniors. What year are you now predicting UM will have "talented experienced" players that can compete for national titles? Hell I'll be DEAD before your prediction comes true! I challenge you in the WM/Rocky (no toes) Bleier camp to go back and look at your posts. All of you guys were predicting a "return to greatness" by now! ITS THE FUCKING COACHING STUPID! One need only look to Wisconsin and MSU to know what player development can mean to a team's success. Hell PSU will have better players than us and they were supposedly given the semi-death penalty.

[Optimus Prime]

Hoke is a bumbling idiot. 6-7 last year and yes I count the UNW embarrassment as a loss too, removes any lingering doubt that he is grossly incompetent.

All that remains is the future date when DB eats a shit sandwich and fires him. 4.2 M a season is ghastly.

[WM Wolverine]

Hoke's first full recruiting class was the '12 class, they'll be redshirt sophomores and true juniors in '14:

*Offense: Devin Funchess, Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, Dennis Norfleet, Drake Johnson, Sione Houma, Ben Braden, Erik Magnuson, Kyle Kalis, Blake Bars, AJ Williams...

*Defense: James Ross, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Joe Bolden, Kaleb Ringer (gone), Allen Gant, Ondre Pipkins, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, Matt Godin, Mario Ojemudia, Jarrod Wilson, Terry Richardson & Jeremy Clark...

I like that the weaknesses in this class (RB, QB, TE, DE, DB) has largely been addressed in the next couple classes with guys like RB: Green/Smith/Isaac, TE: Butt/Hill/Bunting, QB: Morris/Speight, DE: Charlton/Marshall, DB: Lewis/Hill/Thomas/Stribling/Peppers/Watson...

DE looks like a potentially weak spot after Beyer & Clark graduate, one reason why losing Hand was quite critical (to me). It just means M needs the most from guys like Charlton, Marshall, Ojemudia.

[Optimus Prime]

I believe there may be a spot on his coaching staff for you WM, might be only a select few that can still keep a "Straight face" during Hoke's weekly Strategery meetings.

[WM Wolverine]

My expectations for the coming season aren't much different than anyone elses, 8-9 wins. I like the lousy schedule/B10 but the offensive line must dramatically improve while losing its top two members.

I expect the OL will still prove to be a work in progress but I really like M's defense. I think it'll be a top 3 defense in the B10 and able to win games when the offense struggles.

[Optimus Prime]

That was the general consensus last year and the year before that. With a month to prepare this team against Kansas St. after a disastrous regular season, it clearly indicated that the coaching staff was incapable of responding to adversity that they created.

As for Mattison, he's lost his NFL/Florida magic, what is it year 4 now? Nussmeier might make a difference but frankly it is too late, Hoke has blown his opportunity and screw DB for hiring a " head coach" without OC/DC coordinator experience and a proven track record.

[Jeff Buchanan]

My expectations for the coming season aren't much different than anyone elses, 8-9 wins..........

And that's the problem. Those who remain uncritical and satisfied with the way things are, looking for reasons to justify it, including a few here and probably most of the deciders within the University, may be a crucial factor in why things WON'T be turning around any time soon.

Setting expectations as low as they have been set for nearly a decade are the biggest barrier to M's football success going forward. Voices of dissent, that group increasing in number one Michigan football enthusiast at a time, can make a difference.

[Optimus Prime]

WM, not only is Home getting outworked and put coached on the field, he's getting absolutely destroyed by Meyer on the recruiting front.

Hillard & Cornell chose Meyer over Hoke, although Hoke had a full year head start over Meyer at OSU.,..sorry but it's over.

Standout linebacker Justin Hilliard of Cincinnati St. Xavier on Wednesday made a verbal commitment to play for Ohio State.

Michigan was one of five finalists for Hilliard (6-2, 225), who is ranked the No. 1 linebacker in the nation for 2015 by Scout.com. But Hilliard chose the Buckeyes over the Wolverines, Alabama, Notre Dame and Iowa.

Hilliard is ranked a five- or four-star prospect by all of the major recruiting services.

Defensive end Jashon Cornell of Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minn., also picked Ohio State on Wednesday.

Cornell, also a 2015 four- and five-star recruit, went with OSU over Michigan State, Notre Dame, Iowa and Penn State. The Spartans and Buckeyes reportedly were the top two schools on Cornell's list.

Cornell (6-3, 260) is ranked the No. 11 defensive end in the country by Scout.com.

[Rocky Bleier]

Hoke's first full recruiting class was the '12 class, they'll be redshirt sophomores and true juniors in '14:

*Offense: Devin Funchess, Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, Dennis Norfleet, Drake Johnson, Sione Houma, Ben Braden, Erik Magnuson, Kyle Kalis, Blake Bars, AJ Williams...

*Defense: James Ross, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Joe Bolden, Kaleb Ringer (gone), Allen Gant, Ondre Pipkins, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley, Matt Godin, Mario Ojemudia, Jarrod Wilson, Terry Richardson & Jeremy Clark...

I like that the weaknesses in this class (RB, QB, TE, DE, DB) has largely been addressed in the next couple classes with guys like RB: Green/Smith/Isaac, TE: Butt/Hill/Bunting, QB: Morris/Speight, DE: Charlton/Marshall, DB: Lewis/Hill/Thomas/Stribling/Peppers/Watson...

DE looks like a potentially weak spot after Beyer & Clark graduate, one reason why losing Hand was quite critical (to me). It just means M needs the most from guys like Charlton, Marshall, Ojemudia.

None of that matters. It's all trumped by emotion. I'm a Michigan fan; I'm entitled to championships.

[WM Wolverine]

A.D. Miller WR (6'4", 180 lb's, Texas, 3*) is going to announce tonight, he visited M 3-4 weeks ago along with quite a few other Midwest schools. Competition is Illini, Cal & Arizona State. Really tough call but he had very high praise for the Illini but with M potentially only taking 1 receiver in this class he might jump at the spot. Just a week and a half ago, he was talking of cutting his list to 8 so this is quite a surprise...

Pretty strong offer list for a 3-star so his rankings should jump up to a strong 3-star at the least.

[WM Wolverine]

It's Illinois.

[WM Wolverine]

Figured as much after he 'raves' about the Illini visit after visiting M & Ohio State.