Finding a positive for our expected small 2011 recruiting class
I haven't seen any real discussion of this, but to the extent that we only sign 15 or 16 kids in this class, this might yield a potential benefit down the road. If Michigan has 21 open spots, and only used 16, we should be able to "bank" these and use them in next year's class. The benefit lies in the fact that next year's in-state class is expected to be one of the strongest in recent years, according to Josh Helmholdt (TheWolverine.com recruiting analyst).
Hoke (and even DB) has said that he will make in-state recruiting a focus, and between Hoke and Mattison, we should have success in midwest recruiting. To the extent that we have extra spots that we can use in next year's class, this will allow us to tap into a larger portion of that class, which both stock's our team and, more importantly, keeps quality kids out of the hands of MSU, OSU and ND.
Yes, today is glass half full day for me.
January 19th, 2011 at 8:49 AM ^
I believe this has been mentioned in some other posts, but I haven't seen it widely discussed either. I personally do not know much about being able to "bank" like this, but I have only been really following recruiting this season. I think it would be beneficial if we able to do this. Wormley as well as RJS and others are musts for the next class. If we can pickup a few more good recruits and be able to hang on to 2-3 spots for next year, I am for it. But like I said, I don't really know how that works.
January 19th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
If we were in the SEC we could just "borrow" as many as we want.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^
There is no "banking" of scolarships per se. We can have a total of 85 scholarship players, but if we do not use all that are available then the unused ones will go to worthy walk ons but just for next season. So your point is still valid because if we take only 16 in this class we would have 5 or 6 more to use next year (class of 2012). By my very early count we will have 15 spots for 2012, even if we sign a full class this year. Add in normal attrition (plus transition attrition) and it will likely get to 20 which is plenty big enough to absorb the hyped Ohio and Michigan talent pool for next year. I for one have not given up on this class and with the addition of Mattison I think many will be surprised at how well we recover in the next two weeks. We need DB's and DT's (plus a QB & TE) NOW, and cannot wait until 2012. I am not advocating that we scrape the bottom of the barrel, because there are numerous talented unsigned players available who might want to play for the guy who just finished coaching Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The glass is more than half full and just might overflow by Feb. 2. Next year will take care of itself.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^
I am with you about the remaining unsigned guys. I have optimism now that with the big name hire of Mattison that we are able to pick up some guys that will really help out this class.
January 19th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
Bird in hand? How about it's not the size that counts but how you use it.
January 19th, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^
Can you post a link to Helmholdt's article on next year's class? The link you provided is just to the main page and it's hard to search a website from iphone. Thx.
January 19th, 2011 at 8:55 AM ^
I didn't post a link to the article. I actually read his quotes in a Freep article - I know, I hate them too, but in these crazy times, I am a content junkie. Here is the link to the article (print)in which he is quoted:
January 19th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^
January 19th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
Screw magic, we need some good, old fashioned snake oil.
And I agree that these guys are all in play. But, even with everything breaking right for us over the next 2 weeks, it will be hard to go from 10 to 21 if we are not sacrificing quality. I can't imagine that we will get above 16 or 17. If we do, then this would make me happy.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:18 AM ^
January 19th, 2011 at 9:10 AM ^
Here's to a "Glass Half Full" (of scotch) kind of day!
January 19th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
make a push for a few top 100 recruits on defense that haven't been signed. just say two things Ray Lewis.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^
What about Ed Reed? Or Terrell Suggs? Or Haloti Ngati (sp?)? Or top 10 NFL defenses the last two years?
January 19th, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^
Plus it's less laundry for Falk and his crew to do each week!
January 19th, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^
Does the B10 limit you at 25 schollie offers per year?
So if we were going to take 20 in this class, but only get 15, we should be able to take 5 more in the next class, as long as the next classes' number wasn't projected to be above 20.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
Not really, I just had the urge to write that.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
January 19th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
The positive will be that we had 16 or so kids stick with Michigan for Michigan even with the coaching change and they will be a benefit to our program.
January 19th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^
Anothe positive: if all the recruits, no matter how many we sign, stay for four years and contribute. Wouldn't that be sweet?
January 19th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^
maybe we can give the really good players 2 scholarships next year
January 19th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
I think you could take some chances on some Michigan kids and go after Niznek or Lints or some of the other low 3* kids to get to 18 - 20.
I don't see any benefit to staying at 14 or 15 on the if come maybe that there are more kids next year. Take who you can get to fill the class and then next year only go after and take the elite 4 and 5*
January 19th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
You have to be honest with yourself: if a kid is below the level that normally succeeds at Michigan, taking him just to “fill out the class” is just self-defeating, as it is one less scholarship that will be available next year, when Hoke will have had the advantage of a full year of recruiting.
We all realize that occasionally these low-level 3* kids turn into NFL draft picks, but the odds are against it. Don’t throw scholarships away just because you have them.
January 19th, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
Alex Niznek from Ithaca? Hes already enrolled @ CMU therefore subject to transfer rules.
January 19th, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
I have also heard that there will be a bumper crop of Ohio high school recruits next year. This will be interesting since tOSU will probably have fewer scholarships to offer. This gives us a chance to make inroads into that state down south.
January 19th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
Magnus has said "no one wants to play" for Michigan.
It's going to be difficult to get any more recruits.