Wednesday Recruitin': Overview Edition, Offense

As mentioned, Tim is off this week unless he gets bored at some point and decides to write a basketball preview. Since he's been on-board I've shot him all the articles and whatnot that comprise Wednesday Recruitin' and no longer have them loomingly open in my browser, so a standard edition is not in the cards.

However, a month into the 2011 recruiting year is about when we used to peer around at Michigan's roster and evaluate what the class priorities will be. This is that, with an assist from the Depth Chart By Class.

Departures: None.

Numbers: Four guys who will all have multiple years of eligibility and one or two redshirt freshmen would be fine if two of the quarterbacks weren't athlete types who may end up moving elsewhere.

2011 Needs: Michigan will almost certainly take a quarterback every year from now until the sun explodes. They may even take two or three, with numbers two and three athlete types who will get the proverbial "shot" at quarterback before getting shuffled off to the secondary or offensive skill positions.

Most likely additions: There's not a quarterback on the board with so much as a green smiley, which isn't a surprise since Michigan has a sophomore starter and possibly the #1 dual threat QB of the 2010 class behind him. Quarterbacks tend to go off the board quickly, so Michigan will have to get on top of some kids. Summer camp will be important. If NY QB Ashton Broyld or FL QB Kevin Sousa get offered, they would be moderately probable.

Running Back

FL RB Demetrius Hart 

Departures: None.

Numbers: Six players, none of whom seem like candidates to move to another spot. Only one will be a senior in 2011.

2011 Needs: As with quarterbacks, Michigan is going to take at least one tailback every year. Two is a possibility if they find someone they really like later.

Most likely additions: FL RB Demetrius Hart is from Dr. Phillips, the former school of Ricardo Miller, and has been publicly enamored with Michigan for well over a year now. He wears blue on the board and plans on deciding "soon." Hart claims a crazy array of offers including Texas, Florida, Auburn, Notre Dame, and many others. Four star sort who seems like a potential top 100 player.

Meanwhile, instate RB Justice Hayes is a solid four star who is getting plenty of offers of his own. He's been a frequent visitor on the Michigan campus and Michigan will be on his short list when it comes down.

Fullback

Michigan seems like it's shifting away from the Owen Schmitt model to an H-back/TE version of the spread. They haven't recruited a fullback since Rodriguez arrived; Moundros even asked for a part-time move to linebacker in his final year. We'll probably see a walk-on or two emerge this fall, but they won't figure into the scholarship count or the recruiting class.

Wide Receiver

MI WR Shawn Conway doing the other thing he does.

Departures: None unless one of the juniors is some sort of crazy supernova and heads to the NFL, but that's one of those good problems.

Commits: Instate receiver Shawn Conway committed early to a storm of protest that will probably be muted once updated rankings come out and a 6'4" leaper with hands the size of skillets does okay in them.

Numbers: Even with Cam Gordon's move, Michigan will have ten receivers on the roster in 2011 counting Conway.

2011 Needs: With Conway in the boat, minimal. They'll go after blue chips and probably add one more player.

Most likely additions: Instate WR DeAnthony Arnett seemed like a Michigan lock very early in the cycle but now has a top three that doesn't even have Michigan and keeps spouting stuff about pro-style offenses. Michigan has Devin Gardner—a close friend—and childhood fandom going for him but will have to win this fall if they're going to beat out the world. No one else has an offer and an expressed desire to go to Michigan.

Slot

Departures: None. If Rodriguez can only make it to 2011, eh?

Numbers: We won't know exactly where Teric Jones ends up until spring, and possibly beyond. Even so, six players for one and half starting spots is about right even without Jones.

2011 Needs: Michigan continues to recruit slot receivers so you know they're looking to pick one up, but it will probably only be one and they are going to be selective.

Most likely additions: Early buzz has focused on Damiere Byrd and recent offeree Miles Shuler so far. Both are from New Jersey and seem to be at the top of the slot heap this yeaer.

Tight End

Departures: Second-string TE Martell Webb graduates.

Numbers: Two, both of them upperclassmen.

2011 Needs: With no tight ends in the last two classes, it's time for Michigan to recruit a couple if they intend to keep using them. They'll have two, a senior and a junior, by the time the 2011 class steps on campus.

Most likely additions: OH TE Ray Hamilton is the #6 TE to Rivals; his father was Rich Rodriguez's teammate at West Virginia and he's made multiple trips to Michigan's campus.

Offensive Line

Departures: holy crap, actual graduating starters! Or, depending on how things go, graduating starter, no S. Michigan loses four-year starter Steve Schilling, okay right tackle platoonmate Perry Dorrestein, and interior line backup

Numbers: With the departures Michigan will be down to just ten offensive linemen, and that's if no one leaves the program or gets injured. Having no more than a two-deep at offensive line is scary, as very few high schoolers hit college ready to do anything but cower.

2011 Needs: Vast, then. At least four, possibly five, and if they wanted to add a sixth guy I'd probably be okay with it.

Most likely additions: Michigan is fortunate that there are a lot of guys who are lifelong fans out there this year. Instater Anthony Zettel is a little short to play tackle but tore up a recent camp and seems like a top 250 lock; he wears blue on the recruiting board. TX OL Kourtlandt Akins has an offer and deep family ties to Michigan; M seems likely to be his pick sooner or later as well. No read yet on his ranking. AZ OL Andre… oh Jesus here goes… Yruretagoyena attends Chaparral, the school that sent Craig Roh and Taylor Lewan to Michigan, and has the Wolverines in a top two with Arizona. If he ends up committing he'll be the Evan Smotrycz of the football program.

There's also an array of instate prospects who may or may not be offer worthy. Camp will probably result in a commit from one of those guys. The early returns on players who seem highly likely to end up at Michigan are positive.

Add It Up

Approximate numbers by position:

• QB: 1
• RB: 2
• WR: 2
• Slot: 1
• TE: 1
• OL: 4

The total: 11. Michigan will probably end up with a class of around 18; they're at 14 now.

Side note: if Perry Dorrestein does not win a starting job this year, Michigan will return ten(!) starters on offense in 2011.