UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[WM Wolverine]

M has 22 commits, room for up to 6 more with enough attrition.

Only true need is DT. After that its best talent available.

[The Oracle]

Plus whoever else doesn't end up in the class, like Harding, etc.

[Pasadena Blue]

M has 22 commits, room for up to 6 more with enough attrition.

Only true need is DT. After that its best talent available.

disagree, what we NEED is to upgrade the positions where he have recruited 3* players with 4 and 5*

[JRB]

What if the 3* guys are good? I mean, Ryan Glasgow wasn't even a 3* guy. His only FBS offer came from Wyoming. I'll take as many Ryan Glasgows as Michigan can possibly sign.

It's always a good idea to upgrade your talent, but it bears keeping in mind that sometimes, coaching staffs are right and recruiting services are wrong. You usually don't see two-star recruits with ten or more FBS offers(Sean McKeon had at least eleven), and you almost never see one with multiple Power Five offers(McKeon had six). There seem to be quite a few professional talent evaluators who think that kid can play.

Furthermore, Michigan's offensive system is predicated on having quality depth at the TE/H-back spot, and Harbaugh has a considerable track record of developing talent at that spot. Look at what he did with Coby Fleener at Stanford. Heck, look at what this staff has done just this year with A.J. Williams. Bottom line: I wouldn't write off any kid in Michigan's recruiting class just because of what Rivals says about them right now.

[lineygoblue]

Boom.

[Pasadena Blue]

What if the 3* guys are good? I mean, Ryan Glasgow wasn't even a 3* guy. His only FBS offer came from Wyoming. I'll take as many Ryan Glasgows as Michigan can possibly sign.

I don't disagree with anything you have said, but as Talent has pointed out, it's an issue of percentages. Sure there will be great 3*, but your chance of a hit is higher with a 5* .... the facts back that up.

I think increasing our odds is a good thing.

[Wellington_beefhouser]

Back down to 3ish. I should know better than to get caught up in the Internet nonsense.

Watch out! Don't want to get swept away in all the internet nonsense!

[The Oracle]

Except it will probably end up correct in this case. Nudge that up to a 9ish or 10ish now!

[lineygoblue]

I really DO want to see Michigan come up with some top talent playmakers.

I think we've got a QB coming, that may fit that bill.

[JRB]

I don't disagree with anything you have said, but as Talent has pointed out, it's an issue of percentages. Sure there will be great 3*, but your chance of a hit is higher with a 5* .... the facts back that up.

I think increasing our odds is a good thing.

Sure, but those percentages can only carry you so far. You have to have the people in place to develop that talent, and if you do, you have to trust those people to determine which talent they want to develop. The Rivals staff doesn't get the depth of information on players that college coaches do, and they don't get to establish the kinds of relationships with prospects that coaches depend on in recruiting.

Sure, on aggregate, a group of 25 five-star kids will produce more talent than the same number of lower-rated kids. But there are some staffs that have proven their ability to discern more from prospects than the rest of us can. Some staffs only have the knack in certain areas: Denard Robinson and Jeremy Gallon were four-star prospects, but they were five-star recruits to a Rich Rodriguez offense, and I think this year's defensive line demonstrates that Brady Hoke knew defensive line talent when he saw it.

Jim Harbaugh and his staff have proven so far they can develop talent pretty much across the board, and especially at TE. I'll take their ability to better Michigan's odds of winning over Rivals' star ratings any day of the week. I'd love for Jim Harbaugh to have a whole team of five star recruits...if that's what he wants. But if Harbaugh and his staff evaluate a two-star guy and say to themselves, "We can win with that guy," then I want them to get that guy.

[JRB]

I really DO want to see Michigan come up with some top talent playmakers.

I think Michigan might have a few of those guys right now. Darboh has certainly shown he can make tough catches. Chesson is making big plays when he gets the chance. The TE corps is coming along very nicely. Those guys just lack a guy who can get them the ball downfield consistently.

[iam416]

It's more like a 10, Oracle! He won't be at OSU. I'll roll with UFM if that's the way he's going to play this one. If they're fine with the kid from NC instead of chasing Walker to the end, so be it.

As I said, this is mostly interesting for purposes of our bet. I'm personally far more interested in other visitors this weekend.

[Tslisher]

Sam Webb this morning indicated that he talked to him last night. It was his impression that if OSU issued an ultimatum to cancel visits, that Walker would tell them to blow and decommit.

[iam416]

I think what happened was that UFM told him if he continues to take visits they're going to recruit other RBs. I doubt it was anything as harsh as what's been reported. More or less, UFM is comfortable with the kid they have lined up to replace Walker. And once he commits the spot is gone.

Presumably Walker will take his visits (guessing) and end up at M or Bama (or Ole Miss, I guess).

What I find most interesting is that they don't view Walker as worth the risk. Whereas they told Mitchell no way so they could chase the likes of Victor and Bruce. I think part of that is that they absolutely need a RB they really like in this class and they view Walker as a risk so long as he visits. Whereas at WR they feel much better.

They're also telling George Hill to look elsewhere, which is perplexing. But, hey, UFM.

[lineygoblue]

I'd love for Jim Harbaugh to have a whole team of five star recruits...if that's what he wants. But if Harbaugh and his staff evaluate a two-star guy and say to themselves, "We can win with that guy," then I want them to get that guy.

Hackett has handed Harbaugh the keys to the car. I say let the man drive.