2012 recruiting

No YOU were inspired to go back and review Brady Hoke recruiting classes because you needed a reason to use this shot again [one of my favorites by Patrick Barron]

Previously: 2008 Offense, 2008 Defense, 2009 Defense, 2009 Quarterbacks, 2009 Offense, 2010 Offense, 2010 Defense, 2011 Offense, 2011 Defense

This used to be a thing on MGoBlog, until the 2011 class depressed Ace so badly that he gave up afterwards. Someone would have to be extremely desperate for content to dig this up and get caught up. Or just incredibly brave. And stupid. Probably all.

This was Brady Hoke's first real class, since he only had a few weeks in 2011 to tack on a few fliers to whatever had stuck around. The unicorn poop run of 2011 fueled belief that the goofy guy might actually be more clever than he let on, while the Tressel scandal in Columbus removed an important piece from the board. This was Hoke's opportunity to strike, and strike he did, building the core of what would become a senior-laden, ill-fated run at the championship in 2016. While Hoke was always better on defense, this was actually a pretty well-scouted as well as well-starred class, give or take a couple of tight ends who should have been something else.

Quick Glossary

YMRMFSPA: "You might remember me from such players as." The shorthand we use in recruiting profiles to say what type of player a guy would be if he works out.

404 Quarterback Not Found

Aaand he forgot the most important position. With Shane Morris committed for 2013 and Russell Bellomy, a late flip from Purdue, the only quarterback taken in 2011, this looked like quite the oversight at the time. I'm sure it wouldn't come back to haunt them.

The Greatest Receiving Recruiting Class Since…?

Move over, Terrell and Walker, because once you include the receiver they expected to be a tight end and the receiver they expected to be a running back, this class gave Michigan 5,573 yards and 41 touchdowns through the air (compare to the 1998 class's 4,586 yards and 40 TDs). The two African refugees, Amara Darboh (YMRMFSPA "Aw, hell, Jason Avant") and Jehu Chesson (Adrian Arrington), were cause to invoke the Legends of '98. Chesson's responses to reporters were wise beyond Craig Ross's years, Darboh got knocked for his speed in a coach quote now engraved on the FAKE 40 Times Trophy:

"He runs 4.42 but I wouldn't say that he's a burner by any stretch of the imagination," said Wilson. "He's a reliable guy that can make the tough catches for you. … he's a bigger physical presence. He's not a make you miss kinda guy."

Darboh's whole profile was like that: burly guy who's good with the ball in open space. This turned out to be a version of Avant who's really effective on smoke screens. Both stuck around into the Harbaugh era—Chesson because he arrived rail thin and redshirted, Darboh because an injury required a medshirt in 2013. Both peaked in 2015 and eschewed possible NFL opportunities for good but relatively disappointing (ungh, those drops in Iowa) senior runs. Darboh went in the 3rd round and remains with the Seahawks. Chesson, who's still pretty skinny, was drafted in the 4th round by the Chiefs and is lately hanging around on the margins of the league.

image

[Bryan Fuller]

Devin Funchess ("A less existentially depressed Jake Stoneburner, or Kevin Koger") was part of a four-man group of Farmington Hills Harrison (RIP) players to go Big Ten, and not even the highest-ranked receiver from his high school class. That was Aaron Burbridge, whom Michigan gave up on getting eligible for college and Michigan State somehow managed to get into school after a year of remedial stuff. Funchess was supposed to bulk up to tight end, whereupon he'd become what we want Eubanks to be this year. This wasn't as far-fetched as it appears in retrospect. The Michigan coaches thought Devin could bulk up to 240, he came in officially at 229, and his three-star profile certainly didn't give off an air of a three-and-done 1st round WR. Given zero depth at tight end, a redshirt seemed unlikely. Like his refugee classmates, the general excitement level was "High," with the suggestion he could challenge Mandich's all-time TE receiving yardage record. Because SIDs don't generally alter positions mid-season, this came to pass.

By October 2013, we had the "devin funchess wide receiver possibility" tag in existence, and soon after it was just the reality. In 2014 he switched from his tight end legends number to #1, spent most of that seasons either hurt or hurt enough not to play, and was drafted in the 2nd round. At his best he was hurdling Buckeyes and uncoverable by most cornerbacks for reasons just as apparent when we talk about Nico Collins today. After four years and 2,233 yards with Carolina he signed a one-year contract this year with the Colts.

The last receiver was the last guy added to the class. I was texting or gchatting or something with Brian as signing day was winding down and we were both complaining that jitterbug Dennis Norfleet wasn't offered. Then Michigan struck out on all of the top-end guys they were in on, added a DT, and finally Norfleet. Thus began a long battle between MGoBlog and Hoke's staff about using Norfleet as anything but the most obvious jet sweep target or dancing returner, whereat he got no TDs but set a record that will never be touched in TDs bogusly called back. By Hoke's end Norfleet was trying at cornerback and getting into academic issues that ultimately ended his career a year early.

[After THE JUMP: Who's going to block for a generation?]

Bk4d6eECEAAEugo

Just so we're all on the same page, this llama (via) is dressed as Batman, because Horford is transferring from a team that graduates Jordan Morgan for reasons of playing time. Farewell, and good luck, Al Llama Batman Sartre Horford; our time together was too short to understand each other, but I shall ne'er forget the awesome.

Let's start with that because things are about to get even weirder and less relevant (e.g. Michigan's spring game). But first: VICTORS:

User Day 3 Points Prize
rgfmich 177.25 Design an MGoShirt
814EastU 171.75 ANOTHER MGoShirt
vussmoney 166.50 a shirt
montandj 161.50 a shirt
cgoldner 160.00 a shirt

If you're like "what?" that was the final standings among MGoBloggers in the Draftstreet 40k TourneyDraftstreet 40k Tourney a few weeks ago. Thank to our fantasy partners again for sponsoring the Day 1 and Sweet 16 liveblogs and everything; if anybody else wants to see how much fun it can be to give me money, jump in on the 100k MLB tourney for $22, or place in the top 5 of one of the $1 satellite leagues to win an entry.

It's a bit early for early returns, no? The Diarist of the Week™ (sorry I've been lapsing on that) is alum96 for his double feature (offense, defense) that looked at the various Übermenschen from Hoke's first uber-class as they enter their junior and redshirt sophomore season. I chart:

Offense Defense
Player Was Is   Player Was Is
Kalis 5*, Hutchinson 2.0 Not that   Pipkins 5* Hoke impersonator

On tra..
dammit!!!

Magnusson 4* Schofield 2.0 On track   Henry 3* Afterthought A gem
Braden High 3*, Wisc OT On track   Wormley High 3* DL On track
Bars High 3* project Too soon   Strobel Low 4* lolOSU Too soon
Funchess 3* receivy TE Great WR   Godin 3* local DL Useful
Chesson High 3* skinny On track   Ross High 4* prodigy On track?
Darboh Low 4* possWR On track   RJS 4* hitter On track
A.J.Williams 3* blocky TE Not-good   Bolden High 4* natural On track?
Houma 3* runnyblocky On track   Ringer 3* might be Foote Wasn't
D. Johnson Low 3* local Gem?/inj.   Gant 3* S/LB tweener Too soon
NORFLEET 4* god of Smurfs Hi.   Wilson 4* Jamar Adams 2.0 On track
[No Quarterback] Richardson 4* Cass mite Cassmite
Clark 3* Shazorite On track

That's actually way better than I thought. Injuries set back some of them, and half of those who don't look like they'll turn out to be Big Ten-caliber players have been getting a lot of playing time regardlesss. More amazing, only Kaleb Ringer is gone.

Speaking of Morgan:

jmo_teampic

David Merritt is doing a signing event with J-Mo this afternoon at his store on South U.

Basketball diaries/etc.: Padog is now into the better-than-Indiana part of his worst-to-first conference preview of next year's Big Ten basketball teams, with Penn State, and Minnesota. Final stats on the shooty 2013-'14 season by LSA.

[Jump for a board of great relevance]

kids

Watch the birdie.

In my day freshmen appeared on the scene knocking down Bobby Hoying passes, shutting down Terry Glenn, and cleaving Eddie George. Then they'd switch to offense and fold Mike Vrabel in twain. What's the matter with kids today? The cast today:

  • Ann-Margret as Brian Cook
  • Dick Van Dyke as Seth Fisher
  • Bobby Rydell as Ace Anbender
  • Jesse Pearson as Brandon "Birdie" Brown
10268774144_ac189ddb5f_h
Of the young linebackers, we've seen a lot of Bolden but not much from him. [Upchurch]

The Q:

It's an expectation (or a conceit) at Michigan that recruits follow a "track" of progression that should see them all-conference and worth drafting after four years in the program. Of the 2012 class and the few '13 guys who've seen action, who do you see as ahead of schedule, or worryingly behind?

Ace: I'm not even going to bother with the 2013 class because it's beyond too early to discuss their progression versus expectations; frankly, that's the case for the 2012 class as well, but they at least have a handful of guys who have broken through and seen extensive time.

Three players who are clearly ahead of schedule are Devin Funchess, James Ross, and Willie Henry. Funchess has gone from dangerous-but-terrible-at-blocking tight end to dangerous-and-oh-god-so-dangerous wide receiver, and he's got an NFL future even if his blocking never develops as much as we'd hope. Ross has had an up-and-down year but still has a stranglehold on the weakside LB starting job; he's a future all-conference player once he adds a little more weight to take on blocks—his instincts are already there. Henry's initial expectations weren't as high as the other two, nor has he played at their level consistently, but he's easily exceeded expectations for a late three-star pickup just by seeing the field and holding his own.

[Jump like a Funchess]