Michigan has only one commitment from Ohio
Here is a reason (one among many) that we are struggling.
The Free Press reports that Michigan has only 1 commitment from the state of Ohio in the 2020 class. In 2019, there were none.
Historically, Ohio was the state that provided the MOST recruits. I grew up watching Bo's teams that were just loaded with players from Ohio.
We have apparently traded New England for Ohio. An absolutely terrible trade. Other than a few good individual programs, New England high school football is weak to pathetic.
I am guessing that it is very uncomfortable for coaches to visit Ohio high schools. I am sure that they take crap from everyone.
But that is why they are paid millions of dollars.
Just another Harbaugh decision that makes zero sense.
Now let's go recruit some fullbacks and tight ends from Rhode Island!
December 16th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
Hopefully the new DC is someone who can recruit Ohio
December 16th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Marcus Freeman comes to mind.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
NE recruits might be a thing of the past if Donnie gets the can. Unless of course Jeff Hafley is announced the new HC of Michigan.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:13 PM ^
I’m not 100% sure that people understand how trajectory changing Hafley would be. There is a lot of Campbell and Fickel discussion, Hafley would be the best case scenario. I don’t know if he would come, but I hope Warde is doing everything in his power to lure him. Not going after Jeff Hafley would be just as big of a mistake for us as Michigan State turning down Urban Meyer, who then went to Utah, was for them.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
Ohio State’s best guys aren’t from Ohio. This notion of the need to recruit Ohio is crap.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:22 AM ^
Right?
December 16th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
And then 5 guys from all over the country follow...
OSU will always get the guys they want from Ohio, but they frequent the CFP because they recruit well nationally, not because they "lockdown" Ohio.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
More than half Ohio State's team is from outside Ohio But that's not where they started. They are a true national power that can attract the best talent from anywhere in the country.
Michigan does not have that luxury.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:45 AM ^
The point the OP is trying to make is that OH is a top five state for players. We are right next door and used to take advantage of the geography. Now it seems Wisconsin has replaced us and MSU. ND and PSU (although PA is another recruiting hotbed,) still recruit OH. It seems Cincinnati has benefited the most from the OH talent. That program is a contender with 3 and 4-star talent from OH.
O$U used to lock up the in-state players it wanted, but now it doesnt take as many, as it's a national brand more than ever.
December 16th, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
Ohio State is Ohio's flagship program in name only. It's basically University of Texas-North. With few exceptions, an Ohio kid signing with Ohio State is signing up to sit on the bench while kids from Atlanta, Texas and California get all the snaps.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
Completely ignore a rich source of talent right next door to us. The rest of the Big 10 raids Ohio in a big way.
You have an amazingly strategic mind.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
The mistake you've made (other than the extra return between paragraphs) is confusing cause and effect. People look at the number of Ohio kids and reflexively say "recruit Ohio."
But if Michigan exchanges 5 guys from elsewhere in the country for 5 guys in Ohio those players won't magically be better. The problem isn't that Michigan isn't recruiting Ohio well enough. The problem is that Michigan isn't recruiting well enough, period. And a strategy to just blindly charge into Ohio and come in second to OSU for all of the top guys and get guys that aren't as good or aren't good fits just so we can say "we recruited Ohio" isn't going to change anything, other than permanently restrict us to a region where we don't get the first pick of kids.
Harbaugh has made a ton of mistakes in recruiting, but going national is not one of them. The problem is that he and the staff have not been good enough on the field or organized enough off of the field to consolidate the gains made in 16 and 17, or to hold on to guys once they get on campus.
Poor Ohio recruiting is a symptom. Like loss of taste and smell, one that is noticeable and irritating. But loss of taste and smell is not the biggest health danger.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Very true! Poor recruiting in ohio is a symptom not the problem. One issue with taking players nationally when you have players just as good in state, ohio and regionally is the national recruits are more likely to transfer out. Not 100%, we just had Zack Carpenter enter the portal and we have lost several from ohio to transfer since Harbaugh has been here.
Harbaugh has to fix many things. One of them is get back to being the alpha he was when he came in. Get back to demanding the best every practice and rep from his players but demand that from all of his staff as well, esp on the recruiting trail.
Harbaugh also has to go after the University on Admissions. There is no reason for so many transfer candidates getting turned down and not being able to recruit far to many of the top 500 players simply due to admissions. Not saying take a ton of minimum qualifiers but ease up on some.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
There is a reason. It’s called academics. Some schools value academics over football. Get your head out of your arse.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Academics is not the problem right now in basketball, landing a couple great classes by Juwan who has recruited hard. John Beilein landed some underrated classes but coached them up and really developed them, something the football staff is not doing. Culture issues are a problem in the football program besides the recruiting issues can Jim correct them? That’s the million dollar question, but the excuse is the academics for many on here take a look we’re at the level of Rutgers we’ve got issues, and Jim, if you’re as competitive as you use to be you will take a good look make changes and get this ship turned around!
December 16th, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
If Michigan's mission is truly to provide an uncommon education for the common man, shouldn't it be a source of pride for Michigan to take flyers on some kids from disadvantaged backgrounds and help turn them in to true student athletes?
Maybe have a tract for some athletes that have had their academic struggles to help teach them the basics of scholarship. Get them to a place where they leave the university with an incredible skill set for learning. Live the creed of truly making it a 40 year decision for these young kids.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
Very well said. A 5 star is a 5 star regardless of where he lives. The key is to develop those 4 & 5 star athletes into great football players. JH cannot seem to develop any talent.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:17 PM ^
Isn't the point that recruiting in Ohio takes away from other regional programs though? Recruiting is a zero-sum game and if Michigan is focused on recruits in a different region than their opponents, they are leaving the recruits up for the taking.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
That's fine if you think that we should be vying against Purdue and Michigan State to be a better mid-pack B1G team. Not fine if you think we should be the equals of or better than Wisconsin and Penn State, to say nothing of OSU.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Would a stronger mid-pack B1G make it harder to beat OSU? If the whole schedule becomes harder, that's more time spent preparing for mid-tier opponents.
I guess my point isn't specifically about Ohio, but midwest recruiting in general. Wisconsin and Penn State recruit very well in Michigan and other midwestern states. In a vacuum, Michigan may be getting similar recruits from other regions. But you're making life easier for your opponents that way.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
100% agree. My only comment is if a recruit matriculates through an Ohio football program there is at minimum familiarity with the Michigan/OSU rivalry. While we are not recruiting at OSU level (so very far from it), getting more Ohio recruits could provide that intangible push needed for an upstart football team (hypothetical for now) to overcome the hump. No, we do not *need* more Ohio recruits to beat OSU but it couldn't hurt because right now nothing less than a 1969 upset will be needed to change this program's course.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
The keyboard non athletes and social justice warriors on the blog are WRONG about recruiting within Ohio. Ohio has the best prep football in Midwest. Harbaugh's and Brown's best defense had a DL that Hoke recruited and they were from Ohio. OSU gets the best players in Ohio and those who want to play there but OSU didn't have the available scholarship wind up at places like Iowa, Wisconsin, and other B10 programs. Harbaugh knows this better than anybody because he played at UM on a team littered with Ohio guys. Also. NE prep football SUCKS and recruiting there while allowing Michigan's best players to wind up in Columbus is another Harbaugh failure.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
*you're
December 16th, 2020 at 11:40 AM ^
What does your intro have to do with anything? You might feel more at home at Parler.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Point made. Keyboard warrior. Glad I struck a nerve to a true fascist
December 16th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Let's see ...
Sorry, snowflake.
Maybe we can find you a safe space so you can *cry*.
Also, @&*# your feelings.
Did I miss anything?
December 16th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
The keyboard tough guys and right-wing nutjobs on this blog are WRONG about recruiting in the Northeast (am I doing it right?). Kwity Paye is likely to be a top-15 pick this year and was from RI; Mike Sainristil is second on the team in receiving TDs and looks like a pretty good athlete who could flourish with a functional offense. Cornelius Johnson leads the team in TDs and ypc, and has a really bright future. Luke Schoonmaker has underwhelmed as TE a bit but I wonder if he'll make a jump as an upperclassmen if he adds some weight. Ben Mason sort of was a man without a position but is a very good FB and is athletic enough he may even get a look by the NFL. Zak Zinter is a true freshman getting starts at guard on the offensive line and not looking completely out of place. And they've got a couple of other young players from the region who look fine.
Again, you can complain about Michigan's recruiting in Ohio and elsewhere, but they've got a lot of good players out of the NE region and if they could hit at that rate elsewhere we wouldn't be complaining about recruiting as well.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
Right-wing nutjobs? I don't mind a little free association but I can only assume that the voices in your head are arguing again.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
My attempts at mirroring the ad hominem characterization of people on this blog by scfanblue apparently fell on deaf ears.
Anyway, the larger point that NE recruiting hasn't been particularly bad and people getting bent out of shape about OH recruiting are just whining stands.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
I think you have a palmetto tree stuck deep within your colon.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
You sound........kinda dumb.
Recruiting Ohio is the way to get this program back in track.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
Kinda?
December 16th, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
'Best guys' has some validity but 46% of their current roster, 55 of 119 players are from Ohio.
If the guys who aren't playing are from Ohio, maybe we should....
December 16th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
2016 team:
Ben Gedeon
Jake Butt
Chris Wormley
Taco Chalton
That's three All Americans and one All Big Ten, I wonder where they were from? I would say the notion this fanbase keeps repeating that "we don't need to recruit Ohio" is crap.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:07 PM ^
All were captured around a rare point of transition / weakness for OSU. That was a rare event. It hasn't been like that since the advent of Meyer.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
I noticed you left off Dymonte Thomas, a higher ranked player out of Ohio than all of those players in the 2013 class. How about Mike McCray, also from Ohio from that same class. Joe Bolden was ranked higher than Worley out of Ohio in that class, so he was obviously better as well
December 16th, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
What point are you trying to make? I forgot Dymonte Thomas and Mike McCray who were both solid starters as well. Bolden was eh.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
The obsession with recruits from Ohio on this blog is unwarranted. Screw Ohio, recruit Texas and Florida if you actually want to win something meaningful.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:33 PM ^
The point is, Ohio produces infinitely better talent than Massachusetts and Connecticut yet Michigan has 1 Ohio kid and 4 kids from those 2 talent deficient states. They also have 1 from NJ for 5 kids from the NE which doesn't produce much top end talent. Also, Michigan has a total of 7 kids from the talent rich states of Florida, California and Texas though McCarthy is Florida by graduation only and 2 of those 7 (Hood and McBurrows) are potential (likely?) flips. If that happens, you think 5 NE kids and 5 Texas/Florida/California kids is a good ratio? Get out of the damn Northeast. There isn't a single elite team that packs 20% of it's class with kids from that area.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
We need to get the best players no matter where they are from if we are going to compete with OSU again. What are people hearing about Rayshaun Benny? I heard we made a late push for him and I see he still hasn’t signed with MSU. We could use him on the DL
December 16th, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
Damn it's almost like one of the top programs in the country is right smack dab in the middle of Ohio and absorbs a good portion of those recruits.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:23 AM ^
Really, they don't, they only take the top 3-5 kids from Ohio per year. Cinci/Kentucky gets most of the leftovers. Do I wish UM would recruit Ohio more? Sure, but I don't think recruiting Ohio better gets us closer to OSU on the field, because they will still get the top 3-5 that they want. We need to recruit better nationally, not regionally.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
55 players on their current roster are from Ohio.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
Honest question. How many of that 52 are scholarship guys? Is it 52/85, or is it 52/120? Walk-ons, who are going to be mostly from Ohio, shouldnt really factor into the discussion or numbers.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:21 PM ^
The 55 is of the 119 roster spots. No idea on the actual scholarship numbers.
I just did a quick roster scan with limited knowledge but I counted 17 names of the Ohio players that I recognize enough to be starters or at least get significant enough time for me to know who they are. I'm sure I missed several special teams players and maybe a couple of others.
One I know is a walk-on and that is their kicker who is playing in place of their injured guy.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Screw it. I went down the rabbit hole and ran a pivot table. This is where OSU gets it's players. For what this information is worth.
Ohio - 55
Arizona - 2
Florida - 5
California - 5
Georgia - 5
Texas - 8
New Jersey - 5
Tennessee - 4
Indiana - 4
Missouri - 5
New York - 3
Maryland - 3
Michigan - 3
North Carolina - 2
Pennsylvania - 2
Virginia - 2
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington - 1
December 17th, 2020 at 9:04 AM ^
We put a fence up around Massachusetts and Connecticut.
December 16th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Screw it. I went down the rabbit hole and ran a pivot table. This is where OSU gets it's players. For what this information is worth.
Ohio - 55
Arizona - 2
Florida - 5
California - 5
Georgia - 5
Texas - 8
New Jersey - 5
Tennessee - 4
Indiana - 4
Missouri - 5
New York - 3
Maryland - 3
Michigan - 3
North Carolina - 2
Pennsylvania - 2
Virginia - 2
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington - 1
December 16th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
Just doing a quick look at OSU's classes on 247 over the prior 5 recruiting classes.
2020: 8//25
2019: 5/17
2018: 5/26
2017: 6/21
2016: 9/24
Plus 1/6 transfers that 247 listed in that time.
So 33/113 players they signed from 2016-2020 (29%) were Ohio kids. If you take out 2016 (which would only be 5th years) its 24/89 (27%). And 28.5% when you count transfers in.
8.5.5December 16th, 2020 at 11:25 AM ^
13 guys from last year's roster on active NFL rosters this season. Shea Patterson, from Ohio, is not among them.