UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Hannibal]

I think that it's because Mattison's daughter went to Notre Dame.

I assume that Malone was booted to make room for Debord.

[UMStan White]

"I'd like to know why Mattison ever left in the first place in a lateral move to ND?"

Yeash, it was his daughter at ND and the fact that she'd get either free tuition or a big break because he was an employe of the University. Considering what asistant coaches salaries were then one can hardly blame him.

[Rocky Bleier]

"I feel good about OSU and Reeves...........

But, Hoke and Mattison are VERY, VERY good at this stuff. This isn't like going up against Mark Dantonio for a recruit."

That last sentence is priceless.

[Jeff Buchanan]

From an interesting diary at mgoblog ...... the writer did a series of what ifs with regard to the remaining top recruits to predict where M would finish. It's interesting. Here's his conclusion:

Well I hope we all had fun and are not taking this too seriously. Anyway, there is actually an outside chance that, if all the planets align properly, Michigan's recruiting class could finish with the top ranking on Scout. More likely. a third place finish seems about right. I highly doubt we could drop below the #5 spot. The one thing we can almost certainly predict is that there will be some surprises. We will all know soon enough.

I don't watch this stuff too closely but I do follow it. I think Scout is a pretty good service when it comes to comparing recruiting classes and the 2012 class is going to be a nice one historically for M. I suspect its just the fans that worry about who gets the best class but the battle shaping up between osu and M and who is going to be ahead of who in the final Scout rankings makes me realize that Hokematteson have done some pretty impressive things for the Wolverines since they showed up in AA with keys to corner offices in Schembechler Hall

[iam416]

Personally, I think Florida and Florida State will pass OSU and M in both Rivals and Scout -- Scout more likely. Those schools aren't done, and they have some big names they're going to pull and they're no where near 25. OSU/M can add a couple players to their totals, but after that, the points are only "upgrade" points (Scout only counts your best 25 for team rankings).

the battle shaping up between osu and M and who is going to be ahead of who in the final Scout rankings makes me realize that Hokematteson have done some pretty impressive things for the Wolverines since they showed up in AA with keys to corner offices in Schembechler Hall

TBH, it shouldn't even be a battle with the way M is recruiting and the situation Ohio State was in. And believe me, that's not a knock on Hokattison, who have done a great job.

[Jeff Buchanan]

The writer I mentioned above thought the Seminoles had the best chance of passing M. Not the gators though .......

Florida State - The Seminoles are the real wild card with only 16 current commits and 9 top prospects in the wings. Four are predicted signees: Ronald Darby (300), Eddie Goldman (296), Jameis Winston (298), and Tracy Howard (296). With the ACC apparently determined to win the oversigning cup, Florida State seems to be the team most likely to close strongly. It's even possible they could jump MIchigan, but I wouldn't stick a spear in that.

Florida - The Gators, at 20 commits, may have available space (or not; available scholarship info is hard to come by and I'm not going to turn a fun little exercise into a major research project). They are finalists for 8 top prospects and are projected to lead for two: Stefon Diggs (299) and Nelson Agholor (215). Still, Michigan should have a big enough cushion to avoid becoming gator bait.

I think the point he makes about how many the Gators can actually take makes this one hard to call.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Iam. Michigan was in a very good position to take advantage of OSUs troubles. oSU was in a very good position to take advantage of PSUs troubles.

Now PSU is screwed.

[iam416]

Buchanan:

Yeah, I dunno about the Crocs. M can add two players b/f they "cap out" and move into just "upgrade" points.

If Florida signed Diggs and Agholor and, say, two random 3* recruits, they'd pass M.

Florida State is going to have an insane class, IMO. I'm not sure how, but whatever.

Hard to say where OSU and M will shake out relative to one another. I tend to think they'll split. M a hair ahead on Scout and OSU a hair ahead on Rivals.

[iam416]

Michigan was in a very good position to take advantage of OSUs troubles. oSU was in a very good position to take advantage of PSUs troubles.

Now PSU is screwed.

True. Penn State is totally F'd. M did get a recruit -- maybe two -- that they otherwise would not have gotten b/c of OSU's situation. But, the damage was limited. Penn State has been obliterated. Especially if you count Noah Spence, who, I think, was a strong lean.

[WM Wolverine]

M is going to end up in the 4th-7th range by the recruiting services, which is really good... I tend to believe some of those Florida kids are overrated anyway.

[lineygoblue]

But the thing about M's class is that it has filled areas of need with top notch players. The various star ratings from the recruiting services may devalue M's performance, but the effect that these recruits are going to have on the program is huge.

SEC types can "sign" 30+ players if they want, but how many of them actually wear the uniform and compete on the field is another thing.

[geo weidl]

Not that it matters, but if yuri is kicked out of school, how does he graduate and move on to colorado?

[SeattleLionsFan]

Go to a different school? Get a GED??

[DennisT]

RichRod gets Junior's son per the Seattle Times...

Trey Griffey to play for Arizona

Receiver Trey Griffey, son of Mariners icon Ken Griffey Jr., has accepted a scholarship offer from Arizona, according to media reports. Griffey played for Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla., and caught 74 passes for 970 yards as a senior. According to The Orlando Sentinel, Griffey made his decision after a weekend visit to Tucson.

[Jamie H]

Mattison is the closer because supposedly he is an amazing recruiter. Especially for a defensive player. I mean, he's been in the NFL and knows what it takes to play there, and top-notch kids WANT to get there. Hoke seems to be a really good coach, but has never been outside of college ball.

Hoke can sell you Michigan. Mattison can sell you the NFL. And if you listen to our defensive players from this year, the coaching difference with Mattison in charge was dramatic.