O-Line - Jordan Diamond and the Washington Duo
A nice piece on Jordan Diamond from Sporting News regarding his selection and commitment to the new Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. They have him as the #19 player in the nation, and are very high on his personality off the field. I really hope we can land this young man.
In continuing the trend of being very high on off-field personality, Rivals has a nice article about Mr. Banner and Mr. Garnett. They mention twice that the two are considering going to the same school. Looking at their lists, that would pare it down to Cal, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, USC and Washington. Any way you slice it, that's a pretty good final 7.
Two 5-star O-linemen in the fold already, with the possibility of adding one, maybe two... three?!
Go Blue!
I thought Demar Dorsey met the NCAA standards but not the Michigan standards
I'm not saying there haven't been times we have turned down kids that may have barely qualified. I'm only saying that this was not the case this time.
One that was obviously not true or Dorsey would have played elsewhere. I believe that his numbers met the NCAA requirements but he didn't make it past their clearinghouse due to concerns about his online school.
-edit This was meant as a reply to the Demar Dorsey post.
I'd take two more OL, if they were Garnett and Diamond. Garnett is a OG, and one of Kalis, Magnuson, or Diamond can move inside, while Braden, Bars, and Stacey bring much needed depth to the line. I have no problems with bringing in an entire two deep on the OL, just as I have none with the DL -- the numbers there have been very thin, and the lines - for me - were the number one concern needing addressing in this class. You have to take the talent that's there.
Your previous post seemed to indicate you think Diamond can project as either a Guard or Tackle, that the coaching staff won't take him because he resembles Magnuson and Braden too much, and that you would prefer either Garnett as a guard or Banner as a tackle. Beyond my lack of football insight to criticize it beyond that many experts and other teams (Auburn, Wisco, etc.) want Diamond as a Tackle, I will say we have 2-4 commits who could play tackle, with Kalis and Bars being potential guards (more likely guards). In 1-3 years we will have lost all of our 3 scholarship tackles (assuming last years hall all moves to guard or center). Since we want two talented tackles, I think the coaching staff will take another tackle prospect in Diamond to increase our chances one of the kids develops. Having versatility on the line is good for recruiting and offensive line isn't the same as corner, where one might want two completely different corner types.
Additionally, since we first offered Odenigbo, I have not really heard any information that he has serioursly been considering us. It always seemed like a 4 horse race between Stanford, Notre Dame, Northwestern, and TSIO, although TSIO seems to have lost out due to NCAA trouble. Pittman was rumored to have grade issues, and his attempt to commit to Michigan was also a rumor. We don't really know if the coaches turned him away or said, hey our class and DE position is filling up and we can't afford to take a chance at you right now because of grade issues. That just leaves Morgan, who wanted to wait to commit. With 4ish corners last year there wasn't a huge priority at CB. We got our main guy in Terry who resembles Morgan and got our boundary corner in Standifer who plays a different style and the coaches wanted just as much. There really isn't space or necessity to take more than two elite CBs. We needed safeties since last year we got 1-2 and neither were highly ranked safeties.
Result the coaches most likely turned away one recruit, Morgan, because the spot was filled and he resembled a guy we already had. As such, you analysis of OL seems off since we need lots of bodies, only 4 OL in last two classes and all probably interior guys. The coaches won't pass on Diamond, and might take a Banner, Garnett, or Peat later if they still have space in the class (which might since we losing out on QBs and Dunn seems to be only possibility at RB).
WolvinLA2 said it better than me.
Gracias.
There are too many excellent players in play at other positions of need (IMO). If we did take more than one, we wouldn't have a spot for say, a 2nd DE other than Wormley or a 2nd DT possibly. And I'd think we really want a big WR, a big RB, and possibly a QB if a good one is out there. But, on the other hand, if some of our high targets left go somewhere else, it may justify taking one more great OL. Time will tell.
What a difference a year makes! There's actually talk about which 5* we take!!! If Hoke is as good at his primary job (coaching) as he is at recruiting, we're at the start of something very special.
How would you like to have Hoke pointing at you?
If he were pointing while saying, "Hey you...Get over here and enjoy this lifetime field pass," then I'd be pretty damn happy. By the way, don't take my post to mean that I expect anything less than greatness for our future. I love the path we're on.
Depends on which finger it is.
Hoke has a great pinky but everyone knows that.
If Diamond holds out on his decision and Garnett and Banner want to commit to Michigan. Than what will they do. Is the last spot now first come, first serve.
Fair question, no one seems to really know. 6 OL seems to be the cap but would we really say no if Banner/Garnett say they both want in? Probably not.
My guess is it's first come, first serve between Peat/Banner/Garnett/Diamond/Bisnowaty. That could change though as time rolls on and the staff gets a clearer idea of where they stand.
They can finally wait and fill the last spots with highly ranked, high upside talent. I'd make sure the last 6/7 spots were all filled with top guys at positions of need, especially both lines.