UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[Chuck Mallory]

This is a top five class guys. It is an excellent class in my opinion. I just don't get some of the sentiments here. I guess some people aren't happy unless we have the top rated recruiting class.

[Chuck Mallory]

We basically had our class wrapped up months ago, so no I'm not surprised at all on this finish.

[Optimus Prime]

MgoBlog:

NOTE: Alex Kozan is still undecided and may also flip to Michigan today, but no one knows. He and Diamond are the only guys out there right now.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Will Norfleet redshirt?

Unless he is an absolute stud with kick returns, that would be my guess.

Too many skilled guys ready to go at slot in front of him. He's not going to be close as an every down back or even specialty back for two years.

Still, I think this is very clever get for Hoke. He knows KO returns have been no where near the threat they should be. This guy has potential to step right in in that role if he can catch the ball and hold on to after being hit.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'm sorry, but that guy's a dunce. He downplays the Brionte Dunn miss as if middling 3* Drake Johnson is going to make up for it. We have no center, and it sounds like we didn't get Jordan Diamond either. When Grant went to Oklahoma, we lost our shot at a college ready tight end who can catch (Funchess is a project and Williams is either a pure blocker or headed for OT). Chesson is only a "high caliber prospect" if you are in the Big East.

Raise your hand if you thought three months ago that this class would be down to four offensive linemen.

The class still exceeded expectations and it might be one of the best that we've ever had defensively, but there were a lot of late whiffs on offense and some costly decommits.

I can understand the disappointment over the three big wiffs (4 if Diamond goes to Auburn as expected) but this was a class that from the beginning was about addressing critical needs right now with the 2012 class. The LB haul hits that mark in spades; so too on the DL.

Hoke can count on playing to his defense going forward ...... something that had gotten so far out of whack that a class like this gets it back on track.

[paul daugherity]

That was exactly my thought too, Jeff, regarding Dennis Norfleet. Same goes for Drake Johnson. I see both of these guys as return men first. Then if they can handle rb and/or receiver duties, they will get some time there. Plus, it doesn't hurt on the P.R. front and maintaining and building relationships with high school coaches in the state of Michigan.

[iam416]

M is all over Ty Isaac for 2013. If Touissant can give you guys another 2 good years, he'll bridge it to him (or whatever RB they get). Still, lack of depth, but you can't be deep everywhere.....unless you're Alabama....

[jack_crancer]

Man, I am sure bummed out that Michigan hauled in a Top 10 class. After all those years of spectacular Rodriguez recruiting... what a bummer.

Come on folks... these are 18 year old kids we're talking about here. I don't think it reflects poorly on Hoke that he couldn't seal the deal on his last four kids. Not everyone wants to play for Michigan football, so get over it. Quite frankly, the academic curriculum may actually scare some of them away. So be happy that for this day at least, ESPN will have to talk about the recruiting class at Michigan.

[DennisT]

If Kozan goes Auburn, that could help steer Diamond here.

[The Oracle]

Ohhhhh the dooooom of this class. Jesus.

[drok]

If these "whiffs" would have been spread out over the past year instead of all bunched at the end there would be a much different narrative being written today.

[hack]

Don't see why opinions have to be at one extreme or the other. There's the ability to see that it's a great class and that it could have been better, and a minute of wondering why isn't going to kill anyone, particularly since that's what sports forums are for.

[Rocky Bleier]

Wow. After comitting to Washington yesterday, Jordan Payton signed with UCLA today.

[Optimus Prime]

Scout has this class ranked 3rd, behind only Texas and Alabama.

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-football-teams-recruiting-class-rises-to-3rd-after-early-morning-commit/

Let's see, 120 Div I- A teams, not too bad.

[iam416]

Michigan is down to 4th on Scout :-)