Introducing The Recruiting Overview Board
Hello. This is an attempt to give you a 1,000 foot view of Michigan's current recruiting class. It lives as a wiki post under the "Useful Stuff" heading as well, and can be updated by anyone with 500+ points.
![21331723153_57af9f6024_z[2]](https://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Introducing-The-Recruiting-Overview-Boar_A613/21331723153_57af9f6024_z2.jpg "21331723153_57af9f6024_z[2]")
not eligible sry [Patrick Barron]
SCHOLARSHIPS
We assume Michigan will go to 28.
Michigan has 16 open spots right now plus three specialists who may be on one of those "you get the first spot that opens up" kind of deals. In addition there are 2-4 guys who probably won't get fifth years.
Thus Michigan is expecting to lose at least 5-8 current members of the roster (other than fifth years) before Signing Day. (Big Ten rules prevent teams from oversigning unless they can explain where the scholarship is coming from.) That's not an inordinate number given the roster composition, the sudden possibility of NFL interest, and the fact that this is the first year of a new coach. We know of one guy who is already planning a playing-time transfer, FWIW, and there are no doubt more.
CURRENT CLASS SIZE
We are not considering Dele Harding a commit. He was removed from the Rivals commit list and any insider you poke will tell you they don't expect him to end up at Michigan.
We have also heard that some of the camp commits in the class were explicitly offered grayshirt deals. We are not exactly sure who, but depending on how things go Michigan could end up with extra spots in the class as guys reclassify to 2017 or take opportunities for 2016 elsewhere.
In addition, Chris Evans, Kingston Davis, and David Reese have all announced plans to take visits and should be considered soft commits.
So: the current class is somewhere between 14 and 20 guys. Welcome to 'crootin.
ROOM LEFT AND WHO MICHIGAN IS TARGETING
Michigan can take somewhere between 8 and 14 additional players. They are targeting approximately
- one running back
- one wide receiver
- one tight end
- one OL
- one kicker
- two or three DL
- two or three LB
- one or two CB
- one or two S
The only spot that is definitively full right now is QB.
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 'CROOTIN OVERVIEW | |||||||||||||||||||
| Position | On The | DECENT SHOT | TOP GROUP | LEADER | HARD COMMITS | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB(2) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| RB(2) | K. Davis* | K. Enis | |||||||||||||||||
| FB (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| WR(2 +1) |
| B. Hawkins A. Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||
| Slot (1) | P Young C. Evans | ||||||||||||||||||
| TE (1+1) | D Asiasi |
| S. McKeon* | ||||||||||||||||
| OT(2) |
| E. Swenson D. Hamilton | |||||||||||||||||
| OG(2+1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| C (0) | | ||||||||||||||||||
| DT(+1) | B Tagaloa | R. Weaver | |||||||||||||||||
| NT (+1) | K Camp J Elliott | ||||||||||||||||||
| SDE(1) | C Murphy | R. Johnson | |||||||||||||||||
| WDE (1+1) | T Lucas# | Q Alexander | C Kemp | ||||||||||||||||
| SLB (0) | J McCulloch | ||||||||||||||||||
| ILB (3+1) | D Jackson | C Kelly J Jones | D Reese D Bush Jr | ||||||||||||||||
| CB (8+1) | A. Richardson S.P. Scott | ||||||||||||||||||
| S (1+1) | A Posey# | J Fuller C Brown | L Jackson | D. Gil J Metellus | |||||||||||||||
| P/K/LS (0+1) | Q Nordin | ||||||||||||||||||
| commits in bold | |||||||||||||||||||
Latest Updates: Debut
October 23rd, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
The starting and playing times discussions go under discussing what roles you see for the players within the conext of their roles on the team. Using specific names in transfer discussions or non-renewed fifth years is in essence, discussing which players you would like to see leave the team before their eligibility is up. May not be the best explanation, but to me that's why I try to follow this particular bit of board etiquette(I have probably not been perfect on this, but I try).
Frankly we also don't know what the motivations of these different guys may be and any specific transfer speculation isn't fair to guys who are busting their asses on the team.
Take it for what it's worth, I just think there's a way to discuss this without bringing up specific names when for the most part we know nothing about their situations other than what we've seen on the field.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
Any updates on Nordin? Saw he was here these last couple weeks. Was the kicking game not as strong as Harbaugh/Baxter anticipated when they let him commit to PSU?
October 23rd, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^
My guess is that Andrew David isn't where the staff thought he would be.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
I figured as much, but just interesting to see Nordin kind of floating back into the crooting conversation. Just shows how fluid some of these recruiting situations are.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
Hasn't he said that he doesn't want to give up playing baseball? LINK
October 23rd, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
David will need the permission of the coaching staff to play baseball for the Wolverines next Spring.
I'm guessing Harbaugh would be willing to do this. I'm sorry to say that I don't know much about the baseball roster. How's our middle infileld? Assuming he got a baseball scholarship, wouldn't he have to quit kicking for it to not count against the football total? We'll still have Allen next year too, right?
October 23rd, 2015 at 3:55 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
Michigan's baseball team announced their fall roster about a week ago; it's not on the official website but there are 33 players on the roster (NCAA maximum is 35), so they presumably have room for David if he wants.
Michigan's top 2 second basemen from last season, Jake Cronenworth and Eric Jacobson, are both gone, as is the starting third baseman (Travis Maezes), so both second and third base are wide open.
Michigan has brought in 5 infielders this season (2 transfers and 3 freshmen) not counting Andrew David, so there will be plenty of competition at both second and third; none of the 5 are shoe-ins to start, I think.
As far as the scholarship is concerned, yes--he would have to be removed from the football roster (permanently) for the scholarship not to count against the football total. Also, baseball players don't receive full scholarships unless they are very special players. There just isn't very much money to go around.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
Having 8 to as many as 14 spots remaining was a bit of a revelation to me. But as we've seen, whenever there is a changeover in coaching staffs, it happens. The breakdown by position of remaining needs jives with what I was thinking too. But based on the above, we really have a good chance at having an elite class.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
5 star guys and it could be one of the top two or three in the country. Harbaugh is deadly serious about offensive lineman. He wasted no time stocking that cabinet.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
Needs more Nefarious Eduardo, IMO.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
Good ole' Eduardo. Those simple icons were fantastic.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
Sad Josh was always a little tear-jerking...
October 23rd, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^
LINK from Ace's post on June 25, 2012
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
The people want Nefarious Eduardo. Will Brian and his minions listen?
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
I know there's been a lot of rumbling about Lavert Hill - and he's been in Ann Arbor quite a bit - but listing us as his leader when he's committed elsewhere seems aggressive...
We feeling good about him?
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
Caught WTKA the other morning and Sam Webb was pretty confident that Hill would end up at Michigan.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
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October 24th, 2015 at 6:14 AM ^
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October 23rd, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^
Should be at most "Top group". A bunch of teams battling it out for Hill, including MSU and PSU. Nordin is at least still committed to PSU, seems odd having Michigan as the leader.
Other than that, this is useful at this stage.
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
If a kid is committed elsewhere, or seems to be leading with somewhere else, it would be great if some indication is given.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:07 PM ^
Funky, anyone, why the cooling on Reese when the rest of the country seems to be heating up for his services? I'll hang up and listen.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
I don't necessarily think it is cooling on Reese. If I recall correctly, Reese wants to enroll early and that may not be possible at Michigan.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
<<<picking the phone back up>>>
Thank you to you and AZ. I guess I didn't realize there was a cap on EE numbers. Why doesn't he just go on an extended spring break next semester? Problem solved.
Go Blue.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
There is not a cap on EE
There is a cap on scholarship players at one time.
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
Is it that his school credits so far won't allow him to EE at Michigan, but they will at other schools like Nebraska and Texas?
Or is it that the coaching staff is saving "spaces" for EE's and they do not deem him as a priority to be one of those selected?
if it's the latter, then that's what is most confusing. Reese appears to be playing very will and fills a need for not one but TWO positions that will be hit the hardest by graduations: FB and LB.
I, too, will hang up and listen.
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
I believe it is more of the second. I remember hearing (though can't remember where, so take it FWIW) that the coaching staff is saving EE spots (i.e. scholarships that semester) for the bigger fish (Gary, Bush Jr., etc), possibly as an enticement.
October 23rd, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 3:07 PM ^
From the scuttlebutt they want to save EEs for offense.
While I agree "A LB + offense" makes sense, maybe that is not the LB they want enrolling early.
The lack of playmakers on offense would make me think a WR or RB type will also be an EE. We need someone to make dynamic plays next year - it cant just be all these same guys a year older. (and yes a better QB would help them all)
October 23rd, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^
Harbaugh told them that some EEs were promised to offensive players and others were being offered to higher profile recruits. Reese understands that he's wanted in the class, but that he's not as high a priority as some other recruits. If he's willing to wait, there may be an EE spot for him down the line, but he's got a lot of options.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^
Kerridge is a 5th year and Houma is a senior. Or is the plan to ride with Shallman and Pallante and/or walkons?
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^
relatively easy position to restock. It usually ends up with a preferred walk on earning a scholarship or a player moving over. I wouldnt get too worried about fullback.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
My guess is that, under Harbaugh, we will carve fullbacks out of other positions rather than rely on walk-ons. The recruits who end up playing fullback at Michigan will be 3 and 4 star athletes playing somewhere else in high school.
There just aren't any fullbacks in high school. So even the walk-ons would be high school RBs and LBs transitioning. Might as well sign the better athlete
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
I can't see him getting caught from behind quite like Houma and Kerridge. So many possibilities with that kid!
October 23rd, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^
Where the hell have you been for the last 4 years?
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
Bummer about Evans - thought he'd sort of be a middle tier recruit in this class, i.e. not a grayshirt of course but not a guy we'd push out if someone else comes along. The other 2 I understand of those 3.
I think there are some obvious 5th year "tryouts not tryout" guys out there next year; I will be curious if there is a Countess type who shocks us too.
The grayshirts for the camp guys are also interesting as the ones we took on defense are a bit "interesting" for a Michigan commit. Also a lot of people here were adamently against the practrice pre Harbaugh... wonder if they will swing to acceptance because of who is doing it.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
No I didnt imply Evans is a grayshirt - I was just a bit sad he might be in the soft commit because we might find someone better category. Because he looked like he could contribute on either side of the ball based on need and had some explosion and speed to him - things sorely lacking on the roster, esp offensively.
The grayshirts were the guys we got out of camps on the defense mostly. We took half of Flanagan HS's secondary with the idea it would help get Bush Jr.
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:09 PM ^
I do like what I see with Pie Young but would probably take the "local" guy in Evans if forced to take only one.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
I don't think Evans's spot in the "Top Choice" column signfies that he's maybe likely to get pushed out. Brian's post says that he's there because he's taking visits.
October 23rd, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
Isn't the issue more along the lines of converting a guy to a greyshirt after offering him a place in the current class? And especially when it's done when a guy either can't or will have trouble getting other offers.
I have no problem with a grayshirt offer when the grayshirt is laid out front and center like it was with Clark and Pallante, in this case the guy knows the deal right off the bat and there's always the possibility of upgrading into the current class.
To be clear when I first heard the rumblings about grayshirting I was extremely uncomfortable with it as I thought they may be trying to push some guys into grayshirt offers. If that was the deal from the start, it's cool.
While I get the defensive depth issues mean we need more high-impact guys right off the bat, I like identifying guys who are coachable and have high upsides and may be a bit under the radar as, in my mind, that is where high quality depth comes from. In my opinion healthy programs recruit a mix of both high school all stars and the guys they think will be late bloomers.
October 23rd, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
the question is whether the staff has been up front about their intentions and the recruit understands the nature of the offer, versus a guy having his offer converted to a grey shirt late in the year because more highly rated kids are pushing them out.
October 23rd, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
And so occasionally annoying! Do Urban or Saban have to worry about their fan bases being "uncomfortable" with when and how a greyshirt is offered to a prospective player?
It's well over 3 months until NSD - ample time for anyone learning that their offer may be to greyshirt to look around should they so desire.
Now if it's Jan 30th that's a different deal. I heard Saban or Miles did that to a kid...
October 23rd, 2015 at 4:26 PM ^
Not so much with the last. I don't think changing an offer that's been accepted to a greyshirt offer is OK. Much better now than around NSD, or even after as has been done some places.
I don't think that's what was alluded to here, rather that some of the camp commits were told they might be asked to greyshirt at the time they were offered. Sam Webb said that was the case for Mettelus when he committed..
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