Crystal Ballz Projection for 2015 Class
Obviously recruiting in the final days is an ever changing event. Yesterday at this time our "big board" had 15* well known prospects for 4 spots. Within 18 hours that became 12* well known prospects for 6 spots.
*I included WR Ryan Davis although he is not super realistic, and didn't include WR Auden Tate who is a FSU commit.
So now one might ask what the falling of DE Pickard/TE Snyder to Syracuse/back to Nebraska might mean? Based on the timing of it, plus the 2 new UM openings all announced in a cluster the bullish take is positive in terms of UM staff telling these candidates their spots were going to other candidates. It would appear Wheatley Jr. is taking a spot reserved for one of those 2, and other candidate(s) (Clark for Snyder) are out there the staff feels more comfortable with over the past 36 hours. The bearish take is rut roh raggy.
Crystal ballz can shatter when Harbaugh demands it but here is how it is shaking up.
Player | Pick | Ballz |
TE Clark | UMish | trending UM |
TE/DE Wheatley | UM | nothing recent |
RB Weber | UM/OSU | 2 ballz to UM since 1/29 |
WR Davis | FL | 5 ballz to UF since 1/23 |
WR Jefferson | UM | 8 ballz to UM since 1/28 |
WR Burnett | WSU | nothing recent |
CB Arnette | OSU | 5 ballz to OSU since 1/29 |
CB Williamson | UF | 10 ballz to UF since 1/28 |
CB Marshall | USC | All USC |
CB Adams | UMish | 5 ballz to UM btw 1/15-1/21 |
CB Bush | ? | No ballz |
LB Smith | GA | massive GA, little movement |
Hot takes -
Things are starting to look dour on the CB front which is my main worry here. We need DBs badly, and 2 in this class would be great now that we have 6 spots. Target #2A Williamson is now being crystal balled to Florida by everyone. Target #2B Arnette is on campus in Columbus and even faithful friend Ace is now crystal ballzing him to OSU, along with Lorenz and others. Unless Iman Marshall has given a secret yes this is problematic as all that remains on the board is Rutgers commit Jarius Adams and non offered Markel Bush.
If you take WR Davis and WR Burnette (committed to pass happy WSU) as longshots our known board is only 10 guys for 6 spots with quite a few of those guys heavy leans elsewhere. This raises the prospect of having to raid a CMU/WMU type player to fill the 5th or 6th spot unless some serious aces (no pun intended) are up Harbaugh's sleeves. You could take a WR Grant Perry out of Northwestern but he is a WR and we need to end the class with defensive players by need. I haven't thought banking a scholarship was likely up until yesterday with the 2 new openings and how the board is falling at CB (I assumed Arnette was headed here until yesterday). Maybe 1 scholarship goes to 2016 class.
Projected class by ballz:
- TE Chris Clark
- TE/DE Ty Wheatley Jr.
- WR Van Jefferson - has come out of nowhere to be a UM favorite ?
- CB Jarius Adams
- (cloudy) Wildcard spot - reserved for homerun candidate like Marshall or Smith. If miss, then hmm.
- (cloudy) Wildcard spot - Mike Weber. If miss, then hmm.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^
On the surface it sucks but there are mitigating circumstances
- He was offered by OSU last June
- He camped at OSU last July
- His HS is an Urban Meyer playground. St Thomas Aquinas is the #1 HS in America for producing NFL talent and it is not even close. Urban has been in there for years (it's in FL). Aside from Arnette himself I wanted Harbaugh to get this kid so we can begin getting our grubby fingers into the HS. We need to get a pipeline going.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
I would think Durkin would have a presence there, no?
January 31st, 2015 at 10:32 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 10:32 AM ^
One would have to look at who recruited who to Florida post Urban Meyer but you'd think he'd have some presence there. Just difficult to go up against Urban there - dude has NC at UF and OSU now. And he was "the man" in the state of Florida when he was down there and the HS coaches there have a very close relationship with him. Arnette wasn't a 5 star or anything though which is why it's a bit frustrating Meyer is going after him so hard late but we know why - it's a personal statement to Harbaugh. Which is cool - he earned, it and keep pissing off Harbaugh. It only makes him stronger. :)
January 31st, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
Man, I'd love to see Harbaugh and Meyer go at it, Pete Carroll style, in Michigan - Ohio State games. Pick a fight with the biggest bully on the block.
Looks like Meyer is going out of his way to make sure that happens no matter what. Now Harbaugh has something to bounce all that energy off of, if he didn't already have it.
January 31st, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
I think there is legitimate interest in most of these targets. But really the only thing JH has to sell is a promise that they can win. The past two seasons don't really help in persuading any of these guys, unless they are Michigan fans to begin with. Harbaugh's come out swinging and he might as well start going after top 2016 guys. Again, he can sell that they will win and if he proves it in 2015 with a decent to good year, I'd expect the 2016 class to be loaded.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:48 AM ^
He's also going after a lot of out-of-region guys in the south and west, in January no less.
That they are willing to take a look at us at all speaks volumes.
Give him time to establish some real relationships and bring kids in to A2 in the summer and fall, and the large 2016 class could be something special.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
I think there's something else at play here that's limiting the initial recruiting success. Harbaugh is very much in the mold of Bo, and everyone knows what the team went through when Bo first came in and turned things around. Anyone think some of these kids dont want to individually put in the superhuman effort to turn program momentum around? Only kids passionately committed to being their absolute best would want to do it...
January 31st, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^
This might have a lot to do with it. Harbaugh is known for working players beyond what other programs do and it takes time to identify and target the types of players that are most receptive to that.
A month isn't a lot of time to find those guys, give it a year and they will have more opportunity to find the warrior types that'll run through a wall for Harbaugh.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:30 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
The first rule of Ballz Club, is you don't talk about Ballz Club.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
Sounds like a transvestite lounge singer.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
new identity? Too soon?
January 31st, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
I hadn't heard of this till I googled just now.
The guy's been a weirdo for years, so I guess I can't say I'm surprised.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^
for the effort the last 4-5 weeks. Your diaries, etc. have been invaluable.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
He should write for the Blog.
Oh, wait . . . he already does.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:50 AM ^
alum96 taking us to signing day.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:56 AM ^
I look forward to his updates. I want to see one every day until NSD, with real-time updates as conditions change.
Just give him the front page and get out of the way.
January 31st, 2015 at 10:50 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
Let me guess, your fav NFL team will be whoever wins tomorrow?
January 31st, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
Apparently RB Karan Higdon now has an offer?
January 31st, 2015 at 11:10 AM ^
These are my crazy predictions regarding the top three. They are mostly based of Twitter, IG etc since those show what the players are expressing themselves.
1. Chris Clark - He goes to UCLA. I do agree that it is 50/50 with him but the kid absolutely loves it there and I think that's what wins him over come NSD.
2. Mike Weber - Stays with OSU. While he may be regretting signing onto OSU, he feels too guilty to leave at the last minute. The kid is stressed out of his mind right now.
3. Iman Marshall - We land him. He wants to be part of the revival here and he loves the staff. People are saying he's going to USC but I really don't see him expressing much about that. Doesn't seem like he's in it with them.
January 31st, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
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January 31st, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
Saw a random tweet about Baxter talking to some Australian punter who was at Weber State.
January 31st, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
Comming? Is that slang for "communicating?"
January 31st, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
January 31st, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
Besides...the kid loves the hype and drama. Neither school should feel good right now and that's how he wants it. Come 8:30 on Wednesday it'll be over and we'll be able to go back to the reguarly scheduled program.
January 31st, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^