OT: Rivals Under Armor "Bear Market" (Player whose stock fell the most)

Peppers would be our best option. I don't see Walker coming in here and starting from day one. I believe we lose Drake Johnson who when healthy is by far our best back. Smith was good in the bowl game but I can't turn a blind eye to all the open running lanes he missed all year. If I had to make a prediction, I'd say Smith will be our RB again next year.

We were all ready to move Smith to fullback next year, and look what happened agaisnt Florida. These coaches can work with the players they have and improve them, and Walker preforming poorly with only two days of practice and running in a style he won't be asked to at Michigan (or even the NFL) doesn't worry me. 

Even if he comes in and isn't able to contribute immediately, I think we'll be happy for a year with the trifecta of Smith, Johnson, and Higdon. I assume Ty Issac and Derrick Green are gone. 

We also have Kiante Enis and Kingston Davis coming in as well. If our run blocking next year is close to what we saw in the Florida game, we'll be fine at running back from here on out. 

I was watching Walker's old highlight films and he looked more elusive and quick as a sophomore.  Give him 8 months in UM's strength and conditioning program and Mike Farrell might be surprised at how good this kid turns out.  

He wasn't rated the number 1 running back in the country by some folks for no reason. 

do some of you actively look for things to be unhappy about? 

He didn't have a great week; it's not a big deal. 

Very much looking forward to this excellent talent's arrival in AA where he will be coached by a fucking monster staff. 

have one less than stellar week and we're all a bunch of ship jumpers. 

Brilliant. 

It's a weak RB class in the 1st place.  Walker being top 50 or merely top 100 makes no difference.  He's a good recruit and can be great with good coaching and training.  He is more of a one cut back like Green and Isaac, but I think he has more burst than those two.

I thought Green's HS film was balh, he did not have great burst and didn't seem to have much cutting ability.  Walker will be a nice complement to a faster and more elusive back like Higden.

FWIW, take a look at the same awards from 2013:

https://www.rivals.com/content.asp?sid=883&CID=1316578

Bull market (good): Ondre Pipkins, Cyler Miles, Jordan Payton, Mike Davis

Bear market (not good): Zeke Pike, Arik Armstead, Erik Magnuson, Ryan Ward

It's a mixed bag for bear market guys. Armstead turned into a 1st round pick, and Magnuson was all-conference this year (2nd or 3rd team, I can't remember). The other two haven't done much.

Meanwhile, the bull market guys turned out decent but nothing special. Pipkins never did much and transferred, Miles retired due to injury, Payton has been pretty good for UCLA, and Davis was okay at South Carolina and became a 4th round pick.

Conclusion? One game/week doesn't tell you a whole lot.

Truly, no one knows who will do what next year, but I think it is reasonable to think the O-line will take another jump and at least one back will perform capably if not more.

With Ty Wheatley as Walkers new coach, and Harbaugh and Drevno also helping with instruction.  Any running back can improve as a result of superior coaching and repititon..  High school coaching and lack of compettion could have really shell shocked Walker at the all star game.  He will be fine being an EE and getting work in the weight room and watching veterens ahead of him.  Go Blue!  In Harbaugh and all his esteemed staff I trust.  

Not worried. Behind this O-line Smith is going to be a stud next year. With Chesson, Smith, Drake, Higdon and maybe some Pepper sprinkled in I think this team will have more than enough ability to find yards on the ground. The most optimistic Ive been about the ground game in quite some time.