TomVH: 2012 QB Recruiting
Our 2011 quarterback recruiting is still potentially not settled, but considering the current roster, the 2012 class looks to be the earliest that M would again be in the market for a long-term starter. Here's a look at some potential quarterbacks to keep an eye on in the 2012 class. These aren't necessarily prospects that Michigan is recruiting heavily, just names to keep an eye on.
| Photo | Name | Vitals | State/School | Offers | Film | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nick Patti |
5'10" 170 lbs. |
Florida/ Dr. Phillips |
None | First 4 games of Junior season | ||||||||||||||
| Patti has thrown for 13 touchdowns to only 1 interception this year. He'll be visiting Michigan with his teammates for the Illinois game. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Maty Mauk |
6'2" 185 lbs. |
Ohio/Kenton | Ball State, Cincinnati, Missouri, Notre Dame | Sophomore Film | ||||||||||||||
| Mauk has a relationship with Brian Kelly at Notre Dame through his brother. His family has Michigan fans, but I think Notre Dame is in the driver's seat. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Aloyis Gray |
6'3" 165 lbs. |
Indiana/ Brebeuf Jesuit |
None | Sophomore Film | ||||||||||||||
| Hearing from Notre Dame, UCLA, Syracuse, Purdue, and Michigan. He wants to stay close to home, and has definite interest in Michigan. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Matt Davis |
6'2" 198 lbs. |
Texas/ Klein Forest |
Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, LSU, Oregon, TCU, Texas Tech, Others | First Game of Junior Season | ||||||||||||||
| Matt tore his ACL in his first game this season, but is going to be one of the best QBs in the country. He's interested in Michigan, and is hearing from them. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Robert Gregory |
6'3" 180 lbs |
Illinois/Simeon | None | Short Clip | ||||||||||||||
| Teammate of '11 OL Chris Bryant and '12 OL Jordan Diamond. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Patrick Towles |
6'5" 232 lbs. |
Kentucky/ |
None | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| Patrick is hearing from a lot of big time schools. Hasn't heard from Michigan yet, but is interested. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Chaz Whittaker |
6'2" 170 lbs. |
Pennsylvania/ |
None | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| Former teammate of current Wolverine Cullen Christian. | |||||||||||||||||||
 |
Brian Blackburn |
6'5" 197 lbs. |
Michigan/ |
None | Junior Season Opener | ||||||||||||||
 |
Demitrious Davis |
5'10" 180 lbs. |
Ohio/ Austintown Fitch |
None | First 5 Games of Junior Season | ||||||||||||||
| Came to the Michigan/Iowa game. Teammates with '12 RB Will Mahone, and twin brother WR/DB Chris Davis. Versatile enough to play a few positions. | |||||||||||||||||||
Again, this is just a look at a few potential recruits. Michigan has obviously been in good contact with Nick Patti, and are in a favorable position as well. Matt Davis is an interesting recruit. He tore his ACL, but still has the top programs coming after him. Although he is from Texas he says he's wide open, and has definite interest in Michigan.
October 26th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
Can we just sign them all?
October 26th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
Can we sign them all, then trade them for a decent FS and a NT to be named later (e.g. after Mike Martin leaves)?
October 26th, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^
But if we did that we wouldn't have any room for O-Linemen, and that would leave us seriously undermanned at that position in 2013, especially with Big Will moving to defense!
/s
October 26th, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^
Big Will moved to offense
October 26th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
I am just glad that we have the depth to actually start redshirting QB recruits that come in now.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:19 PM ^
Assuming DG gets the Medical RS here's our depth chart for the next few years
- 2011: 1.) Denard, JR 2.) Tate, JR 3.) DG, RS FR
- 2012: 1.) Denard, SR 2.) Tate, SR 3.) DG, RS Soph
- 2013: 1.) DG, RS SR
- 2014: 1.) DG, 5th SR
So we're obviously set on starters until 2015, which is a LONG way from now. If we take a QB in this recruiting class, then we'll have a RS Soph as DG's backup in 2013. This would be fine for me. The question I'm asking is: do the coaches try and get another great recruit in the next two years? We need depth there over time so they should continue to recruit, but how much time will they spend on QBs when we've got great talent there for the next 5 years? I'm assuming we'll see the next 4/5'* QB recruit in 2012 or 13, with a definite move to get the #1 dual threat in '13. What say you?
October 26th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
The problem is that the talent gets razor thin after 2012 and in a system that is very QB reliant, we need good and hopefully experienced talent in the wings. I know we should hopefully have a backup, but you never know if that backup pans out or if he gets hurt (Tate and Devin were both during a game this year). I don't know about you, but I don't want to go back to starting true freshman again.
So long story short, grab as many good QBs as you can when you can because this system is majorly dependent on a good QB.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
What about Sousa and/or Marquise? Are we presuming a clipboard holding ceiling for these guys, or the possibility neither ever end up here?
October 27th, 2010 at 12:57 PM ^
I did account for one of them in my comment that "hopefully we have a backup" part. But I wouldn't presume anything at this point.
Sousa is looking around, Marquise is still technically committed to NC. Even if they do come, plenty of people get over/under rated all the time. It is not unforeseeable that they could end up coming and being a clipboard holder or the next heisman front runner. I mean look at how everyone thought Justin Turner was going to be the next great CB to come here.
Don't get me wrong, I hope one of the above comes and has a long career here. I'm just not the type that counts my chickens before they hatch.
My point was that the gentleman above me said that we were set on starters till 2015 which I would say we are far from set, but whatever.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
So, you think Tate will still be at UM in 2011? I kind of doubt it, personally.
I think Tate, either on his own or with encouragement from his family, decided to put on a good face for the national media to quiet the "controversy" during the season, but that he will look for other opportunities after the end of the season.
I have no inside information, btw, just my "gut feeling" (apologies to Sam Webb) regarding the Tate situation.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
The family has a history of transfers, so it would not surprise me. Realistically though, what are Tate's chances at the NFL? He's at a school with great academics, so it might be worth his time to stay and get the education. He has also seen decent chunks of time with the dings that Denard has sustained, so he's not that far from the starting role here. I think having DG on the team is the wrench in everything. Clearly the writing is on the wall that DG is the future.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
If he has any thoughts of transferring he sure deserves an academy award. Rarely I have seen someone try to excite the crowd and rally his teammates like he did against Iowa. Hard to fake. That being said it will be interesting to see how much PT he gets the rest of the season.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^
Great talent at QB is only an injury or two away from being Threet-idan "talent." I'm with RR on this one: you want at least three QB's you can win with on your roster.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
I would update the projected depth chart with Sousa/Williams. We will get one of these two (unless we completely misplay the situation). Whichever one is here will RS in 2011, be 4th string in 2012, and then probably compete for the #2 spot for 2013 and 2014 with a shot at starting in 2015. I expect we get at least a 4* and make a run at a 5* QB in the 2012 and/or 2013 class. As long as he is here by 2013, we remain solid through 3 deep at this position for years to come.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
Is a top-5 offensive skill position player in Texas if he were healthy. He would be a great get for M, and will probably end up being underrated by the recruiting services--his offer list will tell the story, though.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
Is he from the same school that Terrence Robinson came from?
October 26th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
T Rob went to Klein Oak, Davis to Klein Forest. Same district, though.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
Is Nick Patti a quarterback at the next level? Asking only because of height... even Masoli is listed at 5'11".
October 26th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
I know it isn't much, but he's the only one of the bunch with anything that could be remotely confused with dreads...and a remote stretch it is indeed...
October 26th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
he spends some quality minutes in front of the mirror coiffing the locks. A Dapper Dan man, perhaps?
October 27th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
He's going to be disappointed when he finds out it takes a couple weeks to get Dapper Dan in Ann Arbor
October 27th, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
the name of horse in the Kentucky Derby a number of years ago?
October 26th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
If these kids are listing at 5'10" does that mean they are really 5'8"?
October 26th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
Is Nick Patti going to be a highly rated prospect? He sounds like he would go Blue if we offered, but I haven't heard of him getting attention from other big time schools.
October 26th, 2010 at 6:54 PM ^
recruiting services? He is listed here at 5'10" and I have seen him elsewhere at 5'9". That is awfully small even for a QB in our system. I suppose he has some growing to do...any thoughts?
October 27th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
He could get good at using stilts? It's probably either that or an unprecedented femur transplant with Andre the Giant.
October 26th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
but smaller qb's can be successful in this system and neither Tate nor Robinson break 6 ft. and both were 4 stars.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
Denard is listed at 6' and Tate at 6'1". If you think those are exaggerated, just think how tall Patti actually is.
October 26th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
was 5'8" and he won the Heisman Trophy. He was successful in the CFL and had a nice run in the NFL.
October 26th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
Tom,
<br>Recently, ND has taken a slight hit in recruiting--most recently Burton. Do you think this might grow into a larger trend or is it a few isolated incidents?
October 26th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
I like the kid from Simeon. It would probably help us with Jordan Diamond too.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
There is no way Denard is 6'0" None. Tate might be close, but I don't even think he is there. Denard is 5'10" at best.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
on Friday before the Iowa game and Denard was definitely taller than Tate. Now he does have dreads which may give him a couple extra inches but I still think Tate is the shorter of the two. FWIW I did not have a measuring stick but Denard looked to be right at 6'.
October 27th, 2010 at 6:43 PM ^
really fast it makes you look a lot taller ;)
October 26th, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
I stand at a legit 5'11". Denard was in my class earlier this year and he is a little bit taller than me.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^
Always to get the inside scoop for future prospects
October 27th, 2010 at 5:29 AM ^
There was a time, in the not so distant past when we would have done just that. Sign them all let God sort them out.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
could you imagine what college football would be like if you could trade? San Jose Tech A&M trades all 85 scholarship players to OSU for Terrelle "Everyone Kills" Pryor.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
Towles, that is. He's 34 lbs. heavier than the next guy. While all the others can legitimately be called "skinny" or "short", if not "skinny AND short", Towles looks to be in the Mallet mold. Can he play a spread? I guess I'm just wondering why, ehm, did Tom throw in the Towles on this list?
October 27th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
Colin Kaepernick at Nevada is 6' 6'', 225 and he runs like a deer.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
Also, Cam Newton is 6' 6", 250 lbs. Would be great to get the benefit of speed and size.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
My only hope is that we can find the next Jared Lorenzen. Maybe this guy is it, he only needs to add 30-40 more pounds.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
kthxbye.
/kidding
October 27th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Seems like my daughter was in the fifth grade last week. Unfortunately, that means all of these guys were in the sixth grade.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
Interesting tidbit - Robert Gergory's gaurdian, LeAlan Jones, is running for US Senator from Illinois on the Green Party ticket.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
Cant go wrong with the two speedy twins, kind of developing a pipeline to the high school too. 2012 RB Mahone might also want to come play with the Davis'. Nick Patti could be a lock with the Dr. Phillips pipeline. Would like to see MIchigan add a Ricky Bobby, Matt Davis or even Brian Blackburn (local kid) due to their height.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
Looking forward to the continued depth at the QB postion
October 28th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
Blackburn looks like a talented prospect, out of all the in state QB's for 2012, I like him the best
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