DetNews/Lemming on UM/MSU Recruits
This year's Tom Markowski and Tom Lemming collaboration on the in state classes. Last year's article was a sham, but this year's seems a bit more put together. Highlights include:
Michigan: "Even the linemen are fast," Lemming said. "(Inkster quarterback) Devin Gardner is the centerpiece. Devin is the future but there's talent everywhere. This is the class that will define Michigan over the next few years. The talent is there."
Michigan State: "They did a great job recruiting instate," Lemming said. "What happened off the field hurt them. They ran into problems off the field and didn't have a great year on it. It's a good class, not a great class. They need to recruit better outside Michigan and hit the Chicago area harder. Purdue has done that."
Well, at least Lemming can see that "owning the state of Michigan" isn't quite what its cracked up to be, at least by those in East Lansing and those working for the Freep.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:11 AM ^
I think that it's dead on. I like this class a lot.
Sparty has done well recruiting over the past two years, especially in relation to where they used to be. They've done a great job in state, and I agree with the Chicago area thing.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:57 AM ^
What kind of person comments on their own comment? I think there is a productivity issue at work...anyways I like our class as well but my biggest concern is that Coach Rod will run out of time before he gets things in gear; the back to back "Fails" that were the '08 and '09 seasons might be too much for any slack to be given. I need to see the team play before I regain any confidence in progress, particularly on defense. Offensively I am really excited- I really think this year is going to be very exciting, offensively-, but are we going to be able to stop anybody? Or in this case, enough 'bodies' for Coach to maintain his position? Hopefully so; I like the class coming in and how they can fit in given a year or two of seasoning but if Coach isn't here, are they going to fit in with the next guy we get?? This year is very important...
January 29th, 2010 at 8:48 AM ^
Lemming's account seems balanced and accurate. We clearly have a very talented class coming in, and by all accounts it seems to be a very good fit for RR's system, which is predicated on speed.
But, I can't help but wonder whether a team that focuses on speed, speed, speed, and athleticism, not necessarily in that order, needs to do whatever they can to DRob on the field. I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but I'm recently coming around to this idea as so logical that it's probably inevitable.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
While the City of Chicago lacks developed talent (there seems to be about "1" exception each year), the 'burbs has some decent to good prospects.
No one owns Chicago recruiting. It's interesting... Illinois has struggled to own it's own backyard... N'Western does ok in the 'burbs finding 2 and 3-star level players that fit its system. UM, ND, Iowa and Wisco pull in kids here and there. But no one school can lay claim to it. It's completely a "Midwest" feeder with no allegiance (unlike the Detroit area coaches that seem to push very hard for UM and/or MSU)
For UM, I think Avant was the last success story out of the City of Chicago. Moosman, Dorestein, and Molk are Illinois kids (but now sure how close to the 'burbs they are to be considered "chicago" kids?).
January 29th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
As a native Illinoisan (don't tell), I've always been a bit perplexed about why the state has so few high-level prospects. It seems as though a state so populous, with at least a few nationally respected programs (JCA comes to mind), should be cranking out more than a handful of highly ranked kids each year.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Chicago used to be a Notre Dame feeder. Less so now.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
This class does look fast, and that should work for the system RR is trying to install.
I too am a little surprised that Chicago is not a bigger feeder to the Midwest schools, but I think MSU would be behind Illinois, Wiscy, UM, and OSU in terms of whatever pipeline might exist there.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
I was surprised to see this minimal coverage by them today. They must be saving their National rankings with commentary from each site for next Thursday. It was curious they put this out today.