Signing Day Wrap: Enrollees and Assistants Comment Count

Tim

We'll have much more Signing Day video from the early enrollees down the road on MGoBlog. For now, enjoy each of them talking about what it was like to enroll early at Michigan.

...and onto the assistant coaches:

Bruce Tall

  • In last year's recruiting class, there wasn't as much need for defensive tackles, but striking out on the guys last year meant there was a big need this year.
  • The team has good depth at nose tackle right now. It's much easier for guys to learn a 3-tech position, then slide inside later in their careers.
  • Recruiting in Ohio is important, because Michigan needs to maintain its standing there. It's also a talent-rich state that is very close, which makes it a little easier to recruit.

Greg Frey

  • There's no problem with only taking one offensive lineman in the class of 2010, because there were more immediate needs that Coach Rodriguez had to fill.
  • Christian Pace is a good kid who loves to play football, and plays with a high motor. He is exceptionally quick for an offensive lineman.

Greg Robinson

  • There was an emphasis in this recruiting class on recruiting guys who can play in space, and do so with toughness and quickness. Marvin robinson and Josh Furman are "space players," and their position doesn't need to be defined until the coaches get them in practice.
  • Robinson was already coaching the Quick and Spinner linebacker last season, so he'll take over the duties of coaching all linebackers, and they'll pick up a safety coach to complete the class. "Whoever Rich hires, it'll work well."
  • Robinson is very happy for Coach Hopson being able to land a coordinator role.

Fred Jackson

  • Most of the other schools trying to recruit Jeremy Jackson tried to get to him by going through Fred's wife. Jeremy was born and raised in Ann Arbor, and he wanted to be a Wolverine.
  • Michigan's offer might have put Carvin Johnson on the radar in the first place. He's a great player, and Coach Jackson had to fight off two SEC programs the night before Signing Day to keep him committed to Michigan.
  • It's not the most important factor, but picking up kids who were winners in high school is always a plus, because they know what it's like to win, and they wouldn't have been winners in high school if it wasn't for their work ethic. You don't need to teach them how to work hard to win.
  • Both Stephen Hopkins and Austin White will have a chance to contribute in the fall.

Tony Dews

  • Jeremy Jackson and Ricardo Miller are both big outside receivers who play a physical game. The plan is to leave them at wideout, but if either of them grows into a tight end, they would be willing to make the switch if the team needs it.
  • Jerald Robinson is a potential KR/PR down the road, as is DJ Williamson, whose speed rivals Darryl Stonum's.

Comments

iawolve

February 5th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^

Gibson seems to recruit fairly well, but obviously has some issues with the full secondary. Wonder how this affects the candidates we have been already talking about since there was an assumption of LB coaching requirement.

Rorschach

February 5th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^

Craig Roh and Stevie Brown were both pleasant suprises last year. I look forward to seeing what Coach Robinson can do with the middle linebackers at his disposal as well.

helloheisman.com

February 5th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^

Nice Tim! I'd definitely like to see more original video features like this at Mgoblog in the future. The EE's seem like they all have what it takes to succeed academically at Michigan.

blue in ak

February 5th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^

How much did it sound like Devin Garnder was kidnapped? Him: I was visiting, you know, and my coach called and said 'I hope you have everything you need, because you're not coming back, EVER!'

ten.gtd

February 5th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^

Kudos to Tim & Brian putting this out there. By far, one of the highest quality vids I've seen on here. Plus, it gave you an MGoBlog perspective on the kids. Appreciate it.

Six Zero

February 5th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^

Really get a glimpse of some of the personalities-- Ricardo is going to be a press conference pimp, and Hopkins seems like a real character as well. Now where's the video of Sharp getting caned by Barwis with a bamboo??

kman23

February 5th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^

I know that all assistant coaches recruit all positions but does anyone know which region each coach has? I know Hopson had Mississippi because of his time at Southern Miss but I don't know the other regional assignments. Who ever has Florida should be congratulated for getting 2 4 stars out of that state (and Ash). I'd love to what we can do there in the future. I know Carr always had California as his focus and recently we seem to have shifted more to the SE. Is it that Rrod just knows Florida better from coaching at W. Va or are there just too many schools that recruit California well that it's hard to get those 4/5 star kids after a bad season? I know besides the expected USC, Cal, and Stanford both west coast schools like Washington, Oregon, Oregon St. and elite schools like Oklahoma and Florida recruit heavily there. I was just wondering if someone knew the regional assignments and I hope we get a secondary coach that has ties to North and South Carolina. There seems to be a growing amount of talent coming out of that state.