LB depth and Willingham*
I've been worried Willingham soured on us due to the large number of LBs we've signed already this year (4). But looking at our competition's recruiting class, UCF already has 6 (!) LBs signed up. I don't know what the rest of their LB depth looks like, but I can't believe we could lose out on a guy to UCF when they're already so stocked with LB recruits in this class.
Also, Willingham has 15 pounds on all of our other LB recruits. Seems like he could be ready to play a lot sooner, hope he goes blue at this 10 a.m. annoucement.
*Edit: F
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:26 AM ^
Is that Eastern or Mountain?
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:28 AM ^
Eastern
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
Rivals is reporting that it is 10 am Eastern time.
Rivals is also reporting that Leilon's parents are refusing to sign his LOI to UCF and that Michigan could be the compromise school between UCF and Colorado.
http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1184842
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:36 AM ^
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:30 AM ^
Well:
The Denver Post is reporting four-star linebacker Leilon Willingham is signing with UCF. #osfb
Hopefully this is a "jump the gun" report a la Barnett yesterday. We'll see when it's official at 10AM EST (yes, it's EST).
EDIT: Rivals is now reporting it. Eff.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^
over on rivals, the word is that
1. he was a silent commit to us,
2. then had a great time at ucf and verballed,
3. then scout reported that he signed the loi yesterday,
4. then his parents refused to sign the loi to ucf, speculating they want him to stay home at colorado,
5. then scout removed the designation,
6. and rivals is speculating that michigan may be the compromise.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:30 AM ^
We need him. He could make an immediate impact.
Will him to come here!
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
Willingham picked UCF per tweet from Denver Post prep sports editor Ryan Casey (announcement was at 7am Mountain time--9am Eastern):
Leilon Willingham to Central Florida. #dpprepsNote that Casey is reporting this from Mullen.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
telling
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
That's just unreal. Never underestimate the power of having high school friends that are more decisive than you.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
Never underestimate the power of the Nike swoosh and how stupid we all are at 17 years old.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^
You say this often enough that I'm starting to wonder if you're actually serious.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
Honestly I'm not worried at all. If you look at his measurables he's not exactly a big kid. This defense could use some size and depth (particularly up front with the front four). Willingham doesn't provide any of that. A much more important recruit was Barnett who allow us the luxury of shifting Frank Clark over to LB if the coaches deem it necessary. In finall analysis the Willingham announcement "ain't no thing" one way or the other...
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
Would you be saying this same thing had he chose UM?
February 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
Yes I would
February 3rd, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
Clark will be a LB now that Barnett is in the fold, so with "Bigs" Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone good prospects for next year I think four linebackers in this class is just enough. Also I feel that Kellen Jones is more likely to contribute next year than Willingham would have.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
I hate to say it but even I might be persuaded by UCF is I was visiting CU with 10+ inches of snow and Ann Arbor with 10+ inches of snow.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
I Hoke we don't lose a recruit to UCF. (it's kind of embarassing)
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
What's up with the media not letting kids announce their school. What happened to 10 Am? It would have been a solid pick up to break the top 20 on rivals and maybe top 25 on scout
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
He announced at his school this morning, per the Orlando Sentinel:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-recruiting-lei…
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
Just sign the LOI and send it to whomever you want to play for Leilon. Get it over with !!!! Yesterday was enough for me !
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
US News National University Rankings*:
U of M: #29
UCF: #179
(OSU and MSU #56 and #79 respectively)
*I understand all the caveats on the rankings.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
George O'Leary must have really be pushing a move to the BigEast to recruits this year. seriously though....if Stanford played at Bright House Networks Stadium, they would sell out every game. He is going to wish it was a little cooler come 2-a-days in August!!
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
...has made his choice, the book is closed on 2011 recruiting.
On to DB/DL asst coach hires, spurious reports about winter conditioning, spring practice/game hype, 2012 recruiting, and...
MBB, hockey, WBB, other winter sports (wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, LAX, etc.) deserve some pixels as well.
February 3rd, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
OLB John Willingham from UM (1985-1987). I was wrong.
February 3rd, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
Well more room for RJS and Ross.
February 3rd, 2011 at 11:37 AM ^
If he doesn't want to be here, fine. We can bank the scholarship for next year when there are some excellent LB's in this part of the country who already have an interest in Michigan. In the meantime, I think the 4 guys we got are a great group who will really help us in a year or two.
February 3rd, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
We won't miss Willingham. He'd have been a good one, don't me wrong ,but we are set at LB
WLB - Gordon,M.Jones,Furman,A.Poole,Hawthorne
MLB Demmens Bell Morgan
SLB Fitzgerald Bell K.Jones Clark
That's 12 LBs with only one of them graduating next year. We'll most likely add one of the local guys if not 2 next year as well. I'm not worried about the size issue as far as Willingham either. Guys like Mouton and Bell came in as 205 lb safeties as well and were quickly up to 245 or so. It's not going to be hard to put weight on guys like Jones and Clark especially.