???Can we finish strong???
With losing Peace today, not that I feel this is a huge loss, but it is a warm body. We really need to help that RR and the staff can finish strong. Michigan still has to bring in at least 5 more QUALITY recuits. I don't see where they are coming from but I hope they put on that Michigan hat soon.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^
It was the wrong word - should of been he was a warm body. My mistake (not to talk down to the guy).
January 27th, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
Peace decommitted like a month ago.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:19 PM ^
hope = help
January 27th, 2009 at 8:23 PM ^
We already have an outstanding recruiting class in the works and the odds favor us finishing in the top 10 of Rivals rankings. According to Rivals we got the #1 player in the entire state of Michigan (Campbell) and the #1 player in the entire state of Ohio (Turner). We have some real gems. We have talented players and I believe a few diamonds in the rough. We have some solid men on both the Oline and Dline to build a strong foundation. I really like 3 star Teric Jones the RB out of Cass Tech, he is fast and I believe underrated.
I honestly feel that there is no reason to be down on this recruiting class as of right now and it should only get better. We have a bright future in front of us.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:24 PM ^
YES WE CAN! i can't believe i just typed that..
January 27th, 2009 at 8:25 PM ^
I don't care about rankings. Michigan always does well in the rankings but that does not always equal success. I agree that we got some good guys coming in who can help but we need to fill out this class with some quality recuits not a bunch of bench players. People who are going to be starters. I don't see it happening. But I am still hopeful.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
Out of the 20 players so far pledged to commit to us, which ones do you think aren't quality and will just wind up being bench warmers?
I see a group of 20 guys with a lot of potential and talent - and guys that fit what the coaches are looking for. How many schools would we be willing to swap commit lists with?
January 27th, 2009 at 8:48 PM ^
Then how do you evaluate the recruits? Watch the high school film? Rankings may not always be correct, but they're the only way we can evaluate the recruits--they are good indicators of success over a large sample size.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^
As said, we'll be fine. As it is now, this is a top 10 class. Getting at least 5 more "quality" recruits is not very realistic (depending on your definition of quality, I guess). At the most, we get 3 more 4 stars.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
This is a good question. Right now we are behind West Virginia in Scout's rankings.It is just a snapshot at this point, but it is funny (or sad). Supposedly one reason RR came here was access to better talent. Tradition may be long, but memory is short in recruiting it seems (except for ND though - why?). Regardless, I think RR NEEDS to finish strong. If we stay at around 17th (yes, the rankings don't mean anything blah blah blah), it will be the worst class in years, following on the heels of the worst season ever. Not good.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
Use rivals. They are legitimate.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
is only ranked so high bcuz they got alot of ppl they only have like 5 -6 guys that compare to ours
January 27th, 2009 at 9:13 PM ^
No doubt.
As of right now, according to Rivals, West Virginia only has 3 players ranked in the top 25 at their position. Michigan has 13 players ranked in the top 25 at their position.
Michigan is pulling in more talent than West Virginia based on what I see from Rivals.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:29 PM ^
3 more 4 star recuits would be a huge improvement. Then we fill out with some 3 star guys to really put a bow on this class.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
Ok, now I get what you mean. Yes, we may be able to get this much.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^
I thought you don't care about the rankings, as you said like 5 minutes ago????
January 27th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
Last year, everyone said you scout because we were 6. Now that we are 18 in scout, you are saying use rivals because we are 8. Inconsistent.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
I've always liked Rivals better and I think you hear that a lot from a lot of people.
It isn't as important to look at the team rankings as it is to make sure you are getting quality guys to fit the system, so far we have done well.
If we must look at team rankings, well with Scout, only 2 teams on our schedule have higher team recruiting rankings compared to us.
Even using ESPN's rankings sure we are currently 14th, but only 2 teams on our schedule are above that #13 ND and #4 OSU. Who cares, we have players that will fit our system. We have a recruiting class that will help us return to prominence in the BigTen, which will bring us back to national significance.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
Average the two, if it makes you happier.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
impose false and meaningless thresholds like this. No single player makes or breaks this class on its own, but some seem to think if we were to get, e.g., Willie Haulstead instead of Je'Ron Stokes that the class is a failure. Step back and look at the big picture.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:17 PM ^
What is the big picture? We wont know the "big picture" until we can take a retrospective look at it. The problem is that this is all prospective, but we nonetheless have years to look back on and tell us that the rankings do matter. There will always be outliers, but there is validity to them. Thus, the big picture right now is nothing more than its constituent parts. We will not know until a year from now if it was better than its individuals. The picture right now is not that pretty. I certainly hope it gets prettier as closing time arrives, and that will only come with a few more good prospects. Like Stokes quality.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^
"The picture right now is not that pretty."
Why?
We could always use more top end recruits of all positions, but we are doing very well.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
I meant that we don't know the big picture of this class. Cant know yet. Thus, the only big picture we have is a bad season, lots of decommitments, lower-than-usual ranked class.
But....I am optimistic, really I am. Ok, the more I think the more I am starting to come out of the gloom and see a brighter picture - a proven coach, good DC, etc. I am just a little disappointed about this class right now. I will shut up with the negative talk.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
"I meant that we don't know the big picture of this class. Cant know yet."
If we can't know the big picture yet, then go with what we know right now -- a top 15 recruiting class for sure after our worst season in essentially a lifetime. Pretty good.
"Thus, the only big picture we have is a bad season, lots of decommitments, lower-than-usual ranked class."
This is not a lower than usual recruiting class. Also, getting southern kids up north in the snow is hard and decommits will always happen. Additionally, we were never going to get three top-10 dual threat QB's in one class... 2 is unlikely, 3 was out of the question, goodbye Newsome and Beaver, would have liked to have you, but Forcier is talented and currently enrolled (thank God).
Per Rivals, UofM's recruiting ranking:
2009 #8 (so far)
2008 #10
2007 #12
2006 #13
2005 #6
2004 #5
2003 #17
2002 #16
Average ranking for the past 7 years....11.28, we are actually doing slightly above average so far after a horrible year and with some good recruits left on the table for us to potentially get.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
This is a top 15 class for sure, and probably a top 10 class. After a 3-9 season, that sure looks pretty to me.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
It's rare that someone will come forward and just straight up play right into an argument like that.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
You my friend, need to think a little more deeply.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
Oh please Mr. blueblueblue, teach me how to be a critical thinker!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^
WVU is ranked ahead of Michigan in Scout because they have 3 more recruits that us; class rankings factor in the total # of commits, hence why Arkansas is #11 with 32 commits and an average star rating of 2.88 Michigan, in comparison, has 3.4 average star rating. Regardless, who cares what our class ranking is anyways? As long as we fill our positions of needs with good talent and build depth, then we're on the right track. Class rankings don't do shit for us.
Honestly, what do people expect? We had the Rich Rod buyout fiasco, the Boren "Family Values" issues, and a 3-9 season. We were bound to have issues with our recruiting class, yet despite all the decommitments, we have and are going to fill those decommitments with players of equal talent. For Michigan to have a top 10 class after all the problems in 2008, it just shows that Rich Rod and Co. are excellent recruiters. 2010 will be the big time class for us. People need to adjust their expectations.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
but it ended up being just another stupid recruiting thread.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:12 PM ^
We also have to trust that RR is recruiting the talent to fit HIS system. While the rankings (be what they are) may indicate we have a lower ranked class, the truth is, RR only sniffed the top 20 at WVU once or twice. He is getting better talent, albeit facing better competition. Lets melow-out for now until we have a chance to see how the guys coming in fair within the system.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:01 AM ^
As tired ane cliched as it may be, rankings on Scout/Rivals/ESPN are completely arbitrary. Team needs and fits are more important. There is only so much room for so many recruits. Getting Beanie Wells and Kevin Grady in one class would boost you to the top of the rankings. However if they don't fit the offense, their stars do nothing but appease the fanbase. RR did fine before us, he will be o.k.,and hopefully better with us. In the past, playing at Mich meant something, it had a certain swagger, well it still does, it's just changed.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:31 AM ^
I do believe in happy endings. I do think UM will squeeze one out.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
you're squeezing one out right now.