UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Optimus Prime]

Don't kid yourself, It was a bag containing 5000 Benjamin Franklins that actually persuaded him.

[Hannibal]

Isaac has some really impressive film from his freshman year. I would be surprised if he is not a 20 carry per game starter on day 1, with a dramatic dropoff whenever the backup gets a carry.

[hack]

I thought it was a pretty small sample size and didn't see him make something out of nothing in those highlights. He seemed like Fitz -- needs help to get to the second level, where he's most dangerous. But I too expect he's probably the starter come fall.

[iam416]

Hanni:

The general opinion amongst M boards/recruiting folks is that RB is not a position of need. When Weber flipped they felt that wasn't a huge loss and that Weber was actually more likely to see early playing time at OSU.

I guess the thought is that Green and Isaac are the answer.

In any event, I hoping Harris stays home, but it seems like Alabama for him.

[Mike]

Green and Isaac should be able to provide at least a serviceable run game in a properly coached offense with an experienced line.

[Hannibal]

Hanni:

The general opinion amongst M boards/recruiting folks is that RB is not a position of need. When Weber flipped they felt that wasn't a huge loss and that Weber was actually more likely to see early playing time at OSU.

I guess the thought is that Green and Isaac are the answer.

In any event, I hoping Harris stays home, but it seems like Alabama for him.

I would say that RB is neither a pressing need, nor a situation where a guy should be scared off by the depth chart. We have one 5* recruit who had a promising freshman year and some mediocre guys below that. Another 5* recruit should look at it as an opportunity to get 10-15 carries a game as a freshman if he lives up to his hype. Not many decent programs are going to offer you that without some injuries or busts. I kind of concur that Weber isn't a big loss since the scouting opinions that I have read on him aren't that overwhelming and we don't need numbers. We need studs.

[hack]

I agree. Weber seems to be more of a proxy for the M/OSU battle. A point of pride for whomever lands him. For Michigan I guess there's a point in coaxing him back, but not necessarily based on how good he is. I'd rather see about the top RBs next year. Issac Green and Smith and maybe Johnson are fine for now.

[iam416]

Weber may be a point of pride for M, but OSU needed a RB in this class. Harris, Scott or Weber will do.

They will lose a bunch at RB over the next two seasons with Elliot almost sure to go pro and Dunn and Ball gone a year later. That leaves Samuel, a RB from this class and a RB from next year's class for 2017. Would be really nice to get Weber (or Scott) in, have them redshirt and be able to contribute in 2016.

[hack]

Which helps explain Weber's attractiveness to UM, IMO. From what I saw (and read before we lost Harris), Weber isn't necessarily a guy that tops out as a feature back at a program with serious ambitions. So if it hurts OSU a little bit I'm fine with that. But I'd almost rather see about Scott. Is he a lock at MSU? I would guess that if we can't get Harris (WTF is with Harris and his Borges connection?), we'd hurt MSU more by poaching Scott than by getting Weber back from OSU. I know you think the three of them are more or less equally talented.

[Rocky Bleier]

The nice thing about the RB position is that they're the easiest to plug in early... provided they can block and don't get your QB killed.

[iam416]

M has zero chance with Harris and Scott, IMO. I guess they could get Scott's attention by offering his little brother, but outside of that, zero. And I think Scott will be really good for MSU.

If Scott flips, it may be to someone like Pitt. Pitt currently has a RB (Darrin Hall from Austintown). UK will probably push for him. If he flips, then Narduzzi maybe pushes for Scott and maybe that means MSU is back in the Weber derby. That's what I'd call a longshot.

I think the most likely scenario is the 3 RBs stay where they are (Harris to Bama).

I don't think Weber is a generational talent, but he can easily contribute to OSU. They're also not going to stop recruiting RBs next year because they have him (won't go into the 2016 class). Gotta have depth at RB.

I also really, really like Samuel. If he can put on 10 lbs he can be a star.

[Pasadena Blue]

I wonder how much O-state and Sparty will be affected next year by the loss of their OC and DC, respectively --- I am guessing O-state not much, but I am not so sure about Sparty.

[froot loops]

Losing Narduzzi will hurt State, no doubt about it. That was Narduzzi's show. But they were talking about changing the scheme even before the Pitt job came calling. So it was going to be in flux regardless.

[Da Geezer]

Talent: I tried to look up Samuel, but couldn't find him. What is the deal on him?

[iam416]

Curtis Samuel is their backup RB. He plays. #4 in your program, #1 in your heart! He's got some real giddy up, but he could use a few pounds and he just needs to reps. He'll be really good.