2014 Glenville Safety Erick Smith taking an official visit to Michigan
Smith was originally going to commit to his school of choice Saturday at the Army All American Game. Long considered to be a Buckeye lean. Would be huge if true, with the big need at safety."Glenville four-star DB Erick Smith says he wants to take officials to Michigan & Spartans. Won't announce at Army" -Steve Wiltfong.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
I hate to say it, but I think he would be a great fit for what Michigan State does.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
So would Malik McDowell, and most other recruits in the country. You know..winning games. They're good fits for that.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
I actually don't know that McDowell fits that great with what MSU does.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^
why is that?
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
I just think MSU has more success with shorter penetrators who can mess things up inside and let the linebackers fly all over the place. McDowell, to me, is a guy who might not be able to fill that role, and I don't know that he's fast enough to be a straight-up defensive end.
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:10 PM ^
I agree with you there. MSU typically likes the space eaters inside. It's all about the LBs.
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^
Nobody's saying they can't use him. But I don't think that's where he fits best. Rich Rodriguez might have been able to use Shane Morris, but Morris doesn't necessarily fit what Rodriguez wants to do.
January 2nd, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^
RichRod could have Peyton Manning and would have chased him out of town so he could run the spread.
January 2nd, 2014 at 8:50 PM ^
At someone there needs to be a "bitch slap" button.
January 2nd, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
Which is where he'd end up if he's honest with himself.
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
I still don't see him maximizing his potential in their system, regardless of what position he would play. I think he would fit better in what FSU does.
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^
So you are saying if he went to MSU he would be the next Lawrence Thomas?
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
Yeah, but more fullback-y.
January 3rd, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
I, too, have had success with a short penetrator that messed things up inside.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
Yeah I agree. MM doesn't seem like a good fit for MSU based on what they do.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
would be nasty. DO NOT WANT
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
Does MSU even have a spot for him?
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
if that's what you're meaning to say...
January 2nd, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^
It's not that he wouldn't fit at Michigan, but he would be a dream come true for MSU with his ability to tackle and cover. Michigan just doesn't develop safeties very well, for whatever reason(s).
I want all elite players to come to Michigan, but I can acknowledge when kids would be better off going with one of their other options.
January 2nd, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^
If that's the case, then seems to me that Smith would be a dream come true for UM with his ability to tackle and cover.
January 3rd, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^
Perhaps, but Michigan's problem isn't necessarily in the recruiting of safeties. It's in the development.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:15 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
Maybe the Buckeyes finally accepted that they're full?
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
Well we're down to one open spot if everyone signs LOI next month. Not sure who the last commit will be but I'm not holding my breathe on signing Lattimore and/or Smith. TBD.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Why is this post here? Didn't you hear that this is an MSU board now?
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:20 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
Now Marshon Lattimore is reconsidering who he's choosing on Saturday according to Wiltfong.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
and yet he said he's still going to annouce. I think these two have taken the recruiting game to a new level.
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
I think it is kind of an exaggeration to say they are taking to another level when you have people committing to multiple schools during the process.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
Talk about a boom to start 2014 if Michigan can get them.
Seems like they're a package deal.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^
I bet Urbz said he was holding spots for both of them and just told Smith there's no room for him but Lattimore is still in. Lattimore now trying to leverage him Nkemdiche style.
January 2nd, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
Pardon me if I missed anything, but what is the Nkemdiche reference about?
January 2nd, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
I don't know if this was ever confirmed, but Robert Nkemdiche told Clemson he'd commit to them if they offered two of his teammates (both of whom were low 3-stars or 2-stars, IIRC). Clemson then offered them.
I don't know if this is true, or if Clemson just offered them hoping it would get them Nkemdiche, but it didn't look like a coincidence that Clemson two lowest rated commits were both teammates of the top player in the county.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
Sorry to hijack here, but does anyone know when our Adidas apparel contract (and the inherent nightmare) expires ??????
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
Well, if you must know, it ends with the 2016-17 season. Dave Brandon has already said that there are no plans to back out of it early.
As for Erick Smith, according to Rivals, he already has visits in at Alabama, Georgia Tech and Ohio State, and in addition to Michigan and Ohio State, he has Big Ten offers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Penn State. Tennessee, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Kentucky and a few others round out the full list.
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^
Erick Smith and Marshon Lattimore visited together unofficially for the ND Game, and visited with Trevon Story and Milen Golden for the BBQ at the Big House.
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
I did like his athleticism on offense, particularly in the 2nd half despite being down big.
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
Can't start a thread. The Detroit News is reporting that Curt Mallory is interviewing for the head coaching job at Eastern Illinois. Seems relevant to a potential recruit at safety. Didn't see it referenced elsewhere on the Board.