Tuesday Recruitin' Goes Back To School
RE-ORIENTATION
I do this for my own purposes when mounting this horse but you guys probably want to know this stuff too: Michigan has 23 commits in this class. The current roster has:
- ~Four open slots. (We are expecting Quintel Kent to take a medical.)
- Nine scholarship seniors.
- Several potential early entries (DPJ, Collins, Black, Ruiz, maaaybe one of Dwumfour/Paye/Uche/Thomas)
- One highly likely grad transfer (Quinn Nordin, assuming he doens't win his job back from Moody).
So that's about 17 slots. Injury and playing time will undoubtedly open up a fair few by next summer, and Michigan is still poking around for a few more guys. Those gentlemen are
A wide receiver. We're getting within sight of waiting-too-long territory with AZ WR Brenden Rice, who has seemingly been on the verge of a commitment for a month now. The last check-in was extremely positive for Michigan and Rice did mention that he might wait a couple weeks into the season before pulling the trigger. Rice would be the burly jump-ball complement to AJ Henning, the slot, and Roman Wilson, the blazer.
Speaking of burly jump-ball guys, Michigan has gotten back involved with in-state Funchess-alike Maliq Carr. Carr will visit for the MTSU game; Purdue took over momentum on the crystal ball. This may be an artifact of Josh Gattis prioritizing guys like Wilson and Henning over jump ball dudes, but Carr's worth a swing IMO.
A cornerback. CA CB Darion Green-Warren and FL CB Henry Gray are the main targets. Most of the crystal balls for Green-Warren are for USC, but USC's recruiting is a stunning disaster right now and whatever they're not doing for everyone else they may additionally not be doing for Green-Warren. It's been all quiet on the Western front there. Green-Warren said Michigan was recruiting him "hardest" about a month ago but did not make it in for a planned BBQ stop; Webb reports he's scheduled his official for the OSU game.
Gray just told 247 he was planning visits to Oregon, Michigan, and Florida. I feel better about Michigan's chances since he says that M plays a lot of man coverage like he does in high school and therefore Michigan "correlates." A month ago he was saying Michigan led and that he was going to commit after his Oregon visit at the end of July, but now he seems to be taking his recruitment out longer. That's often not a great sign for the supposed leader.
[After THE JUMP: moves up, weight up, cuts down]
VA S Malcom Greene is still on the board even after Michigan took commits from three safeties; at 5'10" he's a guy who can project to corner per Lorenz. Greene's recruiting process has been… uh… relaxed. Yesterday he told 24/7's UNC site that he was scheduling officials but "I haven't broken it down." Michigan is in a vague top five, I guess?
A running back. If Chris Evans doesn't make it back—and right now we don't expect him to—Michigan will have just four RBs on the roster next year, one of them (Hassan Haskins) a guy who might project better on defense. Adding another RB to Blake Corum and wrestler/PWO Gaige Garcia makes sense, but options are limited. 3* LA RB Kyle Edwards is probably the best shot. I'd imagine they either fill up with other guys or take a flier late.
Wild cards. If ON TE Theo Johnson wants on board Michigan will take him. VA ATH Elijah Gaines scheduled an official for OSU. He's going to take his full suite of visits; Michigan is the only one solidified. CT DE Kenny Mestidor still has two Michigan crystal balls and no other but is another guy who Michigan may have led for too long.
If I had to guess now I'd say Michigan finishes out with Rice, one of the corners, and Mestidor.
Building block for down the road?
[247]
4.5* CO OL Andrew Gentry is Mormon and is thus functionally a 2022 recruit since he'll take his mission after the season. 24/7 has not budged off a bunch of BYU crystal balls, but Rivals has had a couple of notes suggesting that Michigan may actually be in the lead here. The latest is a little bit forced since Gentry was asked about a potential commitment on his official and effectively said "maybe"…
Andrew Gentry Admits A Commitment Is A Possibility On His Next Trip To U-M
…but they also had an item in their Inside The Fort that was more direct about Michigan being the most likely destination.
Man lifts weight
Michigan appears to be banking on MD DE commit Kris Jenkins morphing into a defensive tackle upon arrival. Good start:
@KrisJenkinsJr1 350lb bench! Hes a freak! @UMichFootball @gcfootball #IronFalcon pic.twitter.com/dDZOZM0No1
— GCStrength (@GCStrength1) August 1, 2019
He is also prone to cleaning 300 pounds and then dropping the mic.
A scouting opportunity
You author always enjoys it when a relatively obscure Michigan prospect makes it to an all-star game:
Blessed to be Invited and COMMITTED to The Under Armour ALL AMERICAN GAME #WEWILL #UAALLAMERICAN pic.twitter.com/00fv9Mhiq2
— Micah Mazzccua (@MicahMazzccua) July 12, 2019
Mazzccua is currently the second lowest-rated guy in the class, so either Biff Poggi pulled some strings or someone saw something in his film. Last year all-star season resulted in big bumps for a number of targets.
Also in the prospect of useful content: NJ S RJ Moten also just got an invite to the All-American game, which should help resolve the massive split (247: top 100! Rivals: #27… in NJ) in his rankings.
All the top fives
2020 basketball recruiting has reached a stage where everyone's dropping the same cool edit with their final X. Michigan has made it into:
- 4.5* MD C Hunter Dickinson's top seven. Dickinson has just a couple of crystal balls, both to Notre Dame, and is one of the more likely guys on the board to respond positively to the idea of Juwan Howard coaching him.
- 5* NC PF Isaiah Todd's top five. The other schools are Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, and Memphis, so… yeah, no.
- 4.5* VA PF Henry Coleman's top five. Likely academic since Duke.
- 4.5* NJ PF Lance Ware's top five. Also looking difficult after a Kentucky offer.
Michigan also offered 4.5* WV PF Jaemyn Brakefield.
2021 items
Your next Speed In Space guy may well be KY WR Dekel Crowdus, who was up for the BBQ and posted a 4.4 40 and is-this-at-typo 44 inch vert at the Opening Finals.
IL QB commit JJ McCarthy and MI OL commit Giovanni El-Hadi both move up in 24/7's most recent set of rankings. MLive recently profiled El-Hadi.
Things are looking good for instate five star Rocco Spindler.
Etc.: Longsnapper U continues. Eamonn Dennis profiled by Trieu.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
Dwumfour /Paye /Uche /Thomas, I can't imagine the season any of these guys could have that would make them declare for the draft, but it would obviously mean great things for UM.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
I was caught off guard when Willie Henry left early. I could imagine any of them playing at his level. Not saying it will happen at all, but it's not out of the question.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:16 PM ^
I could definitely see Uche getting a bunch of NFL buzz if he has a double-digit sack season, especially if he also picks up some run defense duties. His skill-set is valued so highly by NFL teams.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
MGoBlue list Uche playing 4 games as a freshman, 10 games (So), 12 (Jr). Does 4 games still allow for redshirt?
August 6th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
Unless I'm off base, technically you can get a medical redshirt if you only appeared in the first 4 games and then got hurt, but I don't think that's the case with Uche. At least I don't remember hearing anything to that effect. If he were a candidate for a medical redshirt I think we would have heard about it by now.
He played in the first four games, so a medical redshirt is still possible. He tore his meniscus, so it's certain he'll get one.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:33 PM ^
I could see NFL teams viewing Uche similarly to Polite from Fla last year. Basically an edge rush Specialist with crazy speed and a nose for sacks. He went in the 3rd rd. Doesn’t sound unreasonable for Uche with a nice season.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
It's unlikely, but someone like Uche blows up in the sacks + TFL department I could see him getting some draft buzz. And guys sometimes just leave for reasons that don't make a ton of functional sense.
If Uche just does what he did last year again he’d get drafted.
Some guys are just ready for the next phase of their lives, especially once they get a degree. Doesn’t really surprise me to see RS juniors go if they have any kind of draft grade.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Uche is a senior. I think that was a mistake in the article. This is his last season for Michigan.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
If our "NFL ready" receivers have a season comparable to rhe Bama group I say declare. Show me. Haven't seen much yet.
Turns out Wide Receivers aren't very good at catching balls that aren't thrown to them. Crazy how that works.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
Rice is supposed to commit sometime late this month today or early next month.
I think Michigan also ends up with Johnson. Just need to get him on campus one more time. I would love for Michigan to also land Edwards, but that may be a long shot considering he’s from Louisiana.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
Well LSU is not recruiting Edwards. Bama (his supposed fav) has him far down the list behind a couple of Supers.
Having said that, Auburn is supposedly showing more interest. The flip to that is Malzahn may not be the HC after the season. He has to beat Bama to have any chance at keeping his job and that may not still be enough.
August 6th, 2019 at 10:30 PM ^
Malzahn is rightfully on the hot seat but if he goes 11-1 (beating UGA)with a lone loss to Bama, I don’t think you can assume that’s an automatic firing.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
Sometimes I just don't understand the recruiting priorities at each position. We have the likelihood of only having 4 scholarship RB's on the roster near year if nothing else changes, yet we're going after safeties like there's no tomorrow. And RB is a position typically with a lot of attrition. Is anyone else really nervous?
August 6th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
The issue for Michigan is they have zero on the depth chart that are Soph. or Jr year eligibility. They will have 3 RBs at FR eligibility in 2019. At least 4 RBs that are underclassmen eligibility in 2020. You don't fix a depth chart issue simply by over-recruiting it one year.
Also, important to remember that some of the slots will see time at RB. And it's also very possible on of the safety or LB prospects could add depth at RB if they don't work out on the defensive side of the ball.
I'd like one more RB in the class, but it isn't at panic level
August 6th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Yeah, this has always been my read. Good roster management means you recruit guys each year; trying to "catch up" with a bunch of freshmen one year is just a recipe for guys leaving/moving to other positions.
What is crazy that the 2017, top-5 class had 2 RBs and Samuels is already gone, and 2016 had 3-ish backs (if you include Kingston) and literally none of them are still on the team. That's crazy to have that many guys wash out at a position like RB.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Not really, Mason and Van Sumeren can both play there in a pinch(and Van Sumeren may be there already) Giles Jackson and Eamonn Dennis both seem like hybrids who could act as third down type backs if necessary. I'd prefer to have deeper bench as well, but I think it'll end up being fine.
Yes, we're not looking at only 4 scholarship RBs for 2020. Maybe only 4 every down RBs. Part of the reason we're adding so many slots is that our running game will look different. We won't have a traditional RB out there on every play. Hasn't Gattis already talked about giving 5 carries a game to a hybrid slot/RB? Those won't be gimmick plays, they'll line up in the backfield sometimes. We'll still have use for a jumbo back like BVS.
I don't think there's any problem with the number of scholarship backs. People are anxious because the players are still unproven. Maybe 4 traditional RBs is thin with the old, traditional offense. We're not recruiting for that anymore.
Mason is up to 270 lbs. I think his days of being a plausible running back in anything other than short yardage situations are behind him.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
One of the biggest frustrations with the staff has been uneven recruiting, where they don’t recruit many guys at a certain position and then next thing you know there’s almost no depth there. It happened with OT in Harbaugh’s first couple years leading to our OL issues in 2017 and 2018, then DT where we’re now probably going to be pressing true FR into the two deep for lack of bodies, and outside WR looks like the next one up once the NFL scoops up DPJ/Black/Collins.
At least with RB we’ll rarely have more than one on the field at a time, so 4 isn’t that low. But overall it’s be nice if we could get away from these boom/bust cycles where we constantly feel like some position group is one injury away from disaster...
August 6th, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
I have to assume the staff is smart enough to understand where we need players. Perhaps sometimes the guys they like pledge elsewhere, and the question is “do I take a better player at another position or a lesser one where I need help?” Unless you have no one at the position of need, it isn’t unreasonable to say take the better guy and redouble your efforts to recruit the other position the next year.
Part of it was the transition. Harbaugh was never going to be able to pull a full, well-rounded class together in 2015 in such a short time frame. They took what they could get.
2016 had some big misses at OT recruiting, which in hindsight seems like it was probably Drevno just being terrible.
2017 class is what really killed the depth after losing 3 OT prospects and 2 DT's.
Transfers (Solomon), freak injuries (Newsome), and late de-commits (that DT who jumped to Texas days after publicly insisting that he wasn't) all played significant roles in those problems. It's not like the staff was disorganized and forgot to recruit those positions. the Swenson business was poorly handled but we likely wouldn't be talking about it if Grant Newsome hadn't nearly lost his leg.
Uneven recruiting by position is nearly inevitable. It's the nature of college football. Players leave early, suffer injuries and they don't get spread out evenly. Recruits decide to go somewhere else, sometimes at the last minute. Most of the 2020 class is already filled. You have to make choices, some will turn out wrong and you can't just pick up replacements like in the pros. If you pick up a recruit just to pad your numbers at his position, you're stuck with him for years.
Just looking at OL, Harbaugh's first recruits were late adds. All he could do was gamble on someone you wouldn't have taken earlier like Ulizio. His 2nd class lost a highly rated OT in Hamilton just before signing day. He found a decent prospect to flip, but Spannelis is an interior lineman. They were the perceived leaders for Wilson for a long time and we know what happened there.
Then he lost two OTs, Newsome and LTT. The OT issues would have looked different if not for that. By the way, I thought last year's OL was pretty good. Not exactly what I'd consider an indictment of Harbaugh's recruiting.
Other complaints are about position groups that may be problems in the future. Well, that remains to be seen. We took 4 top 100 WRs in 2017. Was that a mistake? Or do you take that level of player when you can get them and deal with the imbalances? Anyhow, that class made it hard to recruit WRs in 2018. They're going to dominate the targets, so if they leave at the same time, the next season will have an inexperienced WR group. The situation was made worse by losing Kent, something you can't anticipate. I still think that group will be perfectly fine in 2020.
DT depth is a little scary. I'll grant you that one. Losing Solomon hurt and maybe moving Hudson was a mistake.
Yeah, it appears we're looking to bulk up certain DEs to move inside, including Kris Jenkins (and maybe Aaron Lewis?) from this cycle. Our last shot at a traditional run-stuffing DT this cycle is Jayson Jones, and we'd have to flip him from Bama (although he's not too happy they're trying to get him to move to the O-line). Jones is scheduled for an OV on November 30 (OSU game).
With #SpeedInSpace™ it makes sense that we have a plethora of quick-twitch slot/H-back types in the pipeline now. But I too would feel a little better if we had another every-down back in the 2020 class behind Turner and Charbonnet, especially with both coming off injuries. (Not discounting Tru Wilson).
Was curious why there was no mention of anyone beyond Kyle Edwards at RB, specifically Lawrence Toafili. Now I know –– apparently he's announcing tonight. Unless we get a Ralph Wiggum wave from Matty D today, it'll likely be FSU, even with Jaylan Knighton committing there recently. I mean, he's announcing on FL local TV news:
Beyond Edwards, that leaves Jalen Berger (now leaning Penn St.), or maybe just go with Corum (who looks pretty damn good) and shoot for Donovan Edwards and/or Corey Kiner next year.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Rocco Spindler is a great name.
Want to feel old? He’s former Detroit Lion Mark Spindler’s son.
Unless you’re young and have never heard of him, making me feel extra old.
Someone needs to name their race horse "Rocco Spindler". Sounds like a derby horse if there ever was one.
Dekel Crowdus is also a great name. Perhaps even a greater name.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Probably a question without an answer for the moment, but has anyone heard any buzz on Myles Hinton? A bunch of the recruiting analysts don't seem to think that Stanford commit will stick.
I really hope some of these cornerbacks are a hit, the looming attrition there is giving me a little bit of heartburn.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
I think it's questionable whether he will qualify at Stanford, and Michigan would be his fallback in that case. I have no idea when we would find that out, but probably not for a while.
Haven’t read anything like this, any links saying that?
That’s not how football admissions works, even for Stanford. They, like UM, will take a player who barely passes clearinghouse. The difference between programs is the percentage of low qualifiers they’ll take. Stanford may take a handful. UM more than that, and teams like Texas Tech can take 100% low qualifiers.
Gotta think with the Myles Hinton rumors where there is smoke, there is fire. Stuff like that doesn’t just get made up
Hopefully there's some fire to that smoke. Of course Stanford has the edge on us academically, but it's not like Michigan is a slouch there. Hopefully the academic/athletic combination and his brother kicking some ass here can at least make it a race.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
is there a typo in the typo?
August 6th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
I assumed it was on porpoise.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:24 PM ^
How are we feeling about DT recruiting? I remember a while back we were concerned we needed more, but it seems they are not prioritizing.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
From what I'm gathering it seems like they're grabbing anchor DE types and hanging muscle on them to develop DT's. Interesting to see if this pays off the same way it seems to on the Offensive Line.
Could be the long-term plan is that Paye, Welschof, Ojabo, and Newberg all move inside after this year. Seems like a lot of projection but the SDE depth chart is a pretty long list.
It does really seem like at least a few of these SDE types will need to slide inside just to make the arithmetic work on the depth chart. Maybe the logic is to try to get some pass rush/penetration from that position by taking big DEs and giving Herbert the keys? It could be a long term plan, given the trend of offenses in the conference.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
I thought Chris Evans was expected to work back to the team after the 2019 season... Now I has a sad.
my understanding is that there is no "work back" per se. he could do everything the right way and the university may still find that his transgression was severe enough that his punishment must be permanent.
August 6th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
2021 is shaping up to be a top 5 class especially if Michigan can close on all the highly ranked in state kids.
Need a great season to make it happen
Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that we’ll clean up instate in ‘21. Payne isn’t happening and Dellinger looks unlikely. Besides a CB lead for Edwards, I don’t know a lot about what’s going on with him.
Even without Payne/ Dellinger there are 5 top250 players from the state and 8 more in the top500.
UofM's gonna clean up instate in '21.
I've noticed at least 3 Big Ten coaches talking about how rosy their futures are because they have (or had last year) such young teams. PJ Fleck repeated several times how Minnesota had "the youngest team in the country." I've heard Brohm and Lovie Smith make similar claims as well. They seem to base the numbers on 10 or fewer senior scholarship players and in the neighborhood of 50 Freshmen and Sophomores (Michigan has 48). Now granted, Michigan does have a large Junior class, but several of those will likely be heading to the NFL after this year. I guess it's a nice excuse to appease the fans for shortcomings in the present, but I can't imagine Harbaugh ever using such an excuse.
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