Defensive Recruiting Primer
The Offensive Recruiting Primer has already been discussed and we can't have one without the other.
http://thisismichiganfootball.blogspot.com/2012/03/possibilities-defensive-primer.html
Thanks to Aqua, Keith, and everyone who contributes to Thisismichiganfootball.
There seems to be a lot of targets outside of the midwest. While our early success allows us to be more picky I can't say I have much faith in pulling those guys our way.
There just isn't the defensive talent in the midwest this year., especially on the line. I wonder if that was one of the factors in the late offer to Henry for 2012... the coaches were looking ahead, and realized there was slim pickings in the midwest for d-line prospects.
I keep looking at these LB recruits and cant help to think that Michigan takes more than 2. Those guys are studs. I know its not a position of great need, but how can you turn down those guys? I think we get Levenberry, McCray, O'Daniel, and Gedeon. Do they take all 4 or just the first 3 that commit? How can you turn one those guys down?
..ultimately, people aren't going to be happy with how that turns out. It seems the only way we take more than 2 is if 2 commit before Levenberry. I think they'll save a spot for him, but no one else. We may end up with Gedeon, McCray, and Levenberry. Or maybe just McCray and Levenberry.
I don't think this will happen, but I really hope the staff still plans to take 2 more if McCray commits this week. Nothing about his timing makes sense, I don't think the theory that he scheduled this to force OSU's hand is that hard to believe. I also think, if we accepted his commitment, we'd be left out in the dust if OSU offers later down the road. In my ideal world, we'd take McCray, Gedeon/O'Daniel, and Levenberry, and just hope that McCray sticks. However, I'm willing to bet it'll just end up with 2. I think a lot of people are forgetting that we took one more LB than we wanted last year, as well, since Ross was late to the party. Oversigning at that position, 2 years in a row, could be a bit of a pickle.
Thanks. Forgot about how many LBs we took last year. So its safe to say that Levenberry is the primary target then?
Yes, I think that's a safe assumption at LB.
Even with four LBs last year, our depth, by the time the 2013 class hits campus, is still pretty bad, and needs more bodies. I don't see why we'd take less than 3.
we'll have Gordon, Morgan, Poole, Ryan, Jones and possibly Bell, plus the four from 2012. That's at least 9, not counting tweeners like Mario O. We can't go 4 deep everywhere so I would think 11-12 is probably a good target that may well be reached by taking 2.
It will be tough to please everyone when the 2013 LB situation is over, but if Michigan can land 2 of those 4 we should all be happy. In an ideal world I would like to see Gedeon commit soon (today). Watch McCray committ to Tennessee. Then land Levenberry and O'Daniel at the Spring Game. That is best case senerio but, like I said, I would be happy with any 2 or 3 of these guys.
I like your ideal world..... while your at it throw in World Peace and Universal Abundance!
but the pictures should have captions identifying the people in them, especially when the name isn't in the filename. it's no fun if you don't already know who they are.
I follow recruiting but I didn't know the identity of the first pic. Who is it? Can you imagine he and Mario next to each other?
...The pictures are Dymonte-Poggi-Vanderdoes-Levenberry-Priest Willis
Vanderdoes already has wings on his helmet. All he needs to do now is get them in the right color.
It's great to see the amount of talent with interest in UM. I'm glad the coaches were able to fill much of the offensive needs early so they concentrate the remaining schollies on d. I can't wait to see what Mattison et al will do the talent coming in. I'm most interested to see the epic battles forthcoming at the lineback position if we land a second straight year of beasts!
UM Reject is not deragatory towards UM. It refers to my inability to get into UM out of my stupidity in high school. Now a high school teacher, I spend lots of time helping students make the right choices to get into places like UM.
Whatever happens at McCray's announcement I really think he signs with Ohio, I'd be pumped with a three man haul of gedeon/o'daniel/levenberry, then just throw in cravens, one of the 4 star corners (fuller seems arrogant and despite what he can do on the field I don't think he's a Michigan man), poggi, Isaac, Treadwell, Foster, Crayton, and a SDE and I'm a happy camper. Bit of a dreamer too.....
Well, if Fuller is not a Michigan man we could just take Hargraves III instead. I too am a dreamer, but we would all love to see a great haul like that.
I understand where people are coming from with the 'Fuller arrogance thing'. You can see that on tape. But I think CB is one position where you have to be arrogant. Cornerbacks with confidence problems tend to badly suffer from the 'snowball effect', more so than any position on the field besides QB, where one bad play turns into an even worse play, etc. Any good CB has to truly believe that they'll beat their man on every snap; it's a position where mental make-up is incredibly important. And from interviews and twitter, I've seen nothing to suggest that he has a serious attitude problem off of the field. Just my 2 cents.
Looking at Poggi's tape, he just destroys the competition. One of the players I want the most on that whole list.
Even if we land say just one or two of the guys we're after in each of those groups we'd still have a great class. Given how good it seems we're doing with some, we could get several elite guys. I'm really hoping we can land Levenberry
He should have a spot till at least the spring game.
I think Levenberry gets a spot regardless. He is their top target, so if he wants to commit, he will have a spot.