ESPN Grades Michigan's 2018 class at a B+
Grade: B+ | National rank: 20
Even without the notoriety of previous years, Michigan continues to stockpile talent and fill key needs. The signing of ESPN 300 signal-caller Joe Milton following the news that former Ole Miss starter Shea Patterson would transfer to Ann Arbor is huge. Michigan went into Texas and signed the best tight end in the state in ESPN 300 Mustapha Muhammad. In-state ESPN 300 defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and four-star offensive tackle Ryan Hayes have high ceilings. The Peach State continues to be great for Michigan, with safety Myles Sims and ESPN 300 running back Christian Turner. Signing ESPN 300 linebacker Cameron McGrone was also big. Lone Star State twins Gemon Green and German Green will bring 6-foot-2 frames to the cornerback position. Versatile athlete Michael Barrett out of the Peach State could end up on either side of the ball.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
Some recruiting sites say we are 21st, so I AM right partially. Regardless. That's a B ranking.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
Stars do matter but we really won't know how good (or not so good) this class is for 2-3 years.
Some key factors in how this class turned out:
1. It was a down year for Michigan in-state talent and the Midwest in general. This forced Michigan to go out of region for elite talent which was an uphill battle.
2. On the field performance - 8-5 record and losing big games enouraged Reese, NPF, Ekiyor, Friday, Anoma, etc. to look elsewhere. I think that terd we laid in the Outback Bowl probably hurt us with NPF after all the build up of practicing at his high school.
3. Michigan decided to recruit certain players much harder than other teams did which tells us that they had them rated much higher on their board than other schools.
4. Our highly rated and large 2016 and 2017 classes means most of the depth chart is relatively locked up heading into 2018 (and 2019). This afforded Michigan the luxury of taking very high ceiling yet developmental prospects (Milton, Upshaw, Hayes, Faustin, Green x 2, Herr Welschoff, Gray, etc.). I think Michigan had an idea pretty early in the cycle that they weren't leading for very many top 100 prospects and decided to pursue this strategy. If some of these kids don't work out, we can recover with a strong 2019 class. Everyone recognizes the importance of on-field performance in 2018.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
2. Agreed. Probably 80% of the reason.
3. HA. HA.
4. Bama and OSU and PSU have all had strong if not stronger classes in 2016 & 2017. It doesn’t matter in recruiting if you’re good at it.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:43 PM ^
Has taken over MD and they have moved in on what use to be our turf in NJ. Plus they have a wealth of instate talent. One advantage both OSU and PSU have is their instate talent. Too bad the state of Michigan never turned into a football talent factory. MI has over 9 M in population but I never understood why our schools never produced the wealth of football talent like OH and PA?
February 8th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
We swing and miss more then any school I know of and I follow recruiting pretty damn close. We have more to offer then 99% of the schools but we can't land our needs. Disgusting.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^
I have posted things on this board that people have laughed at but of course everything I have said has been true. I don't spout off and just talk to talk. I only report actual facts I have witnessed or heard from the horses mouth directly. So do not pop off and judge because u don't like the way something is written. It shows your immaturity and I am willing that you know absolutely nothing about recruiting and the real dirty side of college football.
And if you are getting caught up on than or then or there or they're. You basically are the poster child as to why most people hate Michigan Alum etc as we as a group feel entitled and feel like we are better then most. Anyone who sits here and judges someone off of grammar on a thread is absolutely immature and insecure.
The fact that some here actually have knowledge of actual occurrences and situations and share w the masses and they continue to be ridiculed is shameful.
Anyone here who thinks we are ok and that Michigan is fine better look in the mirror. Not only has OSU just been killing us but now PSU and MSU have pretty much passed us up. Oh and don't look now but Nebraska and Minnesota just signed great classes as well.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
So. Wait. We aren't doomed?
February 8th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
we are doomed, just not because of this class, specifically.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
Seems a bit generous. We must have gotten a curve. In all honesty, even though we didn't get elite talent, we did build upon depth. I would have like to of seen more from the offensive line, particularly at Tackle.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
From the Blog, June 2, 2012:
"GURU RATINGS: Scout 4*, #213 Ovr #23 DT; Rivals 3*, #30 DT; ESPN 3*, 77, #32 DT; 247 Sports 4*, 90, #19 DT.
"Hurst's rankings are split between Scout and 247, which see him as a four-star and around the #20 defensive tackle in the country, and Rivals and ESPN, which have him as a three-star and in the area of #30 at his position."
A good recruit --- not lights out, but promising. Looks like Mo would have fit right into the current, 2018 recruiting class. Mo stayed 4 years, worked hard, improved his skills, and is now in a position to earn himself a whole lot of money.
You can't ever tell how many of these recruits will pan out until they pan out.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^
2 good classes followed by 2 average-below average-poor (take your pick).Hoke's 2012 & 2013 were top notch (JH got back to back 10 win seasons when these guys were Jrs.& Srs.) Hoke's 2014 & 2015 (JH hired late in recruiting cycle) were 20ish ranked.Last years Srs were mainly from 2014 class,most would agree last years Sr.class was below average.JH 2018 class replaces Hokes 2014 class.Per 247 both classes ranked 20th,Total points 2014 233..2018 230.Hopefully JH's 2019 class will break this cycle which has translated to an 8 win season when 'bad classes' were upper classmen and 10 win seasons when good classes were upper classmen.The 2014 class had at most 11 contributors,if you include Marshall & Ways,that's being generous.2019 Class is a huge class for Mich.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
But there is more to it than that. Filling position needs and more importantly coaching and development will be key.
In 3-4 years this class may not be the best ever but could be very solid upper class men to help bring a championship vs an 8-5 record
Here’s hoping.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
And there's where the panic comes from on the board. Harbaugh should be getting CFP and B1G title classes every year. The university is paying Jim and his staff a butt load of money and these type of classes are hard to swallow.
There are a lot of school's who would love our class. Unfortunately, we expect more and that wasn't delivered.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 12:12 PM ^
Space Coyote has a lot of legitimate observations below, but what I am really waiting for is Larry Appleton.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^
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February 8th, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
Can’t wait for him to break my heart when he leaves for...Florida? Sparty?
February 8th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
B+ is okay, but you don't win class valedictorian with a B+ average, and we're not going to consistently beat OSU and Penn State with a B+ when they are getting A's.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
February 8th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
This is dang good news. I made the mistake of reading the board for 10 mins last night. Judging by the comments, we received a D-
February 8th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
A lot of teams have done better with worse. It's time to show everyone Michigan football again. Starts this year.
GO BLUE!!
February 9th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
This from one of the Bucknuts recruiting guys:
Superdevil: Do recruits ever talk to you about their interactions with Jim Harbaugh? Gives off a pretty strong 'weird dude' vibe and now that the honeymoon buzz is over his message doesn't seem to be resonating with many prospects.
Alex Gleitman: The only conversations I’ve ever had with recruits when they mention Jim Harbaugh have been positive. I do think he is a bit “different”, if you will, but I haven’t heard anything negative about him from prospects.