2017 Detroit News Blue Chip Recruiting Q&A

Submitted by Leaders And Best on

Detroit News' annual survey of the top prospects in the state of Michigan. Good one this year considering the way in-state recruiting went down. Michigan has commitments from 6 of the top 10.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/01/30/blue-chip-players-talk-best-worst-recruiting/97264278/

Detroit News's 2017 Blue Chip rankings:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/01/29/complete-detroit-news-blue-chip-list-1-60/97218818/

They have individual articles on each of the top 15 (8 are Michigan commits). Linking the Donovan Peoples-Jones article here & can get links for the others there:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/01/29/blue-chip-countdown-ums-donovan-peoples-jones-has-talent-smarts-drive/97216240/

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2017 football recruiting

Artie

January 30th, 2017 at 10:16 PM ^

I look forward to this every year around this time!  Nothing too crazy this year.  I thought for sure Simmons would have some sour grapes about his recruitment but his response was very mature.  Coached or not, that was nice to see.  Reid's comment (or non comment) was interesting.  Was there anything that went down with that recruitment that was out of the ordinary?

Joined: 04/23/2009

MGoPoints: 8126

Mr Miggle

January 31st, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^

I don't get why people want to complain about what MSU's recruits are saying. What we don't want to hear from them are the things our recruits said about MSU. Don't give me compliments about our coaches while explaining why you chose not to go here.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47576

Wolfman

January 31st, 2017 at 12:10 AM ^

The writer made certain that we knew he was laughing when he said it,, so I just took it as a good natured jab. All except the Reid kid, who definitely wanted people to know he was offered by M, "but I don't want to talk about it." Sounds to me like that offer might have come with a caveat, like you might be offered if you prove so and so...... 

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

You Only Live Twice

January 30th, 2017 at 11:13 PM ^

I didn't read any salt into the player comments, all seemed to strike a balance between honesty and tact.  

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

bronxblue

January 30th, 2017 at 11:21 PM ^

I was bored so I took a look at RCMB and let's just say that's a fanbase that is not prepared for anything resembling disappointment on the recruiting trail, since football apparently started on 2011. also, I am amazed that MSU is ranked so much lower than UM academically by all these organizations considering how many people chose MSU because their program "was higher ranked than the one at UM.". lots of supply chain management types there, I guess.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171433

lhglrkwg

January 30th, 2017 at 11:26 PM ^

It's always been interesting to me that far West Michigan (west of GR) often has some real good HS football teams but you usually only see FBS talent coming from Muskegon HS and Zeeland area

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87887

Wolfman

January 30th, 2017 at 11:44 PM ^

But it is not a football town. When I was working at G.F. Ford Federal Bldg., and met many people from the city itself, and the outlying areas. Rockford was establishing itself as top dog, but I learned something that was really perplexing. Only a few schools within the city had their own football field. They shared a number of fields and had Saturday afternoon matchups at Houseman Field. Being from Muskegon, I found this odd and I am certain that has something do do with it. Obviously when the majority of the city schools were being built, there wasn't enough emphasis on the game to justify the purchase of the extra land needed to build a football field on. I think that has played a major role. It the school didn't take the game that seriously, then I am not surprised the players didn't place great emphasis on it. I did see some outstanding talent though, but many of the schools were poorly coached and werent' well schooled, even in the basics.

Being from Muskegon, its the exact opposite and it's always been a football town. At one point they only had the Big Three, Heights, Muskegon and Catholic, all at the top level of what was then four classes, and all sending kids to D1 schools around the nation. My bro-in-law played for catholic in the late 50s and got his MI offer. Although Catholic is now in the smallest division, they still are a football power, but now Muskegon is probably smaller than the suburban schools like Shores and Puffer. Then there are a number of smaller schools, of course, but the Big Reds are still the talent provider, but the area doesn't produce at nearly the level it did when they had the Big Three. 

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

Mr. Yost

January 30th, 2017 at 11:44 PM ^

Is it odd, the better we get the more I dislike this publication?

I used to love it...now it just makes me uncomfortable. I'm glad all the M-commits were classy about why they didn't go to MSU.

The MSU commits were classy about Michigan as well (including Rison)...it just kind of pains me to see all of them asked about Michigan. They better get used to it I guess.

 

Really wish we would've went after Donovan Johnson, I still don't get that one. I'd take Reid as well on Signing Day if things didn't pan out. Now it's too late for both.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Wolfman

January 31st, 2017 at 12:05 AM ^

I realize we might not have offered him, but when I learned State did not offer, I began thinking possible off field issues.  Hate to think that of a kid without hearing a damn negative thing about him, but its quite possible he was ranked too high by the Detroit papers 

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

Mr Miggle

January 31st, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^

wants to use a 5"7' (or so) corner in their defense. Even if he's talented, we found talented players that are much better fits  Maybe he could play slot or return kicks/punts. But if you talk to the kid and he wants to play defense, you have to be honest with him. Considering the makeup of our class, I don't see how he fits in anywhere.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47576