2010 recruiting

On Scout's front page the headline reads "Best guess recruiting class : Getting to 29" ... I thought the magic number was 28?

The 28 count includes Witty, Furman, Grimes and Murphy with one extra spot being a possible Sean Parker.
Where's the extra spot coming from? Brandon Smith bailing? Or is this a typo on their part?

http://michigan.scout.com/

Link -
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/recruitinginsider/2009/12/furman_turnin...

In the Weekly Recruiting Wrap, Josh devoted an entire section to the possibility of Devin graduating early from Inkster and enrolling in January at UM as becoming very real again.

The article mentioned that Inkster's principal is/has been talking with Pioneer's principal regarding the mid-year graduation process, who of course is familiar as he is Austin White's father and because Ricardo Miller is graduating early from Pioneer.

Here's hoping that all the hoops can be navigated and Devin is able to enroll in January!

Just thought I'd post this article for those who haven't seen it yet:

http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1030309

DG sounds as solid as ever, not that any of us were concerned.

Josh Furman's announcement has been delayed, but not because he's changed his mind. For those of you who haven't seen, the Crab Bowl has been postponed to Monday due to weather.

Link

***EDIT FOR KARMA PURPOSES***
This is a preliminary report card that indicates how I would rank our recruiting class IF signing day were today.  Obviously we all know that a LOT could change between now and actual signing day.  Players could change their mind, players could be deemed ineligible and asked to go elsewhere, or we could sign three more 5* recruits at positions of need.  So if the Karma gods are listening, this is just a preliminary summary of where recruiting stands right now, don't take it too seriously. 
*****

Recruiting Report Card:

At this point the recruiting class is wrapping up so we can start handing out some grades.  I think Tim or Brian will probably do something similar in the next few days but I got impatient during a slow week at the office so I thought I’d try my hand at putting some grades together.  Obviously a lot can still change between now and signing day, so we need some assumptions:

• All current signings stay committed
• Assuming that Murphy, Grimes, and Furman will commit.
• Assume that there will be one more signing but will not make an assumption as to who that is.  I’ll talk more about who I would like this to be at the end.
• Handing out grades considers quality of recruits, quantity of recruits as compared to need, versatility, recruiting location, and intangibles.

Quarterback = A+

Hard to argue with one of the top two spread QB’s in the country who has looked good all season and fits the system well.  I don’t think that Jones will ever see the field as a QB and I suspect he’ll just get buried on the depth chart whenever he switches to WR.  But when you’re recruiting basically your 4^th string QB this is the type of high-risk guy you go after.

Running Back = B

I struggled with this one because I’m not sure about how much potential these guys have.  But White, Drake, and Hopkins do offer quantity and variety.  It is also good to get players from Texas to keep a presence there for recruiting.  And grabbing White when he had ties to MSU is good.  Maybe B is a bit generous considering that I don’t think we drafted a future star, but they seem solid.

Slot Receiver = C-

Dileo is the only true slot receiver in the class since I’m counting Drake as a RB.  Personally I like Dileo a lot for this spot and I think he’s the kind of gut you target when your depth chart is already pretty full at this position.  But the upside is very low and when you’re strapped for bodies at other positions it is hard to grade this well.  I would have graded it lower but this isn’t a position of need. 

Outside Receiver = B

Much like running back I’m not sure there is a future all-big ten performer in this class.  I don’t really know what we have in the Jackson-Miller-Robinson-Williamson group.  There is some speed and size, but I don’t think any of us know whether they will be viable starters or stars in the future.  For now I’m considering Jackson a WR and not a TE.  It is mildly concerning that we took so many in this class without a star, though this was an area where depth was needed. 

Tight End = D-

This was not an area of critical need given the relative youth on the roster and the fact that we rarely use two TE at the same time.  And despite early success by Koger the position wasn’t utilized much down the stretch.  So it isn’t a disaster that we didn’t sign anyone, but it would have been nice to grab one prospect.  I suppose this is a good position to sacrifice a recruit when you need people at so many other positions, which is the only reason I didn’t give it an F.  I also think there’s hope to convert Jackson to a receiving TE.  And I think that Paskorz and Wilkens both played TE in high school and could convert if they don’t work out at DE in the future. 

Offensive Line = D-

I almost gave this grade an F as well.  I realize that we recruited a ton of guys the past two years and they all were able to redshirt, but I agree with Brian’s opinion that you never want to take fewer than 3 guys in a given class at OL.  Now this also was a good place to sacrifice a signee in favor of another position of need, but having only one person scares me for what could happen in 2-3 years.  I guess there’s hope they could still use the 28^th scholarship on an OL, but that seems unlikely.  This is the top need in the class of 2011. 

Defensive Tackle = C+

Taking two guys at a position of need is pretty solid and I like the guys they have.  But the two recruits that defected in 2009 were better prospects than the two we signed in 2010.  And neither of these guys is a true space eater or pass rusher.  The upside for these two is low.  But getting two decent prospects in a bad year for DT recruits is solid.  If the last scholarship goes to Beachum or Hankins this grade will improve some.

Defensive End = C+

Getting two recruits for this spot is a good number considering the depth chart, but neither projects as a star and both played some TE in high school.  It would have been nice to get a stud at this position to replace Graham, but maybe Roh is going to be that guy and these two are destined to be role players. 

Linebacker = C-

Kinard is a decent prospect and Furman could be very good.  But this was a position of dire need and I don’t think we did enough to address the quality or quantity issues on the current roster.  Marvin Robinson may in fact be a LB, but I’m going to consider him a safety for now.  If you want to consider him a LB that bumps the grade slightly, but he still isn’t a MLB and that’s what we need most.

Cornerback = A

Neglect and bad luck at this position have been at the root of Michigan’s problem along with the safety position these past two years.  The coaches did a great job of addressing this position with this class.  There is a potential stud in Cullen Christian.  You have a potential feel-good story in Witty who was able to get back on track and work hard to join the team.  Then you have solid depth with Avery, Talbott, and Grimes.  I’m sure we’ll hear about one or two of these names leaving the program in the next three years, but for now I’m excited.  They will have ample opportunity to contribute at CB, could move to S down the road, or could turn into solid special team players. 

Safety = B+

I’m excited about this safety class.  Marvin Robinson may move to LB but I think he’s a potential multi-year starter either way.  Vinopal seems to be a smart and fast safety who was the leader and all-state performer for a top team in a football fanatic state.  I see him at worst being a special teams demon later in his career.  And I think Carvin Johnson could be a very good sleeper.  Like Vinopal he played for a very good team in a tough state and was their leader.  He also seems to be smart and seems to be a true safety – not a converted CB or LB.  When you combine all three of them I think you have versatility, depth, smarts, speed, talent, and potential. 

Specialists = A

Replacing the best punter in Michigan history is going to be tough, but when you sign arguably the best punter in this class who has a brother already playing at a BCS school you’re doing pretty well for yourself. 

Overall Offense Grade = C+

The offensive line situation is a bit scary and the rest was quantity over quality.

Overall Defense Grade = B-

Depth was addressed, overall talent is still in question.

Overall Grade = B-

The biggest needs were LB and DB and those were mostly addressed.  They also signed a stud QB and P and depth in the defensive front seven.  It is hard to give it a higher grade with only a small number of highly ranked players.

With the assumptions I made above we have one spot left in the class assuming no one backs out or is asked to back out based on academics or a gray shirt.  Here is what I would like to see for that scholarship in order of preference:

1. MLB (Tony Jefferson? Darrin Kitchens?)
2. OL (Torrian Wilson?)
3. S (Sean Parker? LaTwan Anderson? Rashad Knight?)
4. DT (Beachum? Hankins?)

So where did I get things wrong? Where do you disagree?  Let me know in the comments.