TomVH: Update on Good Counsel Prospects

Submitted by TomVH on

Good Counsel High School in Maryland produces top prospect after top prospect year in and year out. Michigan signed one of them last year in DB Blake Countess, and they're targeting a few of his teammates for 2012. I spoke with assistant coach Kevin McFadden today about his athletes, and where they're at in the process. "Michigan has a shot, all the kids are open right now. They're all just thankful that they have the opportunity with all these programs. They're trying to concentrate on the academic side of everything, so when the time comes they have everything in order," said Coach McFadden.

Stefon DiggsThe Michigan coaches have targeted and offered DB Stefon Diggs, RB Wes Brown, DE Ryan Watson, and OL Mike Madaras so far from Good Counsel. "Wes is probably one of the most sought after running backs in the country. He has a ton of offers, he's a leader, and his work ethic is good," he said. "Wes is going to be a rags to riches story. He takes the game serious, and it's all about creating an outlet for his family. He's a very responsible kid, and even more focused on academics now more than ever." Coach McFadden is also confident that Michigan will be interested in a few more of his players once he sends their film. "We have a couple other kids Michigan should offer, we have DL Rod Chungong (6'3", 240 lbs),  2013 DB Kendall Fuller (6'0", 175 lbs), and 2013 DB Kirk Garner (5'10", 165 lbs) that will get some looks from Michigan," he said.

The fact that Michigan did sign Blake Countess may end up helping them, but it's no guarantee according to the coach. "Blake's been talking to them about Michigan, but he knows just like it was for him, it's their decision. I'm sure he's been saying stuff about Michigan, but he understands what they have to do," said McFadden. Having coached so many prospects, and for a number of years Coach McFadden has also built relationships with fellow coaches that may help Michigan in the future. "Me and Urban Meyer played together at Cincinnati, that's my guy. He and Mattison coached together, and Mattison is one of my mentors in the business and the game. We kindled that relationship years ago, and we stumbled upon each other again when he came through to recruit Blake," he said. Again, the hiring of Greg Mattison and his track record has been validated from the outside.

McFadden has coached his fair share of athletes, some of which are now competing to make it to the NFL. Despite the amount of talent that he's seen, he thinks this batch is just as good. "These kids are NFL kids, they're good. They're right up there with some of the best kids we've had. They've seen the kids before them, and the appropriate measures they've had to put in place with academics, perseverance, and they've seen the outcome with those other guys. The success of the other kids has really prepared them for everything," he said. As far as what's next for this group, Coach McFadden says they will take a few trips during the spring, and try to get everything in order for the summer. 

 

Comments

DGDestroys

March 2nd, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^

I said this on my blog last night, but that 2013 DB Kendall Fuller already has four offers from UVA, Va Tech, NC State, and Boston College. He's going to be a biiiig deal.

PS...can we monopolize Maryland? I'd take pipelines to Dematha and Gilman as well..

DGDestroys

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:07 PM ^

Sure, I hope you didn't think I was suggesting anything else. Seeing these kids get a major education, after where they came from, is probably my favorite part of recruiting. Seeing guys like Dorial Green Beckham sign next NSD will be a pretty awesome moment....unless he signs with Bama (don't worry, that probably won't happen.)

FreddieMercuryHayes

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^

"To do my part in helping such a kid with a rough and underprivliged background, I will offer them a way out.  An education, and possibly a golden ticket to being a millionaire.  And then after they aren't as good as I hoped, I'll throw them out like last night's garbage.  But it's alright because there's other kids with rough, underprivledged who need an opportunity like the one I took away from this kid."

- Steve Spurrier

Never

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^

That area of Hyattsville is far from "scary." They're a few minutes away from P.G. Plaza, which has been completely revamped.

 

All of which is a few minutes away from College Park. "Scary", I suppose, is further down near certain parts of Riggs Road. Dematha's neighborhood is just "older."

 

Olney isn't boondocks either; however, it's comparatively quiet.

Blue in Yarmouth

March 4th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^

My brother, pregnant sister in law, wife and I went on vacation one year and decided to take a road trip down the east coast. The two main stops of our trip were New York City and Washington DC.

It was a Saturday evening that we were passing by Baltimore and my brother decided we needed to stop to eat. The first thing we saw was a McDonald's so we went there. As we got out of the car I noticed a few questionable characters hanging around outside, but they were mid to late teens so nothing to be too concerned about.

Upon entering the building that changed a bit. Having had somewhat of a mispent youth I have always been "street smart". My brother, however, always had my friends and I looking after him so it wasn't a necessity for him develop the same sense of awareness in that way, and therefore, was often quite oblivious to things.

When we walked in I noticed right away we were the only white people. That doesn't automatically trigger a response for me because as I said, I wasn't really a model citizen growing up so I don't get freaked out easily, even in Baltimore. I did a quick survey of the place and found there to be a dozen or so guys who looked like the types that could cause problems. Of those guys I really only saw three that would pose any problem for me. Though my brother wasn't street wise, he could always handle himself in fights so I was put at ease once again.

As we were ordering however, a new group of guys walked in. This group looked a little rougher and I noticed at least two of the 5 had what I was pretty sure were guns in the back of their pants (I would soon find out all five had guns, but I only saw the two at first). These guys were taking a special interest in us as well.

So my brother orders and when the lady brings him his food it is in a bag to go. He looked at her puzzled and said, "I didn't order this to go". She looked at him suggestively and said, "yes you did". Now he started to get a little upset and angrily responsed, "Listen, I know what I ordered and how I ordered it. We want to sit and eat." The lady leaned over the counter and said to him quietly, "trust me, you want this to go".

I grabbed him by the shoulder and told him she was trying to tell him something, and we should leave. Problem was by this point those 5 guys were standing in front of the exit blocking the way out and checking us out in a big way. Again, not being street smart my brother takes out his wallet with a wad of cash in and pays the lady.

The thing that saved us was as two of the 5 guys go across the room to block the other door, they notice the three guys that I previously mentioned were in the building. These two groups obviously knew each other because when they saw each other the guns came out in about .05 seconds and yelling started. The three guys that were left blocking the door we needed to exit ran over to back up their boys with guns out and I grabbed my wife and sister-in-law and we all bolted for the truck.

I don't know how that all ended as we ripped out of the parking lot as soon as we got in the truck, but that was pretty wild. It is hard to believe that a guy like my brother (who is a Dr. as well) can be so slow.

Arsenal Fan

March 2nd, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^

this would be a phenomanal pipeline to create, honestly all of the kids listed would be good gets for this class.  especially if this leads to a future pipeline with this program.  it never hurts to have a coach give praise to our d-coordinator either. put on your recruiting cap Blake!!!!

NJblue2

March 2nd, 2011 at 7:46 PM ^

I would love for these kids to come to Michigan. Wes Brown is pretty good so I would be happy with him being the one RB in the class.

randyfloyd

March 2nd, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^

last night, and that kid is a really good RB.  He is a "Pro style" type of back and with our depth I think we only take 1 RB maybe two and I hope he is one.

Todd Plate's n…

March 2nd, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^

Not sure what it is, but I like the cut of this guy's gib (the coach's).  I get the sense we would never get one of his players because he pushed them here and we would never lose out on a kid because he pushed him somewhere else.  Seems to have a genuine respect and connection for/with mattison, but again would never put anything ahead of his players' long term best interest.  

Really looking forward to seeing Blake develop into a great player and an ambassador for the program and hope we are lucky enough to see a few more of his young men come to ann arbor.  

Go Blue!  

 

Bodogblog

March 2nd, 2011 at 9:05 PM ^

With Brown, Diggs, Madaras, and Watson, Our Lady of Good Counsel has 4 players on the Rivals 250 watch list.  They have as many or more kids at that school alone as there are in 34 of the states this year.  I find this to be incredible.  And they've got a 2013 star?  And they had Blake this year?  Durn.

 

tf

March 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^

That is very impressive.  It also reminds me of something I noticed in 2010 but never got around to mentioning, and even though it's old news and nobody cares now, I'm going to mention it, anyway.

In 2010, Byrnes HS in Duncan, SC, had 3 of Rivals top 69 players.  RB Marcus Lattimore was #10, DE Corey Miller was #66, and DE Brandon Willis was #69.  I find that amazing.  That Byrnes graduating class also featured 4 other I-A commits.  Byrnes is a perennial state power and nationally ranked team, but even for them that 2010 class was incredible.

Glad I finally got that off my chest.

Go Blue Eyes

March 2nd, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^

I am getting the sense that the best thing about the Brady Hoke hiring is Greg Mattison who is likely to be a recruiting magnet.  If the defense turns watch out for what this team can become (again).

Lancer

March 3rd, 2011 at 1:38 AM ^

with picking up DB, defs need to lock up Bam Bradely from youngstown and maybe a top porspect CB. We're thin on the lines, Qb and WR positions. I have faith in Mattison to turn around the defense and he has been a great recruiter, gotta give it up to hoke so far! 

mattrs

March 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^

Are we really offering stefon diggs as a db? He seems to be considered an elite wr it would seem to me that we would want him as one.