UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[iam416]

Gotta change that. Or, at the very least, beat out ND, MSU, Kentucky, and Penn State for the leftovers.

Yeah, so that's the question -- are the leftovers worth it. I love...LOVE...Lynn Bowden as a prospect. He has some sort of weird personal baggage that has pushed him down to the upper middle schools. He should have offers at every school that runs any sort of spread or likes to put really athletic kids in space. M has, I think, passed on him either out of background concerns or because the don't think he fits in. OSU is really mulling it over (for what I've read).

Remember the name, though. He's going to be really good, and probably really good in the B10. But, beyond that Ohio's best "leftovers" were at strong M positions. Ohio had a really strong WR class. But M has a really strong WR class. Sean Clifford (QB) and Matt Dotson (TE) are nice players, but M has a QB and isn't recruiting a TE this year. The only kid (aside from Bowden) that I'd take is Todd Sibley (RB). He going to be a quality RB. But, M chased Harris and has OMS in the bag. So, it's understandable. FTR, I think Sibley will do well at Pitt.

Plus, M did get two kids from Ohio -- Hudson and Honigford (Contributor/Not Contributor, IMO).

In 2018, Gillison, as mentioned above, should be in their plans, but I don't know how they're looking at TE for 2018. Gillison is a lower 4*. I also like John Dirksen a lot as a Plan B OT for schools like OSU/M, and a Plan A for most other schools. And if Aenas Hawkins can put on a little weight, he could be a very good DT -- really quick, but plays really light (250 or so).

[Hannibal]

Eh. Are the outcomes of recruiting predetermined that far ahead of time? I know that when Hoke was hired, OH recruiting turned on a dime, so it's not unheard of for fortunes to change pretty fast.

[iam416]

I dunno. You start recruiting kids when they're sophomores. If they're in-state you probably see them as freshmen at your camp. And then every year after. So you're building relationships for a long time.

The class of 2019 isn't particularly well-formed on any ranking service, but I guarantee Ohio State knows which in-state kids it needs to build relationships with. Unfortunately, it so happens that Rumler is all M.

As far as Hoke goes, the class of 2012 will forever be an exception to the rule. The class of 2013 is more normal, but M still had a leg up on OSU in terms of relationships. 2014 it normalized. HARBAUGH!!! is now normalized everywhere, too. He's had his two years. He's on level ground in terms of building relationships.

[iam416]

That's why, btw, anyone and everyone who said "Tom Herman!!!" will get Texas recruits to rethink leaving the state is a recruiting idiot. You just can't make up years of work in 5 weeks. He'll do better next year and should do really well in two years, but he's not stopping the exodus of 2017.

[Hannibal]

It doesn't look like Harbaugh is putting any priority on building those inroads. It looks like he is taking a Notre Dame approach. He's going to need to produce some results on the field really damn soon for that to pay off.

[Hannibal]

I expect that things would be a little bit different for Herman since he has a two year head start in the state of Texas and probably at least kicked the tires on some of those kids.

[Jeff Buchanan]

..........HARBAUGH!!! is now normalized everywhere, too. He's had his two years. He's on level ground in terms of building relationships.

You seem to feel that this circumstance mitigates Hannibal's concerns. Like your input on this stuff. Very helpful as I don't follow the nitty gritty like others do. But on a national level if Harbaugh has actually normalized things everywhere, maybe we shouldn't be loosing out on these key guys or to put it another way, nationally M and Harbaugh may not be on equal footing with the elites and still being victimized by things he's not going to be able to overcome (standards, location, weather, etc.).

[Hannibal]

So who does MSU have left on their board? Their class looks to me like a disaster unless they are in on some quality kids who will break their way late.

[iam416]

You seem to feel that this circumstance mitigates Hannibal's concerns. Like your input on this stuff. Very helpful as I don't follow the nitty gritty like others do. But on a national level if Harbaugh has actually normalized things everywhere, maybe we shouldn't be loosing out on these key guys or to put it another way, nationally M and Harbaugh may not be on equal footing with the elites and still being victimized by things he's not going to be able to overcome (standards, location, weather, etc.).

My point is that JH has had the same amount of time to build relationships with kids in the class of 2018 as any other coach. He was at a disadvantage for the class of 2016, but made up for it with his NJ strategy. He was at small disadvantage this cycle. He's now level.

However, I wouldn't necessarily say that's the reason he's losing some national recruiting battles. The far easier explanation is that elite kids involve elite schools and elite competition. You'll lose way more than you win. Fortunately, he's won battles for Ruiz, Anthony, McCaffrey (I wonder what would have happened if Stanford made a play?), Singleton, Filiaga and others. He's lost a lot, too. That's what happens.

Weather isn't an issue. That's poppycock. Standards are rarely an issue. Location is only an issue insofar as the recruit's family wants him closer to home. It certainly worked for him with DPJ.

M has recruited nationally under JH. This year's class gets a nice boost by a really strong in-state class, but it's still national. Ohio State recruits nationally. It's doable and being done.

And I'm not at all down on M recruiting. JH did a nice job to buoy his class with NJ kids in 2016 and M kids for 2017. His strategic approach is producing pretty good results. A few others are recruiting a little bit better. But M's past two classes are certainly good enough to compete with anyone.

[iam416]

So who does MSU have left on their board? Their class looks to me like a disaster unless they are in on some quality kids who will break their way late.

They're fighting UK for Danny Davis (WR-Ohio) and fighting ND and others for Antjuan Simmons. And then a bunch of 3* kids I don't know.

[Jeff Buchanan]

..........Weather isn't an issue. That's poppycock. ......... And I'm not at all down on M recruiting. JH did a nice job to buoy his class with NJ kids in 2016 and M kids for 2017. His strategic approach is producing pretty good results. A few others are recruiting a little bit better. But M's past two classes are certainly good enough to compete with anyone.

Weather. I've got nothing to go on that weather is a factor for a guy like Harris for example but he's a Cali recruit. It at least had to shade his decision for Alabama...... Although it had to be cold when he arrived in Birmingham on Sunday.

I think what we're talking about is top 100 guys, maybe just top 50 that I underestand it have potential to be impact players either right away or in their second years of eligibility worst case.

Seems to me, you can only go so far these days without having a few of these types on your roster. Wisconsin, MSU ar frequently sited as programs that recruit on the left overs and develop them we'll and win. While that's true, they're going to and have been eaten alive by teams with elite talent.

M's missed out on what supposedly were elite OL and DL guys this cycle. I think that's troublesome considering M's needs.

[Hannibal]

I wonder how much the weather really matters. So many people from warm climates romanticize winter that I don't think that you realize how much it can suck until halfway through February, when a ten inch snowfall occurs the day after it is sunny and 55 degrees, crushing your hopes of an early spring.

[Rocky Bleier]

Hoke did well in Ohio because he had connections there, and The Vest got caught up in the scandal that brought Meyer to osu as their punishment.

[*JD*]

I wonder how much the weather really matters. So many people from warm climates romanticize winter that I don't think that you realize how much it can suck until halfway through February, when a ten inch snowfall occurs the day after it is sunny and 55 degrees, crushing your hopes of an early spring.

I tend to agree with this. Save the rare snow-game like we had this year (where it was 70 degrees the day before, BTW), they don't really play in awful weather more than once or twice anyway. So, it's cold walking to class for 2-3 months. Wear a coat.

[hack]

Peppers is here, as is Gary. We were in it to the end with Harris, and with Hand. Michigan has a pretty good track record of at least building a credible chance with elite guys. I'm not worried about it at all. It's a bummer with Harris specifically because to take the next step up we've got to win the conference and get in the damn playoff already, and Harris would have provided immediate help, and because we didn't get Wilson. But we are in the conversation for these top players and getting our share of them. Harbaugh is getting his players and the onus is now on him to go put them in the best position to win.