New Offer - Buckle up?
Looks like we really want an H-Back type in this class. With Tremble departed for the Dome we have offered a 'Who Dat' instate kid named Ben VanSumeren. He is an Iowa commit but with offers from most of the Ivy League. His film is impressive but the competition is suspect. Nonetheless he looks tough, pretty fast and he's obviously intelligent.
Iowa recruited him as a linebacker, but he looks like a good H-Back or even Fullback... even played option quarterback part of this season. He is visiting this weekend and ... Iowa has a No Visit policy... hence the Buckle Up possibility.
Senior Highlights:
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5370246/59de1187ab9d431f74f519c8
247:
https://247sports.com/Player/Ben-VanSumeren-46039496
December 15th, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^
Nick Sheridan.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
I mean, just look at what happened when this guy got hit. White powder everywhere! We were in denial for so long, when, in retrospect, the evidence was overwhelming.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^
Why would you write shit like this? Some people are going to read this and, because of your reputation, believe it.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
Sorry.
I meant to say David Cone.
December 15th, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
We have the same exact requirement for athlete admission as the rest of the big ten. You really think we have lost out on recruits to osu because of grade issues? You really think we wouldn't take a 5 star kid who met the minimum requirement of the big ten?
PSU just dropped a guy because of grades that Michigan didn't go after and he isn't suddenly going to MSU. The fun academic example everyone likes to use is Demar Dorsey but he didn't qualify at Louisville. The excuses people on this board make are unreal, we are not at a competitive disadvantage to osu in recruiting because of academic standars, to big 12 and sec schools? sure so is the rest of the big ten.
December 15th, 2017 at 9:53 AM ^
I'm not sure where you got the idea that the Big Ten has higher admission standards than other conferences. They have a little higher standard for maintaining eligibility.
Wisconsin, Northwestern and Michigan all have higher standards than other Big Ten schools. In the last few years, Wisconsin had to drop good recruits that MSU snapped up. OSU has raised standards for instate recruits only.
While we have the same minimum standards for test scores and GPA, admissions will only accept a small number that fall on the lower end of those scores. RR had problems because he was trying to take a lot of those marginal qualifiers. The school clamped down. Harbaugh was able to get more flexibility when he was hired, but not carte blanche. There are people on here that know more about the subject.
Additionally, we require more core classes than the minimum to meet NCAA standards. This is Wisconsin's issue too.
Transfers are another story altogether. The main issue is accepting credits. Our admissions can be very fussy about that.
December 15th, 2017 at 9:54 AM ^
I just spoke directly to Sam Webb about this question. He said that while Michigan can take athletes who fulfill the NCAA minimum for academic eligibility even though they don't meet the general student admission requirements, U-M does so infrequently. Webb said specifically he knows of a number of athletes that Michigan has recruited over the years who were refused admission by U-M's admissions office even though they met the NCAA minimum, and they were denied admission because they were too far below Michigan's own standard.
Sam put it like this: Michigan will never load up its recruiting classes with kids who are NCAA minimum qualifiers; OSU and many other schools have no such hesitation. What this means functionally is that OSU, MSU and some other BIG schools are able to take kids that we simply can't and won't.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
northwestern has a similar policy. they will allow a few guys per year (i don't know the exact number) that are at or near the minimum ncaa standards.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^
for Valenti and other pro-MSU radio hosts. It pays to be very skeptical of anything they have to say about Michigan.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
I can attest to the difficulty of credits transferring in.... for I had taken a few summer courses at UCLA the summer after my freshman year at Michigan... they were elective courses, Sport Pyschology and Roman Literature, and as a Mechanical Engineer, they went toward my elective courses.... I recall them being 3 credits each... yet the lady at M counted the actual class hours, and it was a few actual lecture hours short in each, whereby she only allowed a 2 credit and I think 1 credit, to transfer. At the time I was quite annoyed, but she stuck to her guns and didn't flinch. I was immature at the time not realizing that I was trying to shortchange myself..... and later on I appreciated her not giving in to mediocrity, that takes place now it seems, nationwide.... one can attest to this being part of the referred Michigan Difference, for it is real.... my son at a local university in the Detroit area, transferred some credits in, that had no business transferring in....took foreign language courses overseas from an outfit that targets tourists, and they gave him language credits....
anyway, they don't mess around with credits transferring in, as Don suggested.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:29 AM ^
You must be a hoot at the Posbangs.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:38 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 7:42 AM ^
You must think you're over at MLive or the Freep again, which is a constant refrain for you. Go there, you'll feel better surrounded by your type of people...
December 15th, 2017 at 7:59 AM ^
We will get all of them.
December 15th, 2017 at 9:13 AM ^
You are taking this recruiting stuff way too seriously and think you know an awful lot more than you do.
December 15th, 2017 at 8:12 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 10:38 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 6:25 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 6:31 AM ^
I assure all of you, Ben can compete with the big dogs. The kid is an athletic freak, look at his results in Cleveland. If he becomes a Wolverine you will all enjoy him very much, don't look at the stars here. You will not find a kid that works harder and he deserves his chance to shine. I think it will be in a Hawkeye jersey unfortunately.
December 15th, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^
that they couldn't even make the playoffs in an extremely weak conference? 5th place in a 7 team conference with wins against a 3-6 class D school, a 2-7 team, and two 1-8 teams. Our local HS was averaging 8 points a game through 3 games and put up 44 against Garber in a win and our local HS finished 3-6.
I can't think of one single player from the TVC East that went on to play at a P5 school on scholarship. Heck, I'm not even sure one has played on any D1 school with a scholarship. Michigan does have two walk ons from Frankenmuth (best team in the TVC East) in senior Nick Volk and freshman Jared Davis.
December 15th, 2017 at 6:46 AM ^
Do all players that have great success play against non "lollipop guild" competition? Time will tell on Ben, but theres no denying he is an athlete and has shown that. I can attest that he doesnt take the off-season off.
December 15th, 2017 at 6:44 AM ^
I've seen him play in person three times, basically once each of the last three seasons. Elite hands, non-stop motor, MEAN streak, game fast, loves contact. He's already strong with a build which will allow him to add a lot of size. Regarded as a total team first guy. Great student from a wonderful family.
He would be a super addition for Michigan in a position of need.
December 15th, 2017 at 8:57 AM ^
Love mean streaks and non-stop motors.
December 15th, 2017 at 2:05 PM ^
Thanks for adding this. I was pretty impressed with his hands reviewing his highlights, but then again those are highlights. Its great to hear he's got elite hands and a non-stop motor. I can see this guy working on his ball control at the next level and going places.
December 15th, 2017 at 6:50 AM ^
Decide yesterday? I thought the plan was to decide yesterday, on his birthday, if that's the right kid I'm thinking about.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:40 AM ^
It was an idea that he would commit on his birthday, but it wasn't necessarily a plan. And no, he did not follow through. He's still uncommitted.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 7:01 AM ^
I'll be surprised if he doesn't flip to Michigan.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 7:35 AM ^
has been described as encouraging, but I'll take it.
December 15th, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^
Well that is discouraging
December 15th, 2017 at 7:24 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 8:16 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 10:22 AM ^
There's only two things I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures. And the Dutch.
EDIT: Damn, beat me to it. At least I can claim I'm Dutch!
December 15th, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
Well then... we hate you
December 15th, 2017 at 7:46 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 8:56 AM ^
One of my all-time favorite M football players? A "comparison to Aaron" from a knowledgeable observer is good enough for me --- find a way to get this guy into the fold. Go Blue!
December 15th, 2017 at 7:50 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 8:13 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 8:33 AM ^
Yes, please!
December 15th, 2017 at 9:21 AM ^
December 15th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
I'm not sure what the motivation was, but they moved him to QB for the first couple games this year. It makes breaking the receiving record that much more impressive.
Also, apparently Harbaugh is at the high school right now.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^
Young team around him. He was their best playmaker, so their coach wanted the ball in his hands as much as possible. My understanding on that.
December 15th, 2017 at 9:26 AM ^
FWIW, the track record of guys M has snake-oiled from Iowa is pretty strong: Arrington, Darboh, Rudock, Higdon...