national champs baby
Monday Recruitin' Rewrites The Dictionary
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Today's recruiting roundup covers last weekend's visitors, Laquon Treadwell's top three, and more.
More To Come?
Dan Samuelson
Michigan's big recruiting weekend delivered as expected, with Cass Tech teammates David Dawson and Delano Hill becoming the 23rd and 24th members of the class of 2013. Dawson is very much a known commodity, Hill less so—Josh Helmholdt caught up to the latter to get some clarity on his future position ($):
"Their plans for me are I am going to start off playing corner," Hill said. "If I don't like playing corner, I can always go back to playing safety. I think I can play all positions in the secondary, so it doesn't matter to me."
Hill played safety in high school but has also displayed impressive cover skills on the camp circuit; at 6'1", he'd give Michigan a bigger corner to line up on the outside.
The Wolverines hosted a surprise visitor last weekend in IN OL Dan Samuelson, a Nebraska commit who recently received a Michigan offer, per Allen Trieu ($). While Samuelson played it coy about his interest in Michigan, a Scout article from last week indicates that he took a big step by making this visit ($) [emphasis mine]:
“I truly didn’t go and look for another offer though. [Michigan] came to me. There is very little interest from me to Michigan. I really don’t think that I will take a visit there. Nebraska said that they would view that as a decommitment. I don’t want to do that. I believe that is where that will stay.”
I doubt the situation changed from Nebraska's end in the span of a few days; it seems likely that Samuelson has given up his spot in their class to see Ann Arbor. And now, 247's Todd Worly reported today that Samuelson's situation could be resolved imminently ($):
Looks like the Wolverines have made an impression and Samuelson plans on having everything figured out by Monday evening.
"I'm going to start calling everyone around 5 (p.m. EST), after I talk to Nebraska and figure things out with them," Samuelson said.
With the recent rumblings that Michigan could take a sixth offensive lineman, plus the above chronology, well... stay tuned.
Michigan also made an impression on another visitor committed to a Big Ten school, linebacker recruit and Wisconsin pledge Marcus Ball. Ball told Todd Worly that Michigan is "a great place," though he's waiting to see who the Badgers hire to replace Bret Bielema before making any decisions about his status with the Badgers ($). For what it's worth, Dymonte Thomas—one of many Michigan commits taking his official visit last weekend—tells Sam Webb that he thinks Ball will make the switch ($):
“I just met [Ball] this weekend, but I think he is going to commit to Michigan too,” said Thomas. “I’m not 100% sure, but I think he really liked us. We’ll see what happens.”
Man, Bielema is going to flip out about that gentleman's agree-- oh, right.
[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on Laquon Treadwell and more.]
The Inevitable Happened
IL WR Laquon Treadwell visited Oklahoma over the weekend and left with a slightly smaller list of schools, per this free article from Josh Helmholdt:
With National Signing Day drawing closer, Treadwell has continued to pare his list. Michigan was listed in his top four in recent weeks, but Treadwell said the Wolverines have been eliminated and he is down to three schools. Oklahoma State remains in the mix and the Cowboys are set to receive his next official visit.
"Oklahoma State (will receive a visit) for sure, but that's about it," Treadwell said. "I think that is going to be Jan. 11th."
While it's certainly disappointing that Michigan won't land Treadwell, at least now we can finally move on from his recruitment...
“@shanekttm: @successfulquon you officially visiting Michigan?” Yes
— Laquon Treadwell (@SuccessfulQuon) December 16, 2012
Etc.
Patrick Kugler's North Allegheny squad captured their second state title in three years in convincing fashion, beating Coatesville 63-28. Kugler reportedly dominated despite playing with a torn labrum, which Scout's Brian Dohn says will require surgery after the Under Armour All-American game ($). Kugler should fully recover before arriving on campus in the fall.
CA OL Cameron Hunt, a Cal commit, is now hearing from Ohio State in addition to Michigan and considering an official visit to Columbus ($). This quote is destined for the pages of my upcoming book College Football Recruiting And The Malleability Of The Word 'Commitment':
"I don't know if [Cal is] my leader anymore. I'm just looking at every school. They're definitely not out of the competition. I do consider myself committed but I do feel like it's opened up a lot."
I'm committed to writing that book, but it currently trails "taking a nap and never writing a book" on my to-do list leaderboard. An official visit to my couch is planned for 3 pm.
2014 GA OL Orlando Brown Jr. named Michigan to his early top eight along with Oregon, South Carolina, Alabama, Iowa, Ohio State, Florida, and Georgia (in no particular order).
December 17th, 2012 at 2:15 PM | 
It appears they want 1 more
It appears they want 1 more
December 17th, 2012 at 2:29 PM |
Hunt and Samuelson are both
Hunt and Samuelson are both
Hunt and Samuelson are both headed for guard, in my opinion, so I don't think Michigan would take both. If Samuelson is deciding tonight, then Hunt might not even get a chance to take that visit he was planning for January.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:39 PM |
There was talk during the
There was talk during the
There was talk during the spring/summer that the coaches had told the OL commits that they wouldn't be taking more than 5 guys on the OL. I remember there was a momentary blip with one of the recruits (Bosch?, cant remember) when the longsnapper committed because he was a HS o-lineman which, had he not been a specialist, would have exceeded the limit that was being told to the recruits.
Has anything changed on this front, Magnus? Would any of the current commits be troubled if Michigan were to get a commit from Samuelson or any of the other guys we've recently heard offers being given to?
The swag is back.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:42 PM |
Most indications suggest that
Most indications suggest that
Most indications suggest that Taylor Lewan is leaving after this season. So I don't think the coaches would have a hard time selling the guys on "Hey, this scholarship is opening up for a guy who's going to get picked in the first round, so we need another lineman." They couldn't really have known that Lewan would be a top 10/15 pick when all those kids committed in February.
This class was originally something like 17 or 18, I think. Now it's at 24 and counting. Things change.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:50 PM |
Makes sense. Hopefully the
Makes sense. Hopefully the
Makes sense. Hopefully the coaches have been in contact with the committed guys so they aren't surprised if and when a 6th OL commits.
The swag is back.
December 17th, 2012 at 4:29 PM |
IIRC, Chris Fox reportedly
IIRC, Chris Fox reportedly
IIRC, Chris Fox reportedly wavered for a bit on his commitment after David Dawson tweeted about getting a 6th OL commit. I can't remember the kids name, but he was a twitter friend of Dawson's and a 4* recruit.
It is difficult to know what is going on with recruiting, and now with the coaches throwing offers around like stocking stuffers, I wouldn't be surprised by too much anything.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:26 PM |
Why would Lewan matter
Why would Lewan matter
Most of these kids are red-shirting regardless, so what Lewan does in '13 shouldn't really affect them.
Besides, Lewan's been considered a high 1st rounder for a year now - he was in the early draft projections from the outset.
I think there is a reasonable rationale here, but the coaches will have some explaining to do for why they changed their minds. Not the hardest job in the world, but some recruits may not accept "things change" as an explanation, since that goes both ways.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:32 PM |
Well, look at it this way:
If
Well, look at it this way:
If
Well, look at it this way:
If they brought in 5 2013 linemen and redshirted them all in 2013 with Lewan still in the fray, it would make sense that a 2013 OL might take umbrage with a 6th guy showing up.
HOWEVER -
with Lewan gone, if the coaching staff looks at one of the early enrolling O-linemen (say, Kyle Bosch), burns his redshirt, puts him in the 2-deep and on special teams, and essentially moves him into the Kalis/Magnuson/Braden/Bars class, Bosch essentially becomes Caleb Stacey's replacement in the 2012 class, and the staff can again take 5 OL (which they should every year due to attrition / numbers needed on the line).
December 17th, 2012 at 4:23 PM |
This is a very smart, clever
This is a very smart, clever
This is a very smart, clever post. That makes complete sense and I hadn't thought of it - despite wondering about this 6th OL thing - until reading your comment.
So, uh, thanks.
December 17th, 2012 at 6:37 PM |
Good point
Good point
I've been thinking one of the interior guys could play next year. But -- I'd be a little surprised if the coaches are assuming this will happen. More likely, I think they would expect some attrition across the 2 recruiting classes. 10 guys for 2 classes is a lot, no matter if you split it 5/5 or 4/6. I don't think they're planning on using any true freshman next year, but they probably know they may have to.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:43 PM |
Agree
Agree
I'm not sure how the Lewan situation really makes much of a difference since the 2013 class isn't "competing" with him. They will most likely all redshirt (if Kalis redshirts....almost everyone will).
From a 2013 perspective, the competition goes up by 20% if you go from 5 to 6 recruits. That's definitely something that a recruit would have to consider. It looks like all current recruits are more highly ranked (or more versatile) so they might not be too concerned with the addition.
Obviously, it's ultimately the coaches job to round out the roster as they see fit
December 17th, 2012 at 4:56 PM |
The point is that if you
The point is that if you
The point is that if you allot, say, 15 scholarships for linemen and 1 leaves, then you want to "refill" and get back to having 15 linemen.
And yeah, that's fine if Lewan was projected to be a first rounder for a while, but anything could have happened between then and now. Lewan could have had a subpar season, he could have hurt his shoulder and missed a chunk of time, he could have come up just short of winning a national championship and wanted to come back for one more shot, etc.
I'm sure the coaches are not projecting their 2013 lineman depth based on Mel Kiper, Jr.'s Big Board - they're basing it off what they've heard from Lewan, his family, and NFL scouts.
December 17th, 2012 at 6:49 PM |
coaches have known they might lose someone for a long time.
coaches have known they might lose someone for a long time.
They may have not been counting on Lewan leaving, but they knew there was a decent chance of it. And if not that, some other attrition. Injury-wise, they've been pretty lucky (besides Bryant, who does return), and so far the '12 and '13 OL classes remain intact.
I don't think you can simply play the X-out=X-in game because of the need to manage the roster over the long term.If you want 3 QBs on your roster, you don't bring them all in for one class. Especially with OL, you're generally recruiting for long-term, not immediate needs, though there are exceptions. Replacing Lewan wouldn't seem to be one of those.
December 17th, 2012 at 7:13 PM |
"So far the '12 and '13 OL
"So far the '12 and '13 OL
"So far the '12 and '13 OL classes remain intact."
This is sort of an odd statement, since the '12 kids have only been on campus for a few months, the '13 kids haven't signed their NLIs yet, and David Dawson literally JUST re-committed to Michigan about 48 hours ago.
If you want 3 QBs on your roster, you most certainly can bring in 3 in one class. Because it's almost certain that 1 of those guys will get booted off the team, transfer, or get injured. That's just the way things go. In fact, there's a very good chance that at least 2 of the 5 current commits won't make it to their third or fourth year. The only recruiting class Michigan's had where every lineman recruit completed his career at Michigan was the 2007 class...which included just David Molk and Mark Huyge. So if you take 6 guys, you're basically just trying to ensure that you'll have about 4 left by the time they're seniors.
Obviously, you don't want to take a class where you're going to have too many guys to even put on the field. You don't want 10 linemen or 8 linebackers in one class. But six isn't a stretch at all. Stanford took SEVEN linemen in the class of 2012, including a bunch of highly touted recruits (Andrus Peat, Kyle Murphy, Josh Garnett, etc.).
December 17th, 2012 at 2:52 PM |
Do you see a significance
Do you see a significance
Do you see a significance difference between Hunt and Samuelson?
December 17th, 2012 at 3:07 PM |
Hunt is a better athlete and
Hunt is a better athlete and
Hunt is a better athlete and has an easier time getting low. I'd take him before Samuelson.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:15 PM |
Is the horse okay?
Is the horse okay?
Is the horse okay?
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
December 17th, 2012 at 2:21 PM |
Yes
Yes
It moved to a farm out in the country, where there are apples and sugar cubes as far as the eye can see.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
December 17th, 2012 at 2:27 PM |
That's great!!
That's great!!
Can we go visit him?
The Team, The Team, The Team
December 17th, 2012 at 2:38 PM |
If it's the same story you tell your kids about the pet...
If it's the same story you tell your kids about the pet...
Only once.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
December 17th, 2012 at 3:38 PM |
there is nothing funny about
there is nothing funny about
there is nothing funny about upside down horses
December 17th, 2012 at 9:30 PM |
I beg to differ
I beg to differ
I beg to differ
"The straightest line from A to B is straight: From A to B"
"When you have Denard Robinson, you can have everything"
~George Walden
December 17th, 2012 at 2:30 PM |
and mares.
and mares.
.
We're gonna play with toughness, we're gonna be responsible and we're gonna play with toughness. This is Michigan.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:10 PM |
mares with big,plump,firm
mares with big,plump,firm
mares with big,plump,firm manes.
Vice.com
December 17th, 2012 at 2:46 PM |
wheew, THANKS. He should
wheew, THANKS. He should
wheew, THANKS. He should have put something in there to let us know that no horses were hurt in the making of this post.
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
December 17th, 2012 at 3:35 PM |
Not so fast my friend
Not so fast my friend
I'm not saying that closed-toed idiot didn't survive, but Ima pour one out for his hock.
Love & Hate are horns on the same goat.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:28 PM |
I CAN'T stop watching.
I CAN'T stop watching.
I CAN'T stop watching.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:15 PM |
The SS Treadwell has sailed
The SS Treadwell has sailed
The SS Treadwell has sailed already, official visit or no.
Hail.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:17 PM |
Either it's snowing or Dan
Either it's snowing or Dan
Either it's snowing or Dan Samuelson has really bad dandriff.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:08 PM |
Sorry
Sorry
Good thing he'll be in Ann Arbor where there's plenty of maize and SELSUN BLUE.
"I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy."
December 17th, 2012 at 2:18 PM |
To be fair to Mr. Hunt, he
To be fair to Mr. Hunt, he
To be fair to Mr. Hunt, he did lose the head coach that recruited him. So in essence his coach “de-committed” before he started entertaining the idea.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:40 PM |
I think Mr. Ball's coach "de-committed"
I think Mr. Ball's coach "de-committed"
Mr. Hunt's coach had his commitment offer revoked.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
December 17th, 2012 at 2:20 PM |
Is that horse gif from "The
Is that horse gif from "The
Is that horse gif from "The Ring?"
December 17th, 2012 at 2:30 PM |
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:13 PM |
have not seen the movie, but i have heard about it
have not seen the movie, but i have heard about it
so, the horse answers the phone and thus jumps off a boat?
2013 resolution - make it onto the 2014 favorite MGoPosters post, not ironically
December 17th, 2012 at 3:38 PM |
More or less
More or less
Pretty much it. I think the horse was in the well or something first.
Bo' Money Bo' Problems
December 18th, 2012 at 1:11 PM |
It just jumped...
It just jumped...
out of my computer screen.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:24 PM |
I caught most of Kugler's
I caught most of Kugler's
I caught most of Kugler's state championship game on TV Saturday after the WVU game, and dominate he did. At least on offense - he was bowling people over all game from his LT spot (though Coatesville's DL looked a bit undersized compared to NA's OL). He played DT too, and, well, looked very disinterested in anything more than basically absorbing a double team. Granted, NA's DEs were causing havoc all game for Coatesville's QB, so he didn't have to do much. I'm guessing he was trying to save some energy to keep up the offensive performance, as NA jumped out to a huge lead (it was 35-7 until Coatesville scored late in the 2nd quarter).
Now that I find out he's suffering from a torn labrum, it makes his beastly OL performance even more impressive.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:25 PM |
According to Rivals,
According to Rivals,
According to Rivals, Samuelson doesn't really have a ton of offers, but the coaches must see something in him that they really like. They seem to be doing pretty well at identifying "diamond in the rough" kinds of recruits.
Plus, I'll always welcome more linemen into the fold. MANBALL.
It's been a lot. Its been a roller coaster that for some reason seemed like it would never get good. But you know what? We kept fighting. It's like that old saying goes, "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions." -David Molk
December 17th, 2012 at 2:29 PM |
Video here
Video here
They were pretty dominant as they have been all year. Kugler is bi number 57.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-football/north-al...
December 17th, 2012 at 2:51 PM |
"Kugler is bi...."???
"Kugler is bi...."???
not that there's anything wrong with that...
December 17th, 2012 at 2:56 PM |
Regardless
Regardless
He'll have a damn good time in Ann Arbor!
The world looks better through maize mirror tint.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:21 PM |
I didn't know
I didn't know
That we number them now. Kids today.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
December 17th, 2012 at 2:30 PM |
ha
ha
"I'm committed to writing that book, but it currently trails "taking a nap and never writing a book" on my to-do list leaderboard. An official visit to my couch is planned for 3 pm."
Well done Ace, solid chuckle from that. Mondays suck, needed that. Thank you
Go Blue!
December 17th, 2012 at 5:22 PM |
Just don't read edsbs
Just don't read edsbs
For suggestions of what to do to the couch.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:38 PM |
I know Tom has mentioned that
I know Tom has mentioned that
I know Tom has mentioned that all of the offensive linemen were told they would be taking five and that he had heard from one of them that he would be upset if they took a sixth. I'm kind of hoping that if they do land a sixth one it tends toward the Samuelson side of things where the guy isn't very highly rated so that the current commitments don't feel threatened. They all committed early (orginally at least), and they deserve to know what they're getting in to.
December 17th, 2012 at 2:44 PM |
I don't think any elite
I don't think any elite
I don't think any elite linemen are looking at Michigan seriously right now (even Hunt isn't a truly elite guy), so Skipper/Samuelson/Hunt shouldn't scare anyone off.
December 17th, 2012 at 3:04 PM |
The only reason why the OL
The only reason why the OL
The only reason why the OL were upset is that they thought that the LS was going to take one of the spots for OL.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
December 17th, 2012 at 5:17 PM |
Hmm...I'd prefer that they
Hmm...I'd prefer that they
Hmm...I'd prefer that they not take another OL period and ensure that they don't "rock the boat" with any of the studs currently committed than take a "meh" OL recruit (I have no idea if Sameulson is "meh" or not, I am speaking to the general principle stated) and risk it. Personally, I think 5 OL a year is plenty and I actually am in favor of 4 OL per year every year rather than 6 one year, 3 another, then 5 and so on.
We ARE Michigan....COME GET SOME!!!
December 17th, 2012 at 5:23 PM |
Taking 4 per year would make
Taking 4 per year would make
Taking 4 per year would make sense, but you have to remember what happened in 2010 and 2011. We only have1 OL from those 2 years on the roster right now and he is coming off an injury that kept him out the whole year.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
It appears they want 1 more OL in the class- is it a matter of which kid offered will commit first- or will they wait to hear back from a certain prospect first? Are Hunt and Samuelson the two most likely?