Monday Recruitin' Sees Dr. Moose
Today's recruiting roundup covers a spate of new offers, Wilton Speight, and several things that don't sound like "spate" at all.
Wilton Speight: Part Cyborg
Signing Day 2013 is over, as for the most part so is our discussion of it here—probably for the best, given that the dominant post-NSD story centered around what Reon Dawson may or may not have said about his childhood favorite school. Brian and I did an extensive breakdown of the class on this week's podcast (coming soon) if you haven't had your fill, and I'll update the recruiting class rankings today.
Meanwhile, Michigan got a jump on the 2014 class with the Signing Day commitment of VA QB Wilton Speight, who was profiled on his school's website—he described the injury that caused him to reclassify:
“It was an option-read,” Speight said of that fateful play late in Cougars’ opener, a 34-19 victory over Trinity Episcopal. “I got past the defensive end and linebackers. There was one man between me and the goal line. I tried to jump over him. As I was in the air, he caught my feet, which flipped me over. I tried to break the fall with my elbow, but (the impact) shot my shoulder up.
“I walked to the sideline hoping it was a stinger. (Athletic trainer) Shannon (Winston) moved it around. She felt crunches. I heard it crunch. My collarbone was broken in two places.
“Looking back, I probably didn’t have to make that play, but when you’re competitive, it’s hard to just step out of bounds.”
While Speight had complete confidence in his surgeon, Dr. “Moose” Herring, he knew that fulfilling his dreams was now dependent upon his own perseverance, strength of will, and self-discipline.
Speight's injury woes didn't end there, despite the best efforts of Dr. "Moose" Herring, who by virtue of name alone I would entrust with my life, let alone my collarbone. After dealing with a partial MCL tear in basketball season, Speight's collarbone took another hit during lacrosse season, and as a result he's now part cyborg:
“I had the ball and came around the cage,” he recalled. “When I shot, a defensive player brought his stick down on my (right) shoulder.
“He hit it hard enough that the part of the bone not covered by the plate broke off the metal.
“It was a clean break, thankfully. Dr. Herring was able to open it back up and put in a six-inch plate with eight screws that covers my whole collarbone.
“It will definitely prevent anything from breaking up there again.”
I, for one, welcome any and all cyborg athletes willing to aid Michigan's quest for world domination a Big Ten championship.
Also of note: cyborg QBs apparently recruit a little, too.
[Hit THE JUMP for the 2014 Rivals100, a bevy of new offers, and my take on Lawrence Marshall committing to Ohio State.]
Marshall To OSU: Panic?
Ohio State continued their torrid start to the 2014 class by picking up Southfield (MI) DE Lawrence Marshall, a four-star who held a Michigan offer. This means that, a year before NSD 2014, the Buckeyes have snatched up two of the state of Michigan's top four prospects (Damon Webb being the other); Michigan thus far has none. Even Michigan State can claim a tenuous hold on Drake Harris, though now that his focus has turned to football it seems unlikely he'll stick there.
Anyway, losing Webb and Marshall to Ohio State has caused a bit of a panic, and for not unjust reasons; Michigan doesn't have the in-state talent of Ohio to be able to afford losing too many of the top-flight recruits from their backyard. At the same time, it's far too early for a full-blown freakout. While Webb seems firm in his commitment, Sam Webb is already floating rumors that Marshall may still check out Michigan and Michigan State as soon as this week($). Michigan is still one of the two favorites (along with Notre Dame) for the state's best prospect, Detroit Loyola DL Malik McDowell, and they'll also be a major player for Harris.
Keep in mind that Michigan raided Ohio for several of their best class of 2013 recruits, only to see Urban Meyer's class overtake the Wolverines in the rankings with recruits from around the country. The Wolverines are in the mix for several national names, including #1 overall player Da'Shawn Hand. Buckeye partisans declaring this battle won should take heed from Michigan fans who did the same last February—this one is far from over.
New Offers
Now that the 2013 class is officially wrapped up, the coaches have sent out a huge wave of 2014 (and also some 2015) offers.
At the top of that list is five-star CA CB Adoree' Jackson, who despite playing across the country had a strong familiarity with the Michigan program, per Steve Lorenz ($):
"Michigan has been putting defensive backs into the pros for a while now," Jackson said. "I know that's where Charles Woodson went to school too and if you're producing players like Charles Woodson, you're doing something right. I definitely knew of Michigan growing up and playing in the Midwest isn't a problem for me at all and location isn't really a factor in my recruitment. I have a lot of family in the area and I wouldn't mind being back by them."
Jackson should be a visitor at some point down the road and appears to have genuine interest in Michigan; he'd certainly soften the blow of losing Webb.
Other offers to go out include: PA RB Shai McKenzie (LINK - $), CA DB John "JuJu" Smith (LINK - $), TX LB Otaro Alaka (LINK - $), NJ WR Juwann Winfree (LINK - free), NJ WR Saeed Blacknail (LINK - $), and CO RB/SLOT Christian McCaffrey (LINK - $), the son of former Denver Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey. Among those, Michigan got named among the top group for several—including Smith, Winfree, Alaka, and Blacknail—but the true test of interest comes when it's time to schedule visits.
Michigan also offered elite 2015 FL RB Jacques Patrick, who already has offers from several of the country's top programs, per 247's Clint Brewster ($). Patrick says he'll take a visit to Michigan with his older cousin, Detroit MLK assistant coach Terel Patrick.
Rivals100 Released for 2014
Rivals came out with their initial 2014 Rivals100, and Michigan commit Michael Ferns lands at #84 on the list. Other names of note:
- VA DE Da'Shawn Hand (#1—offer, top five)
- VA DT Andrew Brown (#6—just named M to top ten [$])
- CA DB Adoree' Jackson (#8—offer)
- MI DE Malik McDowell (#21—offer, likely top two with ND)
- MI DB Damon Webb (#32—offer, Ohio State commit)
- OH ATH Marshon Lattimore (#41—offer)
- PA ATH Montae Nicholson (#47—offer)
- TN OL Alex Bars (#55—offer, brother of M OL Blake Bars)
- MI WR Drake Harris (#56—offer, soft MSU commit)
- OK QB David Cornwell (#63—no offer)
- FL WR Artavis Scott (#93—offer)
- IL OL Jamarco Jones (#94—offer)
That is by no means a complete list of the guys holding Michigan offers or interest. Wilton Speight did not make the cut—we'll see if he's in the Rivals250 when that is released.
Also worth a look is Touch The Banner's breakdown of the top in-state prospects for the 2014 class.
Conspicuous
February 11th, 2013 at 5:48 PM ^
Michigan won in 2011 but lost in '12. They got Kalis but lost Webb.
If the point of reference is the Rodriguez era, then yeah. But that's not what I conisder to be the baseline for Michigan. To me, the baseline is being even with Ohio State. 58-45-6.
For Michigan to have closed the gap entirely we'll need a decade of dominance like they had.
To close the gap with OSU Michigan has to do better than them in something. That's not happening yet - on the field or in recruiting.
By beating UM in recruiting, OSU is maintained the gap they've established. One win and one recruit don't change that.
February 11th, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^
What about the last years of the Carr era, when Ohio State was pretty dominant over Michigan?
What you're saying is that Michigan hasn't closed the gap that opened up a decade ago, but over the past two years (the Hoke era), the wins are 50/50. Wins on the field are really the only thing that matter - not recruiting - so if you want to be even with Ohio State, Michigan is.
I just don't see how you can say Michigan hasn't "closed the gap." Things are better than they were under Rodriguez. They're better than they were during Carr's last several years. As such, they've "closed the gap" to get back to the '90's, when Carr was dominant over Cooper.
February 11th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
I just don't see that as being a meaningful statement. OK, sure - but OSU can say things are better than their interim coach or Cooper. Who cares anymore? It's Meyer vs Hoke now, and that matchup is 0-1.
The results of past games don't affect future results, but recruits do.
Meyer is 1-0 and has a better recruiting class. Either way you look at it, both say advantage OSU.
I don't see Michigan closing the gap unless you set the bar for them at their program low and don't do the same for OSU.
As for the "better than Carr" comment - that seems highly disputable to me. Carr went to 3 Rose Bowls in his last 5 seasons. Michigan hasn't been to one since.
February 11th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^
"The results of past games don't affect future results, but recruits do."
So why do you care that Meyer is 1-0 against Hoke?
How is Michigan supposed to close the gap when there's only been one season to compare the two? You've said that Meyer is 1-0 against Michigan and 1-0 in recruiting classes.
So . . . Michigan has failed to close the gap on the field since late November, and Michigan hasn't signed a better recruiting class than OSU since . . . February 6, 2013. That's basically what you're saying. If you want Michigan to close the recruiting gap over the span of five days and somehow beat Ohio State on the field while it's not even football season, then I'm not sure what to tell you. I mean, I can't really argue with you if that's what you're saying, but it's an odd thing to say.
It's kind of like saying you're disappointed that Jim Harbaugh hasn't closed the gap between the 49ers and the Ravens since the Super Bowl.
February 11th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^
Ha - dude, you brought up M's current coach being 1-1 and so I responded with the same metric for OSU. You told me that's on-field results are all that matters. I told you Meyer was 1-0 and I told you that Michigan is getting it's ass kicked over the last 10+ years.
You can say Hoke is 1-1 but it sounds a lot like an MSU fan talking about Dantonio. Michigan is at an advantage over MSU and OSU is at an advantage over UM. Thinking otherwise is kidding yourself.
What I'm saying isn't complicated. Michigan will close the gap by being better at something than OSU. Winning in '13 would be a great start. Winning more head-to-head recruiting battles would be a great start. When these things start happening the gap will begin closing.
The more years that OSU continues to beat UM (on the field or in recruiting) the more the gap will widen.
February 11th, 2013 at 9:47 PM ^
And what I'm saying is that you're choosing a completely arbitrary span of time to say "Michigan isn't closing the gap." I mean, two years is somewhat arbitrary, too, but no less arbitrary than one year.
Basically, the only way you could think Michigan is closing the gap is if Michigan won a game between Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer, and there's only been one chance to do so. So...yeah...you're totally right that Meyer has the upper hand right now, but there's only been one chance. That's like being down after one inning and saying "I'm frustrated we haven't come back from this 2-0 deficit" before you've even had a chance to bat in the second inning.
February 12th, 2013 at 2:07 AM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^
"the only way you could think Michigan is closing the gap is if Michigan won a game between Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer"
No, on-field victories are the criteria YOU set. Not me. I'm willing to look beyond that, to other evidence, preferably evidence that affects the future.
I'm saying I'd like to see us get ahead of them in some meaningful way - be it on-field or in terms of recruiting or something else. Right now, I just don't see where Michigan has an advantage (other than our DC and perhaps OL recruiting, but that's one position group.)
February 11th, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^
February 11th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
Ummm...if you're talking about a decade of dominance and finally getting a win in the series (along with some recruiting victories, which were rare in Ohio during the Rodriguez years), then yeah, that's "closing the gap." By definition, it certainly is.
Nobody's saying that Michigan has regained the dominance they had over Cooper in the '90's. Don't put words in my mouth.
February 12th, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^
You're setting the bar for Michigan at Rodriguez. If you do that, you should set the bar for OSU at their worst coach too. My definition of the gap reflects the overall history of the rivalry (which favors Michigan, if anything). I expect things to be equal and Michigan has a lot of catching up to do to get back what was lost in the last decade.
You see the situation as "good news - we're better than our least successful coach!" -- we're "closing the gap" because we don't totally suck. We're not and that's not how it works in UM vs OSU.
Either we're getting better than OSU or we're not. One win in the last nine years (at home, when OSU had an interim coach and was ravaged by suspensions, even then just barely) and they've had a better recruiting class every year. OSU is maintaing the advantage.
I happen to agree that it's less likely that we get blown out or dominated by OSU (and therefore our liklihood of pulling an upset is increased) but ...we're still the underdog. We can't dig out of the whole until we start winning games at OSU at full strength. Until we're the better, stronger, program we will not have 'closed the gap' that OSU has established over the last decade.
That's what I want to see. I don't think it's unreasonable to hope for that, it's happened before.
Sorry, I'm not going to sing kumbaya/Hoke-recruiting-rules-the-world with you until Michigan starts besting OSU in some way shape or form.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
Ugh.
You're really not getting it.
You want Michigan to "close the gap." The gap included oodles of losses during Carr's last several years and through Rodriguez's years. It also included some poor recruiting by Rordriguez there at the end of his tenure.
In comes Brady Hoke, who just reeled in a consensus top-10 class and who is 1-1 against Ohio State.
The gap has begun to close. Period. That's all I'm saying, and it's a fact, but you're refusing to acknowledge it.
There's really nothing more to say, so I'm not going to bother pursuing this further.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
That seems to be your definition.
Yep, Hoke is 1-1 vs OSU and did bring a in a top 10 class, but Meyer is 1-0 and brought in a top 5 class. Advantage OSU, same as it ever was. The gap isn't closing until UM is at an advantage.
February 13th, 2013 at 3:27 AM ^
Despite all the neg ratings I am siding more with Mat. I realize this is a fan board so its going to be maize colored but OSU has been dominant versus UM in football the past decade. Closing the gap is a nuance - these should be two equal programs on equal footing. Over any 10 year period the teams should be 6-4/4-6 versus each other, maybe 7-3/3-7 with a bad break. We've had some 1-9 streaks here. That sucks. It sucks hard.
OSU has been in a NCS game. UM has not. The closest was that fateful 06 game when Bo died and the 2 fought it out til the last minute. That was the last time the 2 were "equal" but even before then Tressel had his way with Carr. It has not been a good era for UM football even before RR. Hoke said it right when he said 8-5 is a crap season. It should be.
If OSU was not on probation the nightmare scenario of a ND OSU championship game would have happened. And OSU would have been in 2 NCS game in the past 10-12 years.
Top end kids nowadays look at recent history, playing time, coach reputation, NFL success, and not 80 years ago not to mention 20 years ago. (Cmon Green saw an immediate opportunity to play here along with a heck of a line developing but all 3 schools he considered he'd be a starter from day 1 most likely) Ohio has a steller record the past decade excluding 1 year - year in and year out. They went 12 and friggin 0 last year even if it was with hocus pocus like beating Indiana by a whisker. They have a coach considered top 3 in the nation on reputation no matter what you think of him. Many would place only Saban above him. He has star power whatever people here want to deny; kids like that. So they have momentum and all this talk of closing a gap because of one win means nothing. When its 6-8 years down the road and the teams are 4-4 or 4-3 versus each other the gap will be closed. Until then we should shut up, put our boots on the ground and keep grinding UNTIL we smack them in the mouth as often as they have done to us. It need not be like the Cooper era - but it needs to get back to equality.
As for these classes the debate is friggin silly - a #3 class versus a #8 class means diddly. You have a mix of a few 5 stars, a majority of 4 stars, and an occassional 3 star on both squads. Flipping this one kid or these two doesnt mean diddly. If Michigan puts together a few 11-2 and 12-1 seasons in the next 5 years they will be in the same breath as OSU. Most kids who are now 16 know Michigan as an average 5-7, 7-5, 8-5 type team from their teen years with a "great tradition". And a lot less NFL players of late as well.
Hoke has done his job recruiting these past 2 classes - Carr regularly recruited in the 5-15 slot and had solid teams with 2 and 3 losses. I am concerned with nothing from FL, TX, or CA as we used to get a good portion of kids from those spots but it is what it is. Hard to go into those states with your shiny 8-5 record and pull kids out that Nike (Oregon) or the SEE EEE CCEEE is recruiting. A lot of the out of state recruits of late seem to have family in the Midwest or some family connection so they are not pulling kids with zero connection from distant lands outside the Midwest (in MOST cases) like they used to. That's a problem IMO. But that goes back to current pedigree of the program which is down. This year they will be forced to as the talent was rich this past year in the Midwest, so lets see what he does this year nationally as MI/OH is weaker.
Waving your cocks at each other talking about 3-5 slots in a recruiting ranking is silly. All big 3 powers in the Midwest seem to be back now in the recruiting rankings and it is up to the coaches to develop those kids and create breaks in the close games in head to head competition (even if ND is now scared to play us!) In 5 years either MI will be a stagnant 3-4 annual loss team or it will ascend to be on par with OSU. Everything else is just details.
February 11th, 2013 at 5:48 PM ^
Urban recognizes UM as his biggest threat for recruits and B1G dominance. Urban openly stated the need for OSU to compete in MI for kids - that's not because MI is a hotbed of talent.
Frankly, I don't think Tressel was overly threatened by UM the last 6 years or so in recruiting or Nov games. Thankfully that's clearly not the case anymore.
Now we better win a fair share of The Games . . .
February 11th, 2013 at 6:34 PM ^
I think Mat makes some interesting points. I do think the "tide" of the recruiting rivalry is still somewhat up in the air. I think this year will be interesting for a few reasons:
- Meyer and staff have had the full year recruiting juniors, something they didn't have last year. This worked to Hoke's advantage in this class. I believe Hoke caught Meyer a bit flat footed last year with Ohio recruits. The OSU staff seemed indecisive about who to offer last spring. Meanwhile, Michigan was ready from day 1 and had the whole year to build the Ohio relationships while Fickell was trying to keep his head above water
- Ohio and Michigan talent is supposed to be weak. This will mean that both schools will have to go out of their home state to fill the numbers.
- The long awaited reemergence of ND. Another strong competitor for midwest talent (though I suspect somewhat offset by Penn State getting weaker).
February 11th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 9:07 AM ^
is that they are stupid. For all that talk about how Rodriguez looked nationally, he recruited more Ohio kids than any UM coach. Rodriguez just wasn't good at getting enough elite kids - locally AND nationally, but recruiting was far from his biggest failing.
Hoke's wise to talk about looking locally, but it's mostly talk (like the manball/power stuff). Hoke like anyone else, is going to get talent wherever he can. I don't think he actually cares. I mean, look at the QB recruiting in this class. There were a couple local kids who are high level prospects but Hoke looks towards Virginia and Okalahoma because that's where the kids he likes are.
It really doesn't matter where you get your kids from as long as you get good players. The local vs national talk is just local high school coaches getting mad that they're not getting the attention they want. In terms of ancillary effects, yeah it helps MSU if UM is more nationally focused, but so what - Michigan has to worry about competing at the national level, not getting dragged down in a petty contest with it's provincial little brother
February 12th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 9:49 AM ^
If Michigan gets all it's recruits from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, or California and Arizona, that's just fine by me. Michigan is never going to 'lock-down' Ohio and the in-state talent isn't sufficient to support an elite program. There isn't a reliable 'base' regardless - every year is a series of battles.
I realize that realistically Michigan has a better chance with local recruits and therefore those battles (when lost) sting more, but after signing day all that matters is the quality of the overall class.
Besides, the "recruiting decline of the late Carr years" is a bit of urban legend not supported by recruiting data.
The narratives on recruiting strategy reek of after-the-fact rationalizing and loose excuse-making.
February 11th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^
February 11th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^
Were you referring to McDowell? I know Detroit Loyola destroyed all but one team throughout the season and lost in the finals to a team from the upper penninsula. In my opinion his competition level couldn't have been all too great. But that still doesn't mean small schools can't produce D-1 players.
EDIT: Just realized you were probably talking about Speight.
February 11th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^
February 11th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
Say it ain't so.
Niche audience is kind of the whole point. This site is very Michigan-biased and OSU's is the same.
February 11th, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^
Malik McDowell played at a small high school, enrollment was pretty small. From these numbers it can be extrapolated that his competition level was probably not top notch. However most think McDowell is a better prospect than Marshall. I hope this is true and we land him.
February 11th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 6:09 AM ^
If Hand is going to make an earlier decision, I really hope he does choose us then (thanks, Admiral Obvious). I would think that other elite players would take notice of the fact that the #1 player in all the land has chosen us, and some would even follow suit.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^
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