New 2019 Offer and an Offer Milestone
Michigan offered Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius linebacker Tommy Eichenberg yesterday. He's a 6'3", 225 lb. 2019 prospect who has been committed to Boston College since June. He's also the younger brother of Notre Dame OL Liam Eichenberg. Tommy is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #19 ILB, and #360 overall. Here's a link to his highlights (LINK).
I may have missed one here or there, but I keep pretty close track of offers for all recruiting classes, and Eichenberg is the 300th player Michigan has offered in the 2019 class. That's second only to the 2017 class, which had 311 offers. This is significant for a couple reasons:
- That's a lot of offers.
- The 2017 class with 311 offers landed 30 kids. As things currently stand, Michigan has room for 14 players in the 2019 class (11 graduating players, plus 3 open scholarships). With 23 players currently committed and new offers still going out, the coaching staff must be expecting a ton of attrition, probably in part due to early NFL draft entrants (Rashan Gary and Shea Patterson probably lead the pack there).
It will be very interesting to see how the remainder of the 2019 class shakes out with all the big-time recruits considering Michigan (Quavaris Crouch, Trevor Keegan, etc.).
October 4th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
Shea has been fine, but he doesn't jump out to me as a pro QB with his size. I know, I know, Baker Mayfield. Shea doesn't have anywhere near Bakers production though.
My guess is Gary, Bush, Gentry, and Hill all go pro.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:14 AM ^
I'm not sold on Patterson as an NFL QB yet but it's a very weak QB class this year. In my mind that's why he's likely gone. Which is fine with me, what we've seen from McCaffery has been very positive so far and he's only going to get better.
Patterson, Gary, Bush, Gentry, Hill and Hudson are most likely and then it would appear the staff is expecting several guys to leave and/or get the firm handshake.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
Only reason I didn't say Hudson is because his size is a negative, and he has had a rough start to this season.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
Hudson also doesn't have an NFL position. He is somewhere between a LB and a S which is perfect for Michigan's defense and his viper role but isn't exactly what gets NFL GM's going.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^
He's just like Jabrill. No NFL position, even though he's very productive in college.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
Why do you feel Gentry will leave? He's a RS junior and TE's never leave early. Hudson more than likely isn't going to enter the draft either.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:50 AM ^
His size and athleticism will get him a 1st or 2nd round grade.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
He’s 6’8”. Can run. Can jump. Can catch.
His size and athleticism alone is enough to get NFL GMs salivating. Add in being one of our more productive targets and you have an NFL prospect
October 4th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
Off the top of my head, David Njoku, Mark Andrews, and Hayden Hurst all had eligibility remaining when they came out of college over the past couple years, and I think all three were drafted in the first two rounds.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
Those guys produced at a higher level than Gentry, who only caught 17 balls all last year. Only on pace for around 30 catches this season. I love the measurement argument though from people, because unfortunately its true. Doesn't matter what you do on the field as long as you look like a freak off of it.
If Gentry really is a 1st or 2nd round guy maybe our staff should focus more of the offense around him. I mean a 1st or 2nd guy is basically a day 1 starter in the NFL, so uhh...lets use that talent
October 4th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
South Carolina (60), Miami (76), and Oklahoma (124) also completed more passes than Michigan in those tight ends' respective final years. I'm sure offensive system would be taken into account. Demaryius Thomas didn't catch a ton of passes in college, but he was still a high draft pick because Georgia Tech wasn't throwing the ball all over the field. Oklahoma's offense isn't Michigan's.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
With his size and athletic skills, someone is going to view him as "Gronk-lite"! NFL is all about match ups and he's too big for DB's and too fast for LB's. PSU player went in round 2 last year to Miami. Will blow up the combine and likely a Day 2 pick.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:48 PM ^
My favorite bit on this blog is how we love these guys and they should win everything, but they suck and aren’t good enough to go pro.
October 5th, 2018 at 2:01 AM ^
Good call...very pathetic.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:42 AM ^
I too don’t think Shea is ready for the NFL yet either. Also don’t think either corner is ready to make the leap. Think it would be a Donovan Warren mistake to go. Think Gary and Bush go though. Gentry I think could also use another year of college ball
October 4th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
Anyone think LaVert Hill's stock might be down a bit?
And why Gentry? He's improving but he isn't exactly polished yet.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
Mark Andrews wasn't polished as a TE, but he has 10 catches for 119 yards and 1 touchdown for the Baltimore Ravens right now. It's not really about polish. It's about a guy who's 6'8" and 265 lbs. who can run. Those guys don't grow on trees.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^
Shea is 6'2" which isn't great, but it can be good enough. In terms of arm talent, Shea is definitely an NFL QB. He just needs an offensive line to protect him
October 4th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
Shea is not 6’2. At least not according to my eye.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
So how tall is Shea... according to your eye?
October 4th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
Neither is brees or Wilson. Dak is barely that. He can manage. He'll Rodgers is only supposed to only be 6'2 right? He's accurate, good arm strength, and if he learns pro concepts this year, he's a great qb to draft behind a Stafford or Brees or even Rodgers to learn.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
I think Shea bolts for the NFL regardless of the number he puts up, or his size. Shea will never put up big passing numbers in this offense because it’s focused on the run.
And you can’t compare Shea’s career at UM to Mayfield’s at OU because OU’s offense is designed for the QB to put up video game like numbers - see Kyler Murray.
Shea throws the ball 18 times a game and has one 6’7” target. why should Shea stick around in an offense that doesn’t showcase his talent?
October 4th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
Well one reason is that it appears he is learning pro-type concepts and reads in the passing game and his transition to the pros will likely be much smoother having spent at least a year at Michigan. And I think his talent is being showcased just fine even if he is not throwing as many passes. He may be ready now but it's not like another year would hurt him either.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
I think all 4 of those guys mentioned should stay for another year of work, they aren’t a polished college product
October 4th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
I don't disagree about the size issues, but it sounds like Patterson intended to leave after 3 years and he's got enough other positives that I could see a team taking a run at him early on enough to justify a return. And if he did come back, my guess is you'd see some attrition at the spot because it would be a log jam and guys with limited eligibility would be looking at another year on the bench.
And yeah, he's not Mayfield but as we're seeing with OU this year, that offense also lets you put up some huge numbers that aren't necessarily QB-dependent.
October 4th, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
Hill has been average this year. Leaving now would be a mistake. Gentry needs more work too. Gary lacks the production to go high.(I know, I know. Double teams and injuries)
I can see Gary slipping to late first round. Strong DL class and questions about Gary’s production.
October 4th, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^
If we beat OSU, PSU, MSU, and Wiscy then I would bet that Shea is gone.
October 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
Gary, Patterson, and probably Hill will go for sure.
Gentry and Bush I think are 50/50
We'll probably see some handshakes for 3 potential 5th year seniors, which probably puts it at 18 conservatively.
Will Hart probably opens up another potential scholarship.
It's getting late early for 2 members of the 2016 class, and I would bet we lose a non-Shea QB as well after Spring Ball. That probably puts it at 20.
There are another 3 guys that have really struggled with injuries, and it wouldn't shock me to see at least 1 medical retirement from that group. 21.
And I'd guess through natural attrition we'll lose 2-3 freshman due to having a pretty decent sized class with a lot of high potential guys. That probably puts us at 23.
I've heard of potentially one current commit not being accounted for due to academics, and (Only name I'll mention because he's been seen as a flight risk) it's not Eric Gray.
That could still leave a couple current commits to be processed, but I won't speculate on that. I don't think 26-28 spots is unrealistic at all.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:57 AM ^
According to Yoder half the team is transferring at the end of the year so they shouldn't have a hard time making room
October 4th, 2018 at 9:32 AM ^
Is it just me, or is Yoder taking a nose-dive lately with his posts?
I just starting following his videos on YouTube this year. At first I liked them, because it was extra football content that I would listen to in the mornings while getting ready for work.
Since the season has started, I find his videos more and more annoying.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:45 AM ^
Yoder is a grease ball. All he does is stir the pot to get clicks. If something he says is remotely true he takes every ounce of credit, if not "oh well, im not an insider".
October 4th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
Yet he calls himself “The Face of Michigan Football media”, further solidifying his slimeball status.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:51 AM ^
I don't know why you were paying attention to him in the first place.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:51 AM ^
Agreed...Yoder and Baumgardner...good grief!
October 4th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
You can't take a nosedive when you're already the sludge at the bottom of the lake/sea/river/ocean.
October 4th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Lol that's what I was thinking. There's no diving from the bottom of the cesspool.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
Somebody needs to tell Yoder rumspringa is over. He needs to give up his technology and zippered clothing and get back to the farm.
There's butter churning to get done!
October 4th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
+1 for rumspringa reference.
I have a story, but not for a family blog.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
I'm assuming it involves hookers and cocaine?
October 4th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
amish hookers...... bucket list item #8
October 4th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
I live very close to many amish and there are such things (so I've been told) as well as an amish strip club not far from my house.
October 4th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
Fyi Hatter, Rumspringa is not an excuse that anyone and everyone gets to use, and it's definitely not an every weekend thing.
October 4th, 2018 at 12:24 PM ^
My hope is that every time he talks, we remind him how angry the elders are ;)
October 4th, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
This comment is super underrated
October 4th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
Yoder obviously sucks but the staff is definitely recruiting like a number of people are going to be transferring out.
reasonable projections of nfl draft entries and 5th year handshakes gets this to like a 21 person class.
October 4th, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
Uh, we already have 23 commits and the coaching staff is recruiting like it expects to take 30.
Here are all the other players we're still interested in:
- DE Zach Harrison
- RB/LB/ATH Qauvaris Crouh
- DE George Karlaftis
- WR Kyle Ford
- OL Bryce Benhart
- OL Trevor Keegan
- WR Jayden Ellis
- CB/ATH Mike Sainristil
Obviously, we won't get everyone but the coaching staff expects to close on more blue chip players.
October 4th, 2018 at 8:59 AM ^
Nice catch, hopefully things continue to trend toward a top 5 class.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:02 AM ^
Are they in need of a LB?
October 4th, 2018 at 9:19 AM ^
Bush leaves, we will have 5 scholarship LB's.
October 4th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
Yeah, we will have Gil, Ross, Anthony, Singleton, and McGrone still on the roster, with Charles Thomas coming in. (This does not count the Viper position.) If Bush stays, that would give us 7 inside linebackers next year.