1980 Michigan Recruiting
Michigan did not recruit west of the Mississippi River in 1980. A few bowl wins would change all that as the program would grow to become a national power and no longer be a regional player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC3XBL8K6PM
Recruiting Florida since 1980...
February 12th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
Yes, they have, but don't expect that Harbaugh's first year will be indicative of future classes. I doubt that next year's numbers for Michigan, Ohio and NJ will be anything like this year's.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
Agreed, but it won't look anything like 1980.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:56 PM ^
I believe the lack of Ohio recruits was an anomoly. Not sure Harbaugh's staff had a lot of Ohio relatioships. I am thinking he had to build those relationships and demostrate success to compete for their top recruits. Not sure he wants to settle for left overs like Hoke did...in many but not all instances.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
I'd forgotten that everyone was smug back in the 80s.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
Caveat: 1980 Dr. Charles Holland's Top 100 H.S. Recruits list:
QB Steve Smith and OL/DL Vince DeFelice
The previous year, lots of Michigan kids, an Arizona kid and a conpicuous Florida kid:
1979 National 100 by Dr. Charles Holland, who was a football analyst and computer scientist.
1. Eric Dickerson, RB, 6-3, 205, Sealy (Texas) - SMU
2. Don Mosebar, OT, 6-7, 265, Visalia (Calif.) - USC
3. John Elway, QB, 6-2, 185, Granada Hills (Calif.) - Stanford
4. Drew Dossett, ILB, 6-4, 235, Shreveport (La.) – USC
5. Joey Browner, OLB, 6-4, 200, Atlanta (Ga.) – USC
6. Darryl Sheffey, OG, 6-3, 272, Washington (DC) – Oklahoma State
7. Roger Craig, RB, 6-2, 202, Davenport (Ia.) – Nebraska
8. Jimmy Smith, RB, 6-0, 190, Kankakee (Il.) – Purdue
9. Mike Cade, RB, 6-1, 205, Eloy (Az.) – Michigan
10. George Achica, OT, 6-5, 265, San Jose (Calif.) – USC
11. Vincent White, RB, 5-8, 175, Denver (Co.) – Stanford
12. Craig James, RB, 6-1, 210, Houston (Texas) – SMU
13. Stanley Wilson, RB, 6-1, 195, Los Angeles (Calif.) – Oklahoma
14. Wayne Apuna, ILB, Honolulu (Hawaii) – Arizona State
15. Mike McCloskey, TE, 6-4, 230, Philadelphia (Pa.) – Penn State
16. Jon English, QB, 6-3, 190, Birmingham (Mi.) – Michigan State
17. Tony Hunter, WR, 6-6, 210, Cincinnati (OH) – Notre Dame
18. Buford McGee, RB, 6-1, 180, Durant (Ms.) – Ole Miss
19. Phillip Boren, DT, 6-5, 245, Dallas (Texas) – Arkansas
20. Kevin Ward, QB, 6-1, 198, Conestoga (Pa.) – Arizona
21. Tom Jelesky, TE, 6-6, 250, Merrillville (In.) – Purdue
22. Mitchell Bennett, WR, 5-11, 180, Bonham (Texas) – SMU
23. Doug Collins, DT, 6-4, 240, Andalusia (Al.) – Alabama
24. Weldon Ledbetter, RB, 6-3, 210, Clayton (Mo.) – Oklahoma
25. Michael Carter, DT, 6-2, 235, Dallas (Texas) – SMU
26. Malcom Moore, TE, 6-5, 215, San Fernando (Calif.) – USC
27. Anthony Carter, WR, 5-11, 165, Riviera Beach (Fla.) – Michigan
28. Matt Harlien, OT, 6-4, 265, Corpus Christi (Texas) – Texas Tech
29. Johnny Hector, RB, 5-11, 180, New Iberia (La.) – Texas A&M
30. Claybon Fields, OT, 6-7, 270, Washington (DC) – Purdue
31. Doug Smith, DT, 6-5, 255, Bayboro (NC) – East Carolina
32. Glenn Cobb, LB, 6-4, 212, Miami (OH) – Ohio State
33. Ray Brown, DE, 6-4, 230, Rome (Ga.) – Clemson
34. Rob Moore, FB, 6-2, 217, Santa An (Calif.) – Stanford
35. Winfred Carraway, ILB, 6-3, 235, Detroit (Mi.) – Michigan
36. Stanley Godine, DB, 6-1, 180, Houston (Texas) – SMU
37. Reuben Jones, QB, 6-2, 205, Tulsa (Ok.) – TCU
38. Curt Warner, RB, 6-1, 180, Pineville (WV) – Penn State
39. Paul Parker, OG, 6-3, 280, Tulsa (Ok.) – Oklahoma
40. Bob Clasby, DT, 6-5, 265, Boston (Mass.) – Notre Dame
41. Steve Mott, DL, 6-4, 245, New Orleans (La.) – Alabama
42. Cyrus Lawrence, RB, 5-10, 200, South Hampton (Va.) – Virginia Tech (VPI then)
43. Norris Brown, WR, 6-3, 197, Laurens (SC) – Georgia
44. Johnell Brown, QB, 6-1, 180, Gainesville (Fla.) – Florida
45. Joe Lukens, OG, 6-4, 230, Cincinnati (OH) – Ohio State
46. Shawn McNamara, OT, 6-6, 250, Long Island (NY) – Penn State
47. Will Forts, OLB, 6-1, 205, Fayetteville (Ga.) – Georgia
48. Shelby Gamble, RB, 6-0, 195, South Haven (Mi.) – Boston College
49. Darryl Songy, S, 6-2 185, New Orleans (La.) – Oklahoma
50. Melvin Dorsey, RB, 6-0, 180, Atlanta (Ga.) – Georgia
51. Kevin Lindsey, RB, 5-11, 180, Sandusky (OH) – Ohio State
52. Andrew Provence, OT, Savannah (SC) – South Carolina
53. Irv Eatman, OL, 6-3, 250, Dayton (OH) – UCLA
54. Rick Sharp, TE, 6-5, 220, Carmel (In.) – UCLA
55. Randy Justes, DL, 6-5, 240, Omaha (Neb.) – Missouri
56. Kinny Hooper, RB, 6-1, 205, Cleveland (Tn.) – Ole Miss
57. Phil Carter, RB, 5-11, 190, Tacoma (Wa.) – Notre Dame
58. Tim Spencer, RB, 6-2, 190, St. Clarisville (OH) – Ohio State
59. Tim Case, OL, 6-4, 250, Tilton (Ga.) – Georgia
60. Spencer Jackson, WR, Boca Raton (Fla.) – Florida
61. Darryl Moore, OT, 6-5, 240, Venice (Calif.) – USC
62. Eddie Hornback, QB, 6-2, 200, (Ocean Springs (Ms.) – Notre Dame
63. Dan Plonk, OG, Merritt Island (Fla.) – Florida
64. Rich Hewlett, QB, 6-1, 195, Plymouth (Mi.) – Michigan
65. Roosevelt Wilder, RB, 5-11, 195, Macon (Ga.) – Alabama
66. Clyde Duncan, WR, 6-3, 185, Potomac (Md.) – Tennessee
67. Alana Risher, QB, 6-2, 180, Slidell (La.) – LSU
68. Randy Edwards, DT, 6-4, 245, Marietta (Ga.) – Alabama
69. Rob Hedequist, C, 6-3, 218, Spokane (Wa.) – USC
70. Don Dixon, TE, 6-6, 230, Jacksonville (Fla.) – Georgia
71. James Jones, QB, 6-3, 205, Pompano Beach (Fla.) – Florida
72. Chuck McSwain, RB, 6-3, 198, Forest City (NC) – Clemson
73. Barry Young, OT, 6-6, 240, Apple Valley (Mn.) – Notre Dame
74. Dan Marino, QB, 6-2, 185, Pittsburgh (Pa.) – Pittsburgh
75. Donnie Humphrey, DT, 6-3, 260, Huntsville (Ala.) – Alabama
76. Marty Martinez, WR, 6-1, 180, Drayton Plains (Mi.) – Stanford
77. Todd Blackledge, QB, 6-4, 200, North Canton (OH) – Penn State
78. Jeff Guy, DB, 6-1, 175, Aurora (Colo.) – Texas
79. Mike Edwards, WR, 6-5, 200, Bradenton (Fla.) – Auburn
80. Mike White, DL, 6-5, 240, Philadelphia (Pa.) – Arizona State
81. Dan Gregus, OL, 6-5, 235, Chicago (Il.) – Illinois
82. Layne Walker, QB, Clovis (NM) – SMU
83. Derald Williams, RB, 6-0, 195, Jacksonville (Fla.) – Florida
84. Mike Buchanan, ILB, University City (Mo.) – Texas
85. Charles Waggoner, RB, 6-2, 200, Dallas (Texas) – SMU
86. Mike Cofer, DE, 6-5, 220, Knoxville (Tn.) – Tennessee
87. Jim Hawn, El Dorado (Calif.) – Arizona State
88. Guy Thurston, DL, 6-3, 240, Arvada (Co.) – Colorado
89. Al Blue, DB, 6-2, 175, Maitland (Fla.) – Alabama
90. Richard Abraham, DE, 6-3, 238, Paducah (Ky.) – Kentucky
91. Woody Grigg, OT, 6-7, 240, Winnfield (La.) – Ole Miss
92. Marcus Toney, DB, 6-2, 190, Muskegon (Mi.) – Michigan State
93. Damon McCurty, LB, 6-3, 220, Washington County (Ga.) – Clemson
94. Todd Spratte, TE, 6-4, 235, Rochester (Mn.) – Nebraska
95. Brian Holland, RB, 5-11, 195, Devon (Pa.) – Arizona
96. Jeff Hostetler, QB, Davidsville (Pa.) – Penn State
97. Chuck Ehin, DT, 6-5, 255, Layton (Utah) – BYU
98. Michael Charles, RB, 6-0, 205, Houston (Texas) – SMU
99. Billy Ray Smith, DL, 6-4, 215, Dallas (Texas) – Arkansas
100. Kyle Money, QB, 6-3, 200, Dallas (Texas) - Baylor
February 12th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
Steve Smith would tear it up in today's offenses. He took a lot of abuse in his day. Navarre-level abuse.
BTW, how did that Elway guy work out?
February 12th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
I think Navarre had it a tad better than Smith. Sure, there was groaning. But Smith was literally booed by the stadium crowd. I don't remember Navarre getting booed.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
I think Navarre was booed after his 3rd INT in the 2001 OSU game.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:06 PM ^
yes, things have changed. the kentucky QB a few years ago was what, 270 or 280?
February 12th, 2016 at 7:32 PM ^
He was playing Arena League last year (at 320lbs).
February 12th, 2016 at 11:27 PM ^
Scales, not slimming.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^
wow its tough to picture reggie white at 235 lbs
February 12th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
Sorry - never gets old!
February 12th, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^
Buster Rhymes, RB. Awesome.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
Thanks for uploading all these videos.
February 12th, 2016 at 9:11 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
Wow, what a great recruiting class in 1979... depth (just scanning thru there's approximately 25% of the class that I remember as NFL players or draft picks) and some serious top-end talent in Elway, Marino, Dickerson, AC, Joey Browner, Roger Craig, Michael Carter, Billy Ray Smith, and Don Mosebar.
February 12th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
This was one guy's rankings without the benefit of Rivals, Scout, 247, Hudl videos, and the avalance of info that is available today. And yet the dude nailed it.
Impressive.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
This isn't that surprising. I am pretty sure that back in 1980 people believed the world ended at the Mississippi, and that if your tried to go any farther you would simply fall into an abyss beneath the turtle that carries the planet on its back...
February 12th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
and actually attended games back then, pre "Big House" days. I distinctly remember being aware of the Rocky Mountains as I sat in the south end zone watching George Rogers and SC defeat UM. What a bummer that was at the time. 1-2. Ouch!
February 12th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^
tenure is more and more players coming from other states not in the Midwest. This somewhat coincided with the shift in population as more people moved to the south and west. For example Flint used to be a big area of talent for Michigan in the 70's and before, but declined markedly by the end of the 80's.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
Why SMU had such a good class this year
February 12th, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^
They put Ole Miss' bagmen to shame.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
Way to be subtle. $$$
5 players in the top 25, 9 in the top 100.
"No really, elite football athletes just happen to love us Methodists!"
February 12th, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
Well that approach has worked for Ole Miss too.
Blatant cheating is timeless.
February 12th, 2016 at 8:02 PM ^
The West Coast of the US would be Iowa City............
February 12th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
Not surprisingly, we were also doing (and have done for a long time) very well in Chicagoland as well as northwestern Ohio (where entire swaths of the team seem to come from) as the 1980s began - they show that map as well. To see this snapshot is interesting when you compare it to classes lately.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
Buster Rhymes on the first list. Can't make this shit up.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^
went all of 280. Times have changed.
February 12th, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^
Now you have QBs that weigh that.
February 12th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
just how little A.C. actually was, 165lbs.
I've got more than that lodged in my colon right now.
February 12th, 2016 at 9:07 PM ^
February 12th, 2016 at 11:32 PM ^
Interesting that you still see guys listed at 6'5 and 6'4 though. Similar height, just weighing a lot less. Guys now are 5'10 weighing in at 230 vs guys back then at 6'4.