Cancellation of recruiting
You've probably heard by now that Michigan (and all colleges) have to stop recruiting visits until April 15. Obviously, that's a huge deal, especially for out-of-state visitors. I typically post a weekly update on who's visiting, which I did on Wednesday morning (LINK) until the news came through. Now I have a bunch of future posts in draft mode that probably won't go up, but oh well.
Anyway, Michigan is/was supposed to host a bunch of 4-star tight ends (Thomas Fidone, Louis Hansen, Moliki Matavao), along with offensive linemen like Nolan Rucci and David Davidkov. Those are just a few of the names.
You can't get days back in the calendar, so even when travel restrictions disappear, it will be interesting to see how much of an effect COVID-19 has on recruiting in general. Those guys can visit local schools easily when they can travel, but as it gets closer and closer to the season and the new school year, there will quite simply just be fewer opportunities to visit schools far away. Will someone like Matavao, who's from Nevada, have a chance to make it to Michigan's campus? What about Hansen, who is from Massachusetts, or Fidone, who's from Iowa (but near the Nebraska border)?
Obviously, this works the opposite way, too. In-state or Ohio prospects won't have as many opportunities to visit SEC schools, Big 12 schools, Pac-12 schools, etc., so maybe they will be more inclined to stay closer to home or only choose places they have already visited.
Anyway, I'm bored and not hitting the gym this morning, so I thought I would get a discussion started about recruiting.
I forgot to mention that one of the guys in the link above is 2022 Georgia quarterback Holden Geriner, who has offers from Auburn and Georgia, among others. Michigan hasn't offered yet, but he has a cannon arm and I was expecting Michigan to offer on the visit.
We canceled over 100 visits scheduled this spring at the direction of our University, 1st & like other schools.
— Matty Dudek (@Thee_Matty_D) March 13, 2020
Why? We care about the well being of the people in our program and those families traveling to see us.
Anything less is COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE ?#BiggerThanFootball
According to everyone we are not very good at recruiting anyways, so what’s a little time off!
Obviously I'll get banged for this, but scrolling thru Dudek's Twitter feed, he not only has an incredibly punchable face but also comes across as an annoying d-bag type.
I'm really trying to like the guy and this is obv based purely off social media, but almost every post is braggy/douchey ?♂️?♂️ #bangme #biggerthanfootball
I’m sure the powers that be love the guy, but I think the program could do much better.
"Michigan fans aren't happy unless they're unhappy."
Lots of people (a.k.a. recruits) like Dudek, but our own fans say he has a punchable face and call him a douchebag.
Because of pictures on social media.
Classy.
Matt, is that you?
Michigan fans aren't happy because the Football program isn't good enough, btw.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
That is at least partially true, but it's his primary job to hype the university to recruits, & basically to anyone that will listen.
“Matt Dudek, I think he’s by far probably one of the best recruiters out there. He knows how to say the things he’s got to say, but also he could prove it on and off the field and in the classroom and with his players, especially with how they show up Saturday nights,”. Rocco Spindler
Maybe consider what the young men who have 1st hand knowledge say?
March 14th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
The players and recruits LOVE MattyD. Relax dude, of course he's bragging on social media. His whole job is to brand Michigan as the best opportunity out there.
He brags about stuff not related to M though. That's the stuff that comes off douchey. I hope recruits do love him, specifically 5 star, highly talented recruits lol.
Ran into him at the 5 Guys off Saline Rd a few summers ago. Just said hi and wished him good luck with the recruiting, he came and talked to my 5 year (who was wearing a michigan jersey) for a few minutes. He seemed very easy going and likable.
ive only interacted with dudek once and been around him a few other times but he rubbed me the wrong way. i wouldnt have called him out as a d bag but i also agree they could do better.
polarizing personalities can be very hit or miss. not to mention some of dudeks cringeworthy social media moments - its not that difficult to rep your program and do your marketing work without coming across as a petty loudmouth. id think they could find a sharp, loyal, balls to the wall recruiting director who excels without twitter beefing with michigan fans, trash talking opponents and their fans, etc.
harbaugh clearly trusts him and i assume hes well liked in the building and theyre pleased with his performance so its just my meaningless opinion. if most prospective recruits and families like the guy, thats the goal. if hes the guy to help build the program and maintain the daily culture that beats osu every 2-3 years and wins every other bowl game, its all good
You're not wrong.
mags,
not sure if you saw my post yesterday about recruiting/offer. i am told now that coaches, literally every coach in every college sport, have nothing to do and are begging for people to send them hudl/videos for them to review. it would seem that hoops and football would be the biggest sports that are affected, but who knows, maybe others are equally impacted.
I was talking to our athletic director yesterday, and he was bored. He has nothing to do since every school district is canceling games. He doesn't even need to communicate about rescheduling stuff, because nobody knows if/when the games are going to resume.
I'm not bored at all, really (despite the above post), because this gives me a chance to write more, review some film, do scouting reports (I posted one this morning on Rayshaun Benny), read, etc. But I did say I was bored, because there's very little "new" news coming in.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
Here's a link for Benny.
You know what really sucks. Today was supposed to be the semifinals for several major conferences and the eve of selection Sunday. Fuck man this sucks so bad.
Agreed, but in the long run this is a minor inconvenience at best. If stopping the sports world for a month now means a long term return to normalcy afterward, I'm fine with it.
So long as it's happening for all colleges for the next month, I'm fine with it. It's a level playing field in that sense.
Don’t know how but I am sure this will hurt us and help OSU.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
I believe Ryan Day is out recruiting while wearing Bobby Valentine's mustache.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:39 AM ^
I know that is supposed to be funny, but it does hurt us more than them. When it comes to recruiting, OSU can afford to be on autopilot way more than we can because their record speaks for itself.
Miles to go before we sleep.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
Overall, coaches in the area (including myself) think that this will help Michigan in recruiting. Obviously it feels very weird and off base to think of that in a time like this, but the schools with an almost unlimited recruiting budget will end up better off than the smaller schools that try and have most of their class locked up earlier.
On the other hand, we've never seen anything like this in modern college athletics, so were all literally guessing. Several of my guys had recruiting visits cancelled for this weekend (rightfully so), and have no idea when theyre going to be able to take visits to out of state schools.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
At least this buys Harbaugh time to reevaluate his recruiting strategy.
Truly leaders and best. Drevno adopted this very same approach 3 years ago.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
Do you think the parents being courted by other schools (read O$U) are going to file for federal funding under the coronavirus disaster relief?
after all they are taking a paycut.
Clarification question: does this mean coaches and recruiters can't be in phone / social media / etc. contact with recruits? And if so, why? If not, couldn't we do some digital recruiting efforts... making videos, better graphics, etc?
No, the coaches can still contact the players (and vice versa) digitally. It's an extended "quiet period," which means no in-person contact, even if it's on campus.
Since ALL schools are in the same boat, it won't matter. Interested recruits in Michigan are not likely to wane due to the pause. At least our coaches can text or make calls to these recruits. I am not concerned at this time.
Let's hope things will be able resume on or about April 15th.