Initial Rivals 100 for 2014

Submitted by Bo Knows on

Interesting that they already have 5 new 5 stars and dropped a kid's 5th star from their  ten early 5 stars list.  Players of note:

Malik McDowell #21

Damon Webb #32

Montae Nicholson #47

Alex Bars #55

Drake Harris #56

David Cornwell #63 (although he now seem unlikely)

Michael Ferns #84

Artavis Scott #93

At least these are the kids who have shown the most Michigan interest early, other than Webb and Cornwell.  Webb is included because he is an Ohio guy, Cornwell because there was buzz on him recently.

1464

February 11th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^

I've heard on these boards that Hand is also both a solid Michigan lock, and that there is no way in hell he comes here.  Any clarification on that?

ChuckWood

February 11th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^

I am more optimistic about him than a lot of other top guys in recent years.  Way more optimistic than I was for Derrick Green.  Just the combination of good kid, engineering, loving the coaching staff, and wanting to go to an acedmic monster.  Plus he's the #1 recruit in the nation and VT has no business getting one of those...

Mr. Rager

February 11th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^

I like your optimism.  Now it's time to crush it:

- Ole Miss (probably) paid for RN and his brother goes there (they have been paying that family for a while...??).

- DGB was from Missouri.

- Clowney was from South Carolina.

I am still one of the optimists with regards to Hand, but your argument = weak sauce, bro.  

turtleboy

February 11th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^

Ole Miss also had 2 top recruiting coaches in Hugh Freeze and Chris Kiffin (Lane's brother) and they had some of Nkemdiches teammates and are getting his brother through Juco. Money wouldn't surprise me at all, but if it was shelled out it wasn't the only incentive.

I Like Burgers

February 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

DGB is from Missouri, Clowney is from South Carolina, and Hand is from...Virginia.  Solid logic on why he would never wind up at Va. Tech.

I hope you're not a lawyer.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.  My client is totally innocent of murder because he totally shot that guy.  I rest my case."

RakeFight

February 11th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^

How about "the kids who have shown the most interest in Michigan early on" instead of "kids most likely to end of at Michigan."

I hate wording that tempts fate.

artds

February 11th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^

I've still yet to see any particularly impressive film on Malik McDowell, in games, camps, or otherwise. Go watch his film, then watch Taco's, and tell me he isn't way behind where Taco was at the same point in his development.

DGDestroys

February 11th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

The only time I heard of him was when Tremendous ran their introductory piece on him. Nothing since. 

They have a highlight video up on youtube from December- he doesn't really look too athletic for a dude that's supposedly 245. I wouldnt' really expect Michigan to offer, at least not based on what I've seen. 

Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 1:29 PM ^

His parents won't even let him open his recruiting mail until the end of his junior year, so that may explain why no transfer has occurred.  Of course, there's still time to transfer, but they seem to be the type of people who might not want to move their kid just to play football.  It would be a little contradictory if they didn't let him open his mail but then they had him switch schools entirely just to get more exposure.

StraightDave

February 11th, 2013 at 6:23 PM ^

he plays D-7 football in Michigan and outweights his opponents by about 100 lbs.  In fact, the 160lb linemen from Ispheming did a fantastic job against McDowell in the state title game.

Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^

I'm not even sure what you're talking about.  At this point last year, Taco Charlton was a speed rusher who couldn't do anything against the run and wasn't even a full-time player for Pickerington Central on defense.  If he didn't beat you with his speed rush, then he didn't beat you, period.

How could anyone be "way behind" where Taco was at that time?  The only way that would be possible is if McDowell were tiny or slow, and he's neither.

DGDestroys

February 11th, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^

Michigan is supposedly in the top 5 for Jabrill Peppers, and the top 10 for Quin Blanding and Andrew Brown. They are #2, 4, and 6 respectively. 

5*s Adoree Jackson, Lorenzo Carter, and Elijah Hood have all received offers and showed interest towards Michigan recently, as well. 

Not that I think we'll land any of them, but yeah. 

rmic2

February 11th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^

Michigan is really the only school he has visitied. I know UM is high on his list and I think he wanted to see PSU. He just got an offer from FSU this month.

htm11

February 11th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^

12) Elijah Hood (RB/ATH)

41) Marshon Lattimore (WR/ATH) - Longshot

47) Montae Nicholson (S)

49) Tyler Luatua (TE)

70) Nyles Morgan (LB)

82) Joe Mixon (RB)

 

Magnus

February 11th, 2013 at 1:50 PM ^

I have no clue why Michigan hasn't pursued Clifton Garrett.  Maybe it's because Ferns is already committed and the two play positions that might overlap, but Garrett is in the Big Ten footprint, is huge, can run, and hits like a Mack truck.  It can't be his talent that's keeping Michigan from offering, so there must be some other reason...

Also, both Cornwell and Caleb Henderson are on this top 100 list, but no Speight.  I like the attitude of Speight, but I'm going to be very interested to see how these 2014 quarterbacks pan out.  Michigan had a chance with both of the guys on the list, and they passed.  I guess we'll find out in four or five years.

RakeFight

February 11th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

The only thing that worries me about Speight's lack of ranking visibility is it's impact on him as a recruiter.  I think Morris doesn't get enough credit for helping recruit the 2013 class.  Speight is in a similar position, but I kind of cringe when I imagine a potential recruit looking him up after getting a tweet from him and finding that he's a 3-star not even in the top 500 nationally (247), or not even rated (Rivals).  Hopefully that will change soon.