August 22nd, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
i believe that we're recruiting KLS as a WDE, as at least in the over, the SAM/OLB position is for a person much smaller than KLS. even in the under, he still might be a little big for SAM. McMillion to Bama surprised no one.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
So would this effect M's recruitment of him? Does he want to be a pass rushing OLB in college and thus make it less likely to choose M if they only want him at DE? Maybe nobody knows, but I'm curious if the recruiting sites are putting him at OLB on their own choice or is KLS saying this is what he wants to be in college?
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
reason. It might be because of current size but most expect him to grow into DE.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
Scout has him as an OLB as well
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^
I haven't heard of other schools pursuing him as an OLB.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^
I believe UCLA wants him as an OLB because they run a 3-4.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
3-4. That makes sense.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
Interesting. I wonder if his choice will boil down to what position he wants to play, instead of what school. UCLA saying "you're our next Anthony Barr" has to be pretty enticing for a recruit.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
I think it's just Rivals being Rivals. Recruiting sites do some wacky things sometimes, including listing just about any decent offensive lineman as an "offensive tackle."
One thing that I think can generally be considered a rule is that if a guy is a tweener in regards to size, then he will usually become whichever of the two positions is bigger. Kids don't usually go to college and lose weight or even remain at the same weight.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
I am optimistic, however, that Roeboro could remain at defensive end and won't be forced inside.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Hopefully! Although I kind of want him to be able to play at 300+. Boy just eats double teams right up.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
What about Mone? He was considered a DE/DT tweener at one point, and now he's a DT. So the "rule" still works in his case.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
I generally agree with your theory which is why I have a difficult time believing Wheatley will be a TE in college. He is already in the 260s.
And if Roseboro (apparently in the 280s) puts on another 10 or so lbs it is difficult to see him as a DE. I guess he could be a Wormley type who is a bit of a hybrid at a similar weight but we do seem to lack true DEs in the pipeline. Assuming the normal theory that not all recruits will work out its just Poggi, Charlton and Marshall as the underclassmen DEs - and going by probability one will wash out. Even if they don't we return only 4 DEs next year (these 3 and Mario O). We seem to be stacked at young DTs but needing to refresh the pipeline at DEs - my worry with Roseboro is your theory; just being on college campus and in a CFB program he is going to be closer to 300 in 2 years than 280.
Also do you know if Wheatley's ranking is for DE or TE. He seems to be more well thought of as a TE than a DE but that's from my cursory glances. He seems the perfect size to add 10-15 lbs of muscle and be a DE but I don't know if that is his better skill set.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
Wheatley is listed as a DE on Rivals and a TE on 247/ESPN. I don't know about Scout. I agree that he seems to be outgrowing the TE position. I have even read that some people see him as an offensive tackle long-term, perhaps like a Jason Peters type of situation.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
I meant he's unlikely to gain weight in college, and is more likely to lose it. That's just the obvious result of coming in at 320 or whatever he was.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
Gotcha. He has already lost some weight, I think, as have people like Logan Tuley-Tillman and Ondre Pipkins. IIRC, Mone was up around 330 or 340 at one point.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
Just checked out his recruiting post again, it said he was up to 340 with a goal of getting down to 315 during spring ball...which he got to! He might be the freshman I'm most excited about.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
But expected and not a shocker by any stretch of the imagination. Would have been nice to get a kid from the south, but Tennessee admittedly does not generally produce high level talent. We'll move on and hopefully land Bilal or Masina.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
Good luck to him at Bama. I like the options left on Michigan's board.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
Best of luck. Except when we play you January 11th, 2016!!!
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
McMillon says that he's still planning an official visit to Michigan this fall. This might not be over if (1) McMillon visits and loves it and/or (2) Saban finds himself a prettier girl to take the ball.
Still, it's most likely over, so good luck to the kid.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
a place thing going on this year. I doubt he leaves Alabama and hopefully we will fill up soon so it's not an issue.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
... in a Bizarro world where words no longer have meaning. I don't understand the concept of committing, but then taking other visits. I understand it's a function of dysfuntional system, but it just is bizarre.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
I agree. In fact, I'd probably have committed relatively soon after getting an offer from one of my favorite schools - to make sure that I had a spot - and then I'd have gone on those visits. And my visits probably would have been to places where (1) it's expensive to get, (2) the games were good, and (3) I'd have the most fun (i.e., girls). Not in that order.
I definitely can't criticize recruits for this "committed but looking" approach. I think a policy like Hoke's makes a lot of sense in this context.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
You know how words can have different meanings in different contexts? This is one of those situations. "Committed" to you wife means you don't do anything romatic with another woman. But in the context of recruiting, committed means that's the school you've currently chosen. It doesn't have to be bizarro world, it's just a different context. We're all smart enough to handle that.
I can be committed to my job, and still listen when a recruiter calls. I can be committed to my kids and still coach a little league team with other kids on it. Different contexts, different meanings.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
Good luck to the young man. I hope Nick Saban teaches him everything he needs to know to be a champion in life.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^
I was so pissed off and disappointed by Anchorman 2 the first time I saw it. Two hours of people trying way too hard to capture the magic of the original. I only really laughed twice (the bus roll and John C. as Ghost of Stonewall Jackson sucking out souls).
With that said, I somehow didn't like Other Guys or Step Brothers (!) the first time I saw them, and now I consider them two of my favorite comedies.
AM2 was just so painful though, particularly Steve Carell...
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Knowing nothing else, but after hearing the state of ND's depth at linebacker, I personally would be surprised if we could pull Bilal in.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
He's a heavy favorite on 247 to come to Michigan There was a swing after the Notre Dame academic issues came out. Webb said that the Scout sources who have talked to him feel he is still leaning to Notre Dame and the academic issues didn't affect anything.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
The mad scramble of crystal ball choices/flips to UM for Bilal started with Steve Wiltfong. He's generally "in the know" with a lot of Midwest kids, but he isn't always right. I bet the majority of the picks for UM for Bilal have to do with Wiltfong making his for UM. Here's to hoping Wiltfong's right!
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
The coaching staff has turned down visits before if they're no longer interested in recruiting players. It happened to Tommy Schutt, Montae Nicholson, etc.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
We have some very good wide receivers. I trust the coaches are making the best decisions regardless. They know the team and the players.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
But you're assuming you know more than the coaches do about our roster and about Nicholson. They stopped recruiting him for a reason, and it's not because they wanted MSU to have another quality prospect.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
He's just saying coaches have volumes of more information than a fan does, not that they can't make mistakes.
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
implies something about character or grades? Hmmmnn. Inferred on your end, maybe.
What WolvinLA seemed to be suggesting (can't speak for him, so maybe a moot point) is that coaches are making decisions about all types of things -- current roster, recruits, game plans, staff hires, schemes, play calls, the direction they want the program to go, what have you -- and in most cases they are armed with much more information than we (as fans) will ever have. Doesn't mean their decisons will pan out or are above criticism. It's just that we don't have the benefit of knowing the full details and context in which they were made.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Yeah, there seems to be more of these recruits now that openly state they will be taking offical visits even after commiting to a school. It seems like that puts the coaches and staff at the non-commited school in a weird position. One one hand you may always have a chance at impressing and getting a flip but on the other hand you kind of know that maybe the recruit is just looking for a free vacation. How do you handle it if your a busy coach? Do you take the time and lay out the red carpet, so to speak, as you normally would? That could be hours and hours wasted, especially if during the season or you know all you will probably get is "Thanks for the good visit coach, welp, see ya."
August 22nd, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
Well, that's disappointing, even if it was expected. As far as the other two, I'd heard (and it was again mentioned on this thread) that Bilal was a ND lean, and that Masina would be tough to pry out of the west. However, I haven't heard anything about Masina recently. Any updates?
August 22nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
Masina will still be tough to pull out of the west, but Utah (which used to be thought of as the leader because his brother is there) is no longer in the running.
August 22nd, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
If Bilal goes ND and Masina doesnt come here who is left at OLB that we have a chance with? I assume KLS stays out west and even if he comes here he is a DE. Might be a case where we go get a lower rated recruit late to fill a positional need.
August 22nd, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^