UM Football Recruiting - by WM Wolverine

[SeattleLionsFan]

Apparently Michigan re-offered Dawson today. he will be visiting on the 14th with the big pack of commits.

I really hope that Hoke thinks he is going to commit. It would be somewhat embarassing...

[Da Geezer]

Fred Jackson is one problem. It is time to get a new OC and a new running backs coach.

Hoke is going to have to change his policy on visits, and he may as well do it sooner rather than later. I'd rather have a traditional "verbal commit" than put these high school seniors in a box where they have no latitude to decide to take a visit. What we do not know is how many Treadwells there are who would verbally commit to UM.
I understand that the solution is an early signing period.

Finally, take another look at the film on Treadwell and on Conley. I'd just as soon have Conley at receiver as Treadwell. Just take another look. Sure hope the coaches stay after Conley

[lineygoblue]

I think Treadwell is <5% chance of committing to Michigan, so maybe Conley should be the real focus

[WM Wolverine]

The problem is these 'official' visits are 'vacatations' for these kids as they get wined and dine during them, free of charge. Some of these kids don't have the means to go on vacations and these visits are a great chance for these kids to do so...

Great news about Dawson, I like his talent level and hope he ends up back in this class. Conley is a Buckeye reportedly.

[iam416]

I'm actually happy for both parties that Hoke is supposedly going after Dawson. Unfortunately, it means OSU has almost zero shot, but I really think he wants to be at M. We'll see if everyone is able to mend fences. And from what I've read, what preceded the offer was M recruits really pushing Dawson to get back into the fold.

I don't think Hoke lost Conley b/c of his policy. I'm sure you've read the same Beaver story, WM. If that thing is true -- and that's why Conley decomitted -- then it's a fantastically stupid move by the staff. I doubt it's true. I think Conley decided he wanted to go to Ohio State, for whatever reason. We'll see how his OV goes.

[hack]

What's the Beaver story?

Interesting indeed about Dawson. Glad to have an indication of them being less rigid than one might fear.

[Optimus Prime]

According to MgoBlog, Conley should stay Blue:

While similar situations with Pharaoh Brown and David Dawson resulted in Michigan no longer pursuing either prospect, TomVH reports (above link) that the Wolverines will continue to recruit Conley?likely because Conley was up-front about his intentions to visit other schools and stayed in communication with the coaches, unlike Brown or Dawson. It's likely that the battle for Conley's services comes down to Michigan and Ohio State; while Conley has serious interest in Oregon, the Ducks have yet to offer and it doesn't appear that one is coming.

I think Michigan still has a pretty good shot here. In the immediate aftermath of the Ohio State visit, Conley said he was still 100% committed to Michigan, and multiple reports stated that he left the game early and hardly interacted with other Buckeye recruits. While Ohio State will get a serious look, expect Michigan to be in it until the very end for Conley, especially since he could get a shot at receiver for the Wolverines as well.

[Hannibal]

Lots of new offers going out lately. I don't know if that should be interpreted as a bad sign with the rest of our targets, or just that these guys have blown up lately.

[Hannibal]

Is Conley just a matter of a guy being a lifelong OSU fan and that's where he really wanted to go all along? If so, I can live with that.

[Optimus Prime]

Frankly Hannibal, I don't blame these kids, losses to ND, Nebraska and OSU were clearly on Hoke and his coaching staff. Conversely Meyer took a 6-7 team, and in 11 months on the job went 12-0, Kelly in his 3rd year is getting a title shot as for Michigan it back to excuses abound.

Hoke & Co., after 2 years on the job.... when you can't win the big games, you can't win the road games, the writing is on the wall, it ain't gonna happen. I think the loss to OSU in Columbus turned the tide, this game was MUST win, there for taking for nearly 60 minutes, couldn't get it done.

[hack]

As a rule I'd find it hard to imagine that kids factor in recent wins and losses. Generally, you believe you're going to be part of the catalyst in turning that around if you go to a team that hasn't. In this case however, I could see it a little more -- 6-6 to 12-0, even if significant luck was involved -- is a big factor. Maybe it's just my frustration coloring my thoughts at this particular moment but were I an offensive skill player (as Conley could be) I'd be wondering how Michigan's offense managed to struggle this year with the amount of talent it had, and I'd be noting the O$U coordinator's comments about knowing what the Michigan OC was gonna do. Add in that Meyer is likely to ``manage the rulebook'' in recruiting him and that he's particularly keen to flip UM commits and the deck is stacked against Michigan here. Unless Conley is a particularly honorable youngster.

Is he going to take an official visit up here too?

[iam416]

Is Conley just a matter of a guy being a lifelong OSU fan and that's where he really wanted to go all along? If so, I can live with that.

No. It's actually a matter of recruiting. OSU has come at him hard. Also, he has a good friend on the team, Devin Smith, that's really do work. Apparently.

An OSU insider considers it over. But Conley is still planning on taking an OV to M after his OV to OSU on the 7th. And Conley sincerely liked M. In other words, it's not really a Dunn situation. He's totally in play.

So, I don't have access to M Premium boards, so the following is based on someone who does. I'd rather just cut and paste what was exactly said, but anyway -- I wanted to throw that caveat in there.

Beaver said it did get pulled during a conversation with the coaches after conley's first interview where he said he left the game early, didn't speak to anyone, etc. The coaches called him later that night and told him his was now considered a decommit.

Beaver said the plan was for the coaches to keep recruiting him and allow Conley to recommit in 2-3 weeks after the "punishment."

Apparently, during this "time out" is when Conley 'committed' to OSU, at least sufficiently so to have an OSU insider call it.

[iam416]

And, BTW, to emphasize this point -- Conley went to The Game. Drove down day of and drove back right after. Barely interacted with anyone. Not even an OV. That night, Hokattison put him in a time out.

Now, maybe the OSU poster is completely misrepresenting the Beaver info (I'd consider that less likely given that it was certainly posted) or maybe Beaver has bad info (possible). But, if that story is true, it's total bullshit, IMO.

[hack]

Beaver said it did get pulled during a conversation with the coaches after conley's first interview where he said he left the game early, didn't speak to anyone, etc. The coaches called him later that night and told him his was now considered a decommit.

Beaver said the plan was for the coaches to keep recruiting him and allow Conley to recommit in 2-3 weeks after the "punishment."

Is the game in question here the game last week or another one?

[Rocky Bleier]

Glad to hear there is still a chance with Dawson, but he does still have official visiits to osu, Alabama, and MSU lined up. Aparently he had a heart to heart with Hoke.