Dorian Thompson-Robinson to UCLA

Submitted by Magnus on
The headline says it all. On to our other options.
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Bigku22

April 23rd, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^

Yea, if Mora gets axed (strong possibility, UCLA has a brutal schedule likely 5-6 win year) this could open back up. 

Like others have said, the guys we have recruited the last 2 cycles I'm sure are a major factor in this decision, but it's a tough miss regardless he's going to be really good. 

Once he gets a chance to start this year at Gorman, could move up into the rankings top 5-10 players overall in this class. 

Joined: 05/23/2013

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Whole Milk

April 24th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^

I don't think this gets opened back up. Quarterback is one of those positions where you want it wrapped up early. We will likely have Milton or Shough or both in the class by then, and I doubt we drop either of them if DTR wanted to jump on board. Tough loss, and good luck to the kid, but it's now time to move on and let this ship sail.

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Maynard

April 24th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^

This will not open back up. He was going with Jedd and most everyone knew that. Why come here and possibly never see the field for three years when he can go take over for Rosen once he heads to the NFL? It was the obvious choice. We will still get someone decent. And hopefully a tad over 6 foot. DTR is listed at 6 foot 1 but he seemed a bit shorter to me than that.

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LKLIII

April 24th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^

I've always wondered how high performing programs can convince blue chip QB recruits to come into an already stacked depth chart.

It's one thing to be a blue chip prospect on the OL or DL or some other rotational position like LB.  All you need to do is be good enough to crack the top 3-4-5 of the lineup and you'll get your snaps & NFL scouts will see you.

But QB?  It seems to me that most programs woud start to have problems once they have 2 blue chips on the roster about 2 years apart (RS JR & a RS Frosh for example).  I can see a QB willing to sit for 2 or even 3 years.  But I'd think they'd want a clear shot of starting at least 2 years assuming everything pans out. 

Getting one superstar QB per year would set up a situaiton where if you're a top flight recruit the best you'd likely hope for is backup role for 3-4 years then finally starting your senior season.  And that assumes no hotshot comes in behind you & surpasses you.  Of course, a younger QB could get "lucky" and the dude ahead of him could flame out or get injured, but I don't think quality teammates are honestly hoping for injuries against thier fellow teammates just so they can get PT.

Anyway.  It seems to me a viable strategy is to recruit the occasional pocket blue chip QB every other year, then sprinkle in some more versitile athletes who can also play QB.  That way you have some different looks you can throw out and/or shift the QB over to slot/TE/H-Back/Saftey if needed.

 

 

 

 

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Larry Appleton

April 24th, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^

The coach of a top-flight program would want recruits who feel up to the challenge of taking on established veterans, no doubt.

 

That said, an alternate strategy could be to take one or two polished blue-chippers, and then take a swing at a high-upside project.  I see Joe Milton as such a project.  He's got the size and the arm of a stud, but he doesn't even complete half of his passes in high school.  He's hardly a safe choice, but Harbaugh knows he has Peters and McCaffrey in the system who can lead the team while the coaches try to turn a guy like Milton into a monster. 

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LKLIII

April 24th, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^

Yeah, I like that strategy too.  It follows the similar theory--use your QB depth slots to salt in some variety.  You get to stack your QB room without immediately setting off alarm bells to top flight recruits.

Either do sure fire blue chip guys & then shifty "athetes" that can throw, or alternatively your idea where you add in some high upside/risky guys to space out the stud recruits.

I know coaches say they want kids who want competition (who doesn't want a confident swagering QB recruit).  Of course these coaches want that--they want an embarassment of riches.  No skin off their back if Johnny 4.5 star rides pine for 4 or 5 years as Jimmy 5 star starts.

I think where some of the falseness comes in is from the recruits.  They all KNOW a coach wants "a kid who wants to compete".  So most of them parrot that line back to the coaches & recruiting services knowing that's what everybody wants to hear.  Maybe it's legitimately true for a certain percentage of kids.  After all, most of these kids were the best athletes their respective high schools have seen in a decade--of COURSE they'll win the QB battle on campus, right?

But I've gotta think--even if they won't admit it--that for certain kids, they look at that depth chart as a factor.  Otherwise you wouldn't hear the occasional story about how a kid is recruited by a coach who stresses early playing time.

Maybe things have changed w/ the whole early graduation-grad transfer trend that we see.  A kid can take a shot at USC or Michigan or Alabama and worst case they ride pine while getting world class coaching & then transfer to Utah or Purdue/Western Michigan or Missippi State.

But I'm just still amazed when coaches/programs can convince a top flight guy to come in & likley ride the bench until their junior or senior year.  

I guess it's a high class problem to have though.  Far better to struggle convincing the 3rd or 4th blue chip QB to join your roster than it it is to convince a blue chip QB recruit to take a gamble and turn around your flailing 3-9 program.

 

 

 

 

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Michiganfootball13

April 23rd, 2017 at 10:15 PM ^

I may be mistaken but isn't this year going to be his first year as a starting qb at his HS or am I thinking of another kid?

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VicTorious1

April 23rd, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^

“I’m not scared of competition -- I battled with Tate for a few years -- but seeing the depth chart at UCLA and the coaches only taking one in this 2018 class, after Josh leaves, it’s an open quarterback battle with no experience,” Thompson-Robinson said. “That’s a factor right there, too.” Good luck to the young man. Michigan will no doubt be fine.

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