UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[iam416]

There's an inherent tension in the way Hoke recruits -- at least in his first two full seasons of recruiting -- and his visit policy. It seems like he really pushes hard for early commits. And that's fine. Texas is the king of early commits. At the same time, if you're going to do that, IMO, you need to have some flexibility on the back end. I don't think it's good policy to try to lock in a recruit that early in the process. JMO.

With respect to Dawson, I've heard, and I'm sure WM can confirm, that Dawson, upon having a change of heart re distance, asked back in at M. And M told him to pound sand. That, IMO, is just silly.

Here's a kid who is really interested in M. More interested than, e.g., Treadwell or Green. He dipped his toe in the waters a bit and found out he needed to be close to home and M was his choice. Had he NOT committed early, Hokattison would have taken him in a heartbeat -- and I think they would held or had a spot for him, too. But the fact that he did commit early and then snuck around, or whatever, means he's out. That just doesn't make any sense to me.

Perhaps there's more to it than I know. But it seems crazy to me.

[Hannibal]

Texas is the king of early commits.

That's not a very encouraging analogy. On more than one occasion, I have seen the wisdom of taking a bunch of early commits questioned, because it means that you will get a lot of overrated kids and fewer of the late bloomers.

[hack]

With respect to Dawson, I've heard, and I'm sure WM can confirm, that Dawson, upon having a change of heart re distance, asked back in at M. And M told him to pound sand. That, IMO, is just silly.


What it seems like is that Hoke wants solid commits. To an extent the following is just silly babbling, but only to an extent: on paper it makes sense that if you want ``buy in'' from players once they are here, you should seek to get it early. Start as you mean to go along, i.e. Hoke appears to be taking that approach to an extreme, because obviously you don't need to kneel before the throne as an 18-year-old in order to play your hardest and best as a 19-22-year-old. But I could see how, in the long run, The Ballad of David Dawson becomes a tune that sticks in some kids heads and leads to Michigan being taken seriously in precisely the way it wants to be in these matters in the future. It's a get-in-while-you-can sorta environment that sort of behaviour would presumably aim to create, in which spots at Michigan fill up fast and so kids grab one and don't look back. And in which coaches establish that they are to be respected. If you fall all over a kid before he arrives, it's harder presumably to establish your authority over him once he's there. In theory.

Is that the best way? Dunno. It that one-size-fits-all approach the best way for kids who need to look around as part of their decision process? Probably not. We'll see how it all turns out.

Speaking of Dawson, what's with Pocic? We called him again. Is he considering it?

[paul daugherity]

Good lord! If that is how the Dawson thing went down, that was completely ineptly handled. So not only do you lose out on a kid who is rated highly and still has a desire to go to UM, you lose him to a conference rival. Stupid.

[iam416]

I think it's a silly approach, but who am I to criticize Hokattison? They've obviously done a really good recruiting to date.

Haven't heard anything on Pocic.

[Mackenzie]

I think I have read several explanations here and on mgoblog of Hoke's policy regarding commitments. Whatever the policy is, my only hope is that it is consistent and that the recruits and commits see it as being consistent. Thus, the questions about how Conley's visits differ from Dawson's visits and how each is to be treated is a bit troubling for me. I know there have been explanations as to why they are or might be different and why they should or might be treated differently but I hope Hoke's policy--whatever it really is--is not so complicated or filled with loopholes that it is confusing or open to misinterpretation. I know there are some who feel that this policy puts M at a disadvantage and if in fact this proves to be the case then I hope Coach Hoke will reevaluate the policy and only if it does not conflict with whatever Coach Hoke's vision of doing things the right way happens to be for both the kids and program.

With respect to the many reasons why kids change their minds, all those offered such as age or lack of initial interest from other schools etc. make sense. But, as has been mentioned, most coaches probably do not deal with "high end" recruits directly but rather through their "people" such as parents, coaches, etc. So, to some extent perhaps these young kids are not getting the best advice or preparation from these "people" with respect to what their "commitment" means--not just in the sense of of the school but with respect to the development of their own integrity, character, and trustworthiness. I get that they're all young and kids change their mind but, for many, this is probably the biggest decision they have made in their lives up to this point and one which will begin to shape how they will begin to be perceived outside of what has been their own world up to this time. I just hope those closest to them, including the UM staff, and helping them make these decisions are doing their best.

[Mackenzie]

I think I have read several explanations here and on mgoblog of Hoke's policy regarding commitments. Whatever the policy is, my only hope is that it is consistent and that the recruits and commits see it as being consistent. Thus, the questions about how Conley's visits differ from Dawson's visits and how each is to be treated is a bit troubling for me. I know there have been explanations as to why they are or might be different and why they should or might be treated differently but I hope Hoke's policy--whatever it really is--is not so complicated or filled with loopholes that it is confusing or open to misinterpretation. I know there are some who feel that this policy puts M at a disadvantage and if in fact this proves to be the case then I hope Coach Hoke will reevaluate the policy and only if it does not conflict with whatever Coach Hoke's vision of doing things the right way happens to be for both the kids and program.

With respect to the many reasons why kids change their minds, all those offered such as age or lack of initial interest from other schools etc. make sense. But, as has been mentioned, most coaches probably do not deal with "high end" recruits directly but rather through their "people" such as parents, coaches, etc. So, to some extent perhaps these young kids are not getting the best advice or preparation from these "people" with respect to what their "commitment" means--not just in the sense of of the school but with respect to the development of their own integrity, character, and trustworthiness. I get that they're all young and kids change their mind but, for many, this is probably the biggest decision they have made in their lives up to this point and one which will begin to shape how they will begin to be perceived outside of what has been their own world up to this time. I just hope those closest to them, including the UM staff, and helping them make these decisions are doing their best.

[hack]

I think there's elements of wisdom in the policy, but maybe it's best not to apply it with the fervor of an extremist.

[Hannibal]

Sounds like the coaching staff is assuming Conley is gone. DaMario Jones (unranked by rivals) has become the newest Wolverine. Yay, another plan B "sleeper" at WR.

The two recruiting traditions that Hoke kept in place from Rodriguez are:

1. The Big House BBQ
2. Loading up on unremarkable 3* receiver prospects

[whodean]

DaMario Jones with only MAC offers, going to UM.

Bye bye Treadwell.

[Hannibal]

I anticipate a lot of this in the future:

1. Michigan forcing 3 and outs
2. The offensive line blowing open gaping holes for running backs who go down on the first contact and gain 5 yards
3. Our QB standing back in the pocket all day and rifling the football to poession receivers 7 yards downfield
4. Michigan winning games 6-4

[WM Wolverine]

McDowell is very likely staying in-state and likely to be a Wolverine, like most all my information this is coming not from me of course but information recruiting insiders have...

Talent's timeline is close to correct though I'd replace his #3 with: Dawson wanted to have M as a fallback if he went on visits to Florida or elsewhere. Hoke supposedly said his spot won't be there if he visits Florida. Same thing happened with Pharaoh Brown, M didn't want him once he took visits elsewhere...

Not sure where I stand on this, Dawson committed very early and regretted it pretty quickly after he did though even after this he was recruiting other recruits to M. Odd recruitment. These kids that aren't top 50 players are replaceable...

No on Pocic, talent who is happy with LSU. M is looking at Dawson's teammate as the most likely to replace Dawson in this class...

DeMario Jones has been plan B (or C) with Laquan Treadwell for awhile. I see the need for receivers as pretty high so I'd think they'd still take Treadwell but this is a pretty obvious sign that Treadwell has implied he's looking to get paid by the Big XII schools.

[Hannibal]

I'm glad that we turned away 4* Devin Lucien so that we could make room for another Rodriguez caliber "sleeper".

[iam416]

McDowell is very likely staying in-state and likely to be a Wolverine, like most all my information this is coming not from me of course but information recruiting insiders have...

Yeah, I'd replace "very likely" to "almost certainly".

[iam416]

Not sure where I stand on this, Dawson committed very early and regretted it pretty quickly after he did though even after this he was recruiting other recruits to M. Odd recruitment. These kids that aren't top 50 players are replaceable...

The odd thing about it, for me, is that if Dawson didn't commit early, he likely could commit now. I think M would still have a spot for him. But that's speculation. I think he's going to be pretty good. That said, he's just an OG. You're right -- M can get adequate replacements for most, if not all, OGs.