Dillon Tatum Crystal Balls flipping, not in a good way
4 today to MSU. Wiltfong, Trieu, and 2 MSU guys all flipping today with a confidence level of 5.
Did we cool on him? Clink not a fan? Seemed like Bellamy meant he should have been a lock.
I know he's not an elite talent, but he's solid and I really wanted us to win this one.
https://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/Dillon-Tatum-at-West-Bloomfield-227269/CurrentExpertPredictions/
August 26th, 2021 at 3:52 PM ^
Beat me by 2 minutes. It wasn’t on here when I started typing my post. Mods can delete mine
August 26th, 2021 at 3:52 PM ^
I thought it's been pretty obvious he wasn't going to be a priority for the staff. Same with the kid from Groves.
August 26th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
I don't think we stopped recruiting him, in fact we just had him up for a visit a couple weeks ago. But I also don't think he was as high on our board as some others, but we still would have liked him in the class.
This is a 4 star S/CB from the Detroit area and we just hired his high school coach. This is a loss head to head.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
Or they just lost another recruiting battle since there isn’t really anyone better they have a good shot with.
it happens and it will keep happening unless they have a good year this year
August 26th, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^
Beat me by 2 minutes. It wasn’t on here when I started typing my post. Mods can delete mine
edit: apparently my phone is not playing nice to day lol. Double post!
August 26th, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
I have a feeling this will end up like how R. Benny did.
August 26th, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
Double Post
August 26th, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
Triple Post!
August 26th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^
The Benny point still stands. Good vibes only!
August 26th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
Long time until signing day and he obviously is pretty torn. I would like to have him in this class but mehhhhhhh.
August 26th, 2021 at 4:17 PM ^
I think he said he grew up rooting for MSU. I think he is torn because he wanted to play for Bellamy, but his heart was at MSU. Still, it's a long way until signing day.
August 26th, 2021 at 4:32 PM ^
August 26th, 2021 at 4:35 PM ^
Let's have a strong season and beat MSU!
August 26th, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
If you followed his recruitment, this one kind of felt like a long time coming. He's been on the radar forever, both parties seemed to be hot-and-cold with one another, and he never pulled the trigger on a commitment even when it was widely assumed for months at a time that Michigan was leading his recruitment.
This one feels like Michigan always liked him and would accept his commitment, but MSU loved him and he appreciated and felt that vibe from the Spartans. There were also some rumblings that he and Clink didn't have a great relationship and he felt that Clink under-recruited him while at Kentucky leveraging his MHSAA relationships.
All-in-all, he's a good pickup for the Spartans. I think hell be a good college player, although I'm not overly concerned he'll do anything that makes us shake our fists at the heavens out of frustration like a KJ Hamler or Alan Robinson for not recruiting him harder. I do think he'll make some plays in East Lansing though.
Wish him luck personally, but it ends there for the rest of the turds in EL.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^
I generally assumed he'd lean toward MSU when Seth posted this recruiting rondup in May with this nugget
⬇ 4* MI S/Nk target Dillon Tatum: “Not had the best words about it” Johnson told Sam, who also got Dillon to admit on record that up until last Wednesday the only thing holding up a Michigan commitment before was waiting on the video. Apparently Tatum was turned off at some point when Clink was recruiting him to Lexington; Holland learned before Clink was hired(free) that Tatum didn’t have a good relationship there, says there’s some fence-mending needed($) and went into detail on a public Q&A before Clink was hired that sounded like somebody up US-23 was whispering sweet nothings. Upshot here is Tatum will take visits to his leaders, and Michigan is giving him time to form a bond with Clinkscale.
That doesn't read like a guy who was super-happy with the new position coaching situation. Now, that can change but I can also see both sides agreeing it's just not a great match.
I wish Tatum the best but I do think this is the cost a staff shake-up.
August 26th, 2021 at 4:55 PM ^
Things have been trending this way for months. It’s annoying, but not like it hasn’t been a long time coming.
August 26th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
Tatum doesn't like Clink.
Also probably because Paige, Moten, Morant, and Moore are all ahead of him at safety.
August 26th, 2021 at 5:13 PM ^
Coaching turnover has tangibly cost Michigan this cycle. Joshua Burnham was a top target, and Tatum easily a take for the new staff, but both cooled after their initial recruiters moved on. It’s not fatal to this class in either case, but it’s a bummer to miss on in-state guys simply due to chaos
August 26th, 2021 at 5:24 PM ^
How can it cost you if you’ve already created depth at his position? Oh yeah that’s right it can’t. Turnover has happened since 1896 so yeah this year is different.
August 26th, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
Honestly not quite sure what you're trying to say, but two things: 1) By multiple accounts, both Burnham and Tatum cited the departure of a coach who was recruiting them as a reason for cooling on Michigan, so that's not even remotely speculation and 2) Michigan currently has some depth at safety, Tatum's position. Still a bummer to lose a head-to-head, in-state battle with MSU
August 26th, 2021 at 6:07 PM ^
1. Head to head battle is a bit much in this instance.
and
2. We didn’t lose yet.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
If we offer a top 10 kid and State offers the same kid, then it is "head to head," especially when his high school coach was just hired here.
August 28th, 2021 at 8:14 AM ^
We both offered, both really wanted the kid (with Michigan holding the crystal ball projections for MONTHS) and MSU is now trending. Do tell us, how is “head to head” not accurate?
August 26th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^
Oops and
3. We will never take all in-state kids in the top 25. Impossible.
August 26th, 2021 at 9:21 PM ^
Did someone say we would? Seems like you’re arguing things that nobody is saying
August 26th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
I don't think he's arguing, I think he is just making points.
August 28th, 2021 at 8:13 AM ^
Okay, then he’s making points on things nobody’s saying. “We will never take all the top 25 recruits in the state.” Okay, but nobody said we would, should, or could. But Tatum IS a take and IS a head to head loss (assuming the crystal balls hold) to MSU.
August 26th, 2021 at 5:44 PM ^
Recruiting should begin to take a backseat until about week 6 of the season. If Michigan is blah, then you can expect the recruiting to get worst. However, if Michigan looks like they might have themselves a solid year, then you should see the recruiting improve.
Unfortunately, we're at a wait-and-see standpoint with JH in year 7. Who would have imagined this four seasons ago?
August 26th, 2021 at 5:56 PM ^
Did we cool on him?
Somebody please tell me we cooled on him!!
August 26th, 2021 at 5:59 PM ^
I know he's not an elite talent,
Shamone.
August 26th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
I sort of assumed he'd start leaning to MSU when he didn't commit earlier when Bellamy came on board and he said him and Clinkscale didn't click.
I do think it's a long way to signing day and guys flip around. But credit to MSU for sticking hard with him.
August 26th, 2021 at 7:17 PM ^
How did I know Jimmyisgod started this? He’s an MSU fan. Been pretty obvious from his posts for a loooong time.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:15 PM ^
Exactly. Moonlighting like he cares about us. Where was he yesterday when Bates committed to the Tigers??? I bet he didn’t point that out in any post. I wonder which in-state battle was more important to him? I can’t wait until Walker commits to us and we shall see the comments start to pour in about in-state talent. For the last time,”every student athlete in the State of Michigan will not be committing to Michigan.” Because sometimes it’s better for all parties. Good luck Dillon.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^
You are so annoying lol
August 27th, 2021 at 12:01 AM ^
Thanks.
August 26th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
The amazing recruiting skill of our new staff continues to impress. But it makes sense, we had a terrible season and a lot of instability last year. By contrast, MSU had a terrible season with a lot of instability last year.
August 26th, 2021 at 10:01 PM ^
Did you ignore the red squiggly line when you typed unstability
August 26th, 2021 at 11:05 PM ^
I also contend that Michigan was a bit more, if not a lot more, instable than MSU last year.
August 26th, 2021 at 11:03 PM ^
It seems to me there is always a lot of movement by coaches in college ball. I don't think Michigan is alone in losing good or great recruiters, assistant coaches or coordinators.
But, and maybe it's because of Harbaugh's seeming job insecurity, or maybe it's because I really only follow Michigan football, but it appears Michigan loses more battles for recruits when it comes to the job shifting by coaches.
August 26th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
Msu better get everyone onboard that they can before the season starts. They won’t look as good when they are fighting just to become bowl eligible.
August 27th, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
If there is ONE group of people that shouldn't be trash talking MSU over the last dozen years it's Michigan fans.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
We did not cool on him. He's a silent verbal to MSU. It's just as simple as that. He wants to be the man and they've sold him and VanSumeren on being just that (along with Gates and Trent).
We take the L and move on.
I'm willing to bet if we prove it in the field and if MSU struggles...you'll start to see him rethink his decision.