Jumbo Elliott, Jamie Morris & Past East Coast Recruiting
I've seen both sides of the 'crootin' debate pop up recently. While I fully agree that Michigan needs to keep pursuing and signing the best kids from in-state and general B10 footprint, it truly doesn't hurt to go near, far, or anywhere to discover under appreciated talent. Of course, talent development is a separate issue...!
Excerpts from Detroit News article on Jumbo Elliott making College Football Hall of Fame this past March:
"Elliott, the former Michigan offensive lineman, and Morris, the former Wolverines running back, have a deep bond. They’re both East Coast guys, Morris from Massachusetts and Elliott from Long Island, and they’re forever connected from their playing days in Ann Arbor."
"Elliott is a native of Lake Ronkonkoma in Long Island and played for Fred Fusaro at Sachem High.
“I’m a kid who really was a fan of college football,” he said. “I wasn’t near a five-star recruit. My high school coach was very nervous about me going to such a big-time school, but the tradition and the feel when I took my official visit to Michigan, it was just so different. And that’s no slam on the other programs I was visiting, Maryland and North Carolina, and Syracuse — I was being recruited by a lot of those eastern schools."
December 26th, 2020 at 1:49 PM ^
Jumbo Elliott, besides being one of the best ever Michigan Wolverines from the East Coast, is a fine member of our MGoBoard and one of my favorite twitter follows.
December 26th, 2020 at 2:10 PM ^
Ok. What’s his mgo handle?
December 26th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
Jumbo Elliott
December 26th, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
and big ed muransky brought jumbo to a party at our house on jumbo's recruiting visit. sealed the deal? i'd like to think so.
December 26th, 2020 at 3:42 PM ^
I remember hearing that Skrepenak (spelling?) broke some of Jumbo's furniture just by sitting on it. Not sure if true .....
December 26th, 2020 at 5:37 PM ^
I was a few years later but one of my good friends dated the center at the time so I spent some time with several of the lineman. My takeaway was how much o lineman could drink in one setting. A case in one night was no problem. They were very down to earth and fun to hang out with.
December 26th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
Best east coast recruit ever?
December 26th, 2020 at 2:50 PM ^
Holding?
December 26th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
Not if it wasn't called!
/s
December 26th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^
What is the point of this post?
December 26th, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
I think that if we recruit so many players from the East Coast that eventually one might be good enough as Jumbo Elliott or Jamie Morris I guess.
December 26th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
Thanks, that explains it.
December 26th, 2020 at 2:57 PM ^
Let's not forget Butch Woolfolk...out of NJ just before these guys
December 26th, 2020 at 4:13 PM ^
Woolfolk went to my high school. (He is the reason I first became a Michigan fan). Reynaldo Nehemiah lived in the town next door and was in HS at the same time. Apparently they had some incredible races.
I went back to look it up and came across a story about one of the dual meets between the two schools. Interestingly neither of them won the 100 yard dash that day.
Woolfolk one the 440, the high jump and came in second in the long jump. Nehemiah edged Woolfolk in the 220 as well as winning the long jump and both hurdle events.
December 26th, 2020 at 11:41 PM ^
Maybe someone should have called Butch "Harold" before his 220-yd dash that track meet to get him more fired up.
December 26th, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
What is the point of this post? To suggest that the staff should recruit the entire country, while still prioritizing on MI and the Midwest recruiting? Well duh. Did we really need a posts to say that? I don't mean any disrespect, but I'm sick of all these post drawing at straws to suggest what UM needs to do that will magically get us back to the promised land. Just let it be guys. I'm all for discussing news on the blog, but all these mental practices in what if and what should be is silly.
There is nothing we can do as fans to change anything. Be a fan if you wish, but stop obsessing over what UM needs to do with whatever category you deem necessary, be it coaching, recruiting, etc. Wish for better, sure. But, accept what we are and let the coaches and the administration do their job. You're not getting paid to fix UM football and your efforts will do nothing but spend the hours of the day. Maybe it will make you feel better, but it won't change anything. You'd be better served by exercising, spending time with friends or family, meditating, or any other number of tools to improve your mental health.
December 27th, 2020 at 1:08 PM ^
You'd be better served by exercising, spending time with friends or family, meditating, or any other number of tools to improve your mental health.
Pretty much the case with any internet activity
December 26th, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^
I live on Long Island and was about to say there is no lake and it's just Ronkonkoma....but am wrong. There is a lake Ronkonkoma and am currently five miles from it. Silly me.
December 26th, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
Loved watching JE play. Miss the days of having big, bruising OTs that nobody moved. UM needs to recruit wherever the talent may lay. Yes, demographic shifts have moved talent to the south, but talent also lies in traditional areas ie east coast, OH, MI, etc. UM needs to recruit everywhere and get the guys that fit the system. I get the whole speed angle, but what have we gained from going after the smaller, speed players for so many years? Squat. So its either the coaches or the system that can’t take advantage of the supposed ‘speed’ we recruit.
December 27th, 2020 at 12:44 AM ^
Yes, there are, once in awhile, great players from the East Coast. That Jumbo Elliot, who played at Michigan over 3 decades ago, is the one you thought of should say, along with Syracuse and Boston College being mediocre to bad, that maybe we shouldn't be focusing so much there.