A Look at our WR recruiting recent history

Submitted by Bones032 on

I watch a ton of college football every week, as most of us here do. One thing I always notice and am envious of, is big time WRs, that seem to take a team's offense to a different level. We just have not had a player like that in the longest time. We have had good WR play, but not an elite difference maker at WR. So I get excited about DPJ possibly committing to us, and try to think of the last time we had a WR recruit that good. So I looked back at the 247 composite of our WR recruits. 

Name, Overall Composite, Position Ranking

2016

Kekoa Crawford – 120, 19

Brad Hawkins – 294, 55

Eddie McDoom – 406, 65

Nate Johnson – 590, 95

2015

Grant Perry – 868, 109

2014

Drake Harris – 67, 7

Freddy Canteen – 298, 41

Moe Ways – 495, 68

2013

Jaron Dukes – 338, 47

Csonte York – 564, 75

Damarion Jones – 776, 99

2012

Amara Darboh – 222, 29

Jehu Chesson – 639, 74

2011

No WRs

2010

Jerald Robinson – 314, 43

Jeremy Jackson – 833, 107

Dj Williamson – NR, 158

2009

Jeron Stokes – 90, 10

Jeremy Gallon – 326, Ath

2008

Darryl Stonum – 48, 10

Terence Robinson – 204, 31

Martavious Odom – 301, 45

Roy Roundtree – 411, 60

2007

Toney Clemons – 96, 12

Junior Hemingway – 120, 17

Martell Webb – 237, 32

Zion Babb – 279, 40

James Rogers – 412, Ath

2006

Greg Matthews – 218, 29

2005

Mario Manningham – 50, 6

Antonio Bass – 56, 8

LaTerryal Savoy – 218, 22

2004

Doug Dutch – 71, 10

Adrian Arrington – 94, 14

Keston Cheathem – 401, 50

2003

No WRs

I did not feel like looking past 2003.

So in the last 8 recruiting cycles, we have not had a single WR in the top 65 composite.

In the last 13 years, we have only had 1 inside the top 50(Darryl Stonum, 48).

No WR commits near 5 star in atleast the last 13 years, really does say somehting about our passing game. Cannot wait to see the difference it could make having a player like DPJ at Michigan.

 

stephenrjking

December 4th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^

Offense wasn't really our problem against OSU, and Bass would not have miraculously given Mike Debord the guts to actually play aggressively when run-run-pass didn't work against USC or (inevitably) Florida.

I think he would've made a huge difference in 2008, though. Could've transformed RR's career. For better or for worse.

I Like Burgers

December 4th, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^

For running backs, I'd saying anything over 1k yards was a pretty good back, and anything over 1300 yards was approaching elite.  In the Big Ten this year there were 7 RBs with over 1k yards, and three over 1300.  Mike Hart was the last Michigan RB to rush for over 1300 yards in 2007.  We've had one RB go over 1000 yards since then (Toussaint in 2011).

One.  That's abysmal for a program like Michigan.

For WRs, its a little harder but something like 1000 yards and 10 TD is probably a fairly safe elite benchmark.  Manningham did that in 2007, Gallon had 1373 and 9 TDs in 2013, and that's been it.

jmblue

December 4th, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^

I don't follow this argument.  Smith averaged 4.9 YPC, Evans averaged 7.1, Higdon 6.2 and Isaac 5.6.  Do you really think none of these guys could have reached 1,000 yards given more carries?

 

 

Gulogulo37

December 4th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^

Yeah, it's not like Hoke had a bunch of mashers up front but just couldn't recruit WRs. This is why I'm trying not to be down about this year. I know we had a ton of experience, but the players we're going to have in the future with this coaching staff? Damn. I'm feeling pretty optimistic this team will be a top 10 team next year (in S&P at least). And then 2018 and 19 we're going to destroy people.

G. Gulo of the Dale

December 4th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^

... unless I'm mistaken, the only top-100 offensive recruits from the Hoke era--besides a handful of O-linemen, none of whom have really equalled or excelled their recruting profile--have been Shane Morris, Derrick Green, and Drake Harris (and maybe Brian Cole, if you want to include him as an "athlete," though he was in the class that Harbaugh inherited).  I suspect that Butt has been the best offensive recruit, though he was a top-200 player, not top-100, at least on 247.

chewieblue

December 4th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^

Our offense has been good against shitty teams and painfully inept against the best teams for as long as I can remember. I'm 40 and I almost have forgotten what it feels like to be confident that we will win against a good team. I was there this year and then.... (need a "falls off cliff" emoji)




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I Like Burgers

December 4th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^

The only playmaker Michigan has had on offense in like the last ten years has been Denard.  No running backs, no WRs, nothing.  Second best player is maybe Jake Butt.

Tired of seeing schools like Northwestern, PSU, Wisconsin, shit even Pitt, consistently have better skill players than Michigan.

TheNardDog

December 4th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^

I agree. That is one of the reasons why I don't think that this HAD to be the year like so many people think. Yes, the defense was great, but with Don Brown here the defense will most likely always be a top 15 defense. And yes, we still should have made it to the Big Ten championship and playoff this year.

The offense is what held this team back this year. The inability to run the ball/ make plays on offense late in games is what cost us this year. It is hard to close out games when you do not have a mauling offensive line. In due time Michigan will have an offensive line like the ones Harbaugh built at Stanford. The only dynamic players on offense this year were freshman (Eddie Mcdoom and Chris Evans).

With the incoming class and Freshman who already are on the roster, I think the offense could actually make a slight jump next year and then explode in two years.

I Like Burgers

December 4th, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^

I think the frustration people may have had is tied to the fact that we know who we're losing on both sides of the ball, and because of Hoke's last two classes (if you don't remember how bad they were, go back and look) we don't have the players on the roster now to replace them.  Harbaugh had a great class last year, and is putting together another great one, but you can't rely on true freshman and sophomores to take you very far.

So, people (myself included) can see the rebuild and step back ahead next season and its just a little frustrating because the success we all want was SO close this season and it'll be at least 2018 before we can get back to that level again.

stephenrjking

December 4th, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^

Defense in particular will take a step back. Two generational guys and a number of other guys that are Greats in the annals of the program. You can't just replace Lewis and Peppers with anybody, no matter how much talent is in the pipeline.

The anxiety about the offense relates to: 1. The OL, which was a weakness and now loses guys; 2. The fact that we've seen guys who MAY develop into reliable players but have not yet proven that they will.

Gulogulo37

December 4th, 2016 at 8:53 PM ^

If he can put it together next year and be the Manningham he was supposed to be, that'll be so huge. Our young guys look good, but still young. And I doubt Moe Ways can be more than a steady possession receiver.