Donovan Peoples-Jones: How realistic our are chances to get him?

Submitted by Photogenic on
So I've been reading about The Opening, and Donovan Peoples-Jones scored highest out of anyone at the event. Considering that he's a 2017 and will undoubtedly keep improving, he has a very strong chance to be a Top 5 overall prospect once 2017 rankings are final. I don't know a ton about his recruitment, but he strikes me as a "must get" prospect, especially coming out of Cass Tech, which is a Michigan stronghold. I see that his crystal ball is currently going for Ohio State, which makes absolutely no sense at all. Do we actually have a strong chance with him? Has he visited and been interested in Michigan so far?
MGoBoard
Football

DrMantisToboggan

July 12th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^

In his defense the last pro bowler Ohio state has had was David Boston. So yeah. Urban Meyer's system? Percy Harvin had a flash in a pan career, Aaron Hernandez is in jail. Riley Cooper is the best Urban receiver in the NFL, he's a 3rd or 4th option in philly. We will see how Devin Smith does, but Urban has definitely been more of a use em and throw em away type than an NFL developer, at least for offensive skill positions



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

carlos spicywiener

July 12th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^

NFL careers =/ NFL draft positions. Alabama doesn't recruit HS players with infographics of their alumni's long careers, they recruit them with their signing bonuses / contracts. 

Ohio State is focused on puttting people into the league, is my point. It's all a crapshoot what individuals do and accomplish after that.

Joined: 05/03/2014

MGoPoints: 25160

Ronnie Kaye

July 12th, 2015 at 2:53 PM ^

Percy Harvin was a very solid pro before getting injured, averaging about 1,200 all-purpose yards a season with the Vikings. Riley Cooper was second on the Eagles' in receiving stats in 2013 and was fourth last season in a very balanced attack. He's a legit starter. 

And Hernandez being in jail is a mark against Meyer's system? He was arguably a top five tight end in the league.

Joined: 05/09/2015

MGoPoints: 104

DrMantisToboggan

July 12th, 2015 at 4:07 PM ^

Yeah your first paragraph was just another way of saying what I had said about Harvin and Cooper.

Idk if I would have said Hernandez was a top 5 TE but he was definitely Urban's best offensive pro. That being said I'm definitely not forgetting to mention Hernandez's life situation and Cooper's incident if I'm negative recruiting against Urban. It's pretty clear that he develops below average pros (in his O system) and people.

All of this bickering about the quality of Urban's guys is a little moot however, since Avant is our only offensive skill player that's spent more than a cup of coffee in the league in a long time. Perry, Hart didn't last. Braylon had a pro bowl year and a disappointing rest of career (sucks being NYJ or CLE). Everyone will remember Manninghams super bowl catch but they'll forget his career as a whole. We put lineman and D players in the league but we can't exactly tout our skill guys either. Not in a while at least.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

DrMantisToboggan

July 12th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^

Draft stock is nice but Jason Avant has had a better career than any Urban or OSU offensive skill player in the last 15 years and I don't think anyone would say he's the best skill player we've put out. OSU/Urban recruits to a system. The kids go pro and have dud careers. We recruit players and (w/exception of last 5 years) put quality NFLers in the league



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

mgokev

July 12th, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^

Jenkins has been more productive than Avant over a similar tenure (9 years or so?). I don't necessarily disagree with the point you're making, just that there have been successful OSU skill players and Avant isn't exactly the gold standard for WRs. UM hasn't been great at keeping skill players in the league either. The RBs especially come to mind.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 06/17/2009

MGoPoints: 18955

DrMantisToboggan

July 12th, 2015 at 3:55 PM ^

Pats fan. I saw Hernandez like I did Welker and currently do Edelman. In New England he's a weapon. He's working with the greatest QB to ever play, an after thought behind the best TE of this new generation (post Gonzalez and Gates, even though AG still plays his prime is past), working within McDaniels system. I don't think Hernandez would have had half the success elsewhere, just like Welker was barely known before Brady and his success wasn't even fully replicated by Manning. So I think the idea we all had of Hernandez actual skills was inflated by the system he was in.

That being said, yes, he was Urban's best pro player on offense. I actually liken his game and usage to Naseir Upshur, should we get him. A TE on the short side but loves to block and still has plenty of athleticism. He will pin a lot of ends and then sneak past you just when you think he's only out there to block.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

DrMantisToboggan

July 12th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^

He's visited Michigan twice in June. His dad is an alum, even though DPJ says his dad doesn't push Michigan. I think it's 50/50 us against the field right now, but those odds will tip in our favor if we perform well. He's the game breaker we need at WR and the staff has let him know that he is our top priority in 2017



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183