New Rivals Top 100
Rivals just released a new top 100. Gardner has dropped out, and CC is now 99.
http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=880&Year=2010&ra_key=2369
January 13th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
Why are we not in contention for the nations top RB's?
First off we're Michigan, second off we are clearly building a NC-level offense geared toward the run. Why is Tony Drake the best we could get. Why not Baxter, Seastrunk, Lattimore, others?
January 13th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
Tony Drake wasn't even going to play running back for us.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
i missed that. what was he going to play, slot?
and if so, why? too deep at RB?
January 13th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
Slot.
Because.
Because that's where the coaches wanted him.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^
3-9
5-7
January 13th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
Baxter is still on the board.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:36 PM ^
We'll get our backs. Just let it happen.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
I fear this is what early February might look like; although I keep up my hope.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
Wow, Ronald Powell has become #1. Surprised b/c rivals always seems to give the #1 spot to the wavering, uncommitted prospect who usually signs after NSD.
William Gholston and Dominique Easley gets 5 stars. Florida now has 3 5 star DL in the top 10.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^
Your right, wouldn't be surprised if he "waivers" before NSD
January 13th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
You're.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^
Waver.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
but it is agitating that our guys seem to drop every single time they release updated versions
January 13th, 2010 at 2:43 PM ^
along those lines, what has Gardner done to drop?...play well in the UA game?...did Cullen just replace him?...are there anti-Gardner factions out there now too?
January 13th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^
Gardner didn't play THAT well in the Under Armour game. He had some bad passes, didn't run extremely well, got killed a couple times, etc. He's extremely raw. People who expect him to contribute early on at Michigan are deluding themselves, in my opinion.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^
If I'm not mistaken, ESPN is all about the UA game while Rivals is all about the Army game. In the past haven't recruiting sites elevated the rankings of players who play in "their" game?
This would make sense, since Gardner moved down on Rivals.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
IMO Lattimore would be the perfect back for our offense. I've seen him play in person several times and he is exactly the physical type of back that would really thrive in our offense.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
Agreed.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
You've seen Lattimore several times? I had no idea that you're a Tennessee recruiting hostess.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:58 PM ^
I think Lattimore would be the perfect back for LOTS of offenses, thus the ridiculously high rating on every guru website.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
I don't disagree with that. I was commenting more toward the fact that he brings something to the table that we are missing right now: a big, powerful, hard runner. The one thing about Lattimore is that he's not as fast as his reported times would suggest. I mention this because it further goes toward my point that he's more of a power back than anything, which is not something that would be evident from his measureables or his film.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^
Im sorry I forgot but who was it that said Gholston, while impressive in camps completely disappears in games?
January 13th, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^
113 tackles and 27 sacks his senior year says he showed up for a fucking game or two.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
That's my favorite kind of game.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
you're wrong. he's committed to MSU; therefore he never showed up in HS games.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
that Tom Beaver said that.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
Vernon and William Gholston
http://www.nfl.com/players/vernongholston/profile?id=GHO395377
and yes Vernon seems to have fallen off the face of the planet
January 13th, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^
I'm surprised Gholston got 5 stars. From all accounts, I thought he under performed at the UA game. Although I know they fell in love with his physique.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^
I think the comments were, great upside but disappeared in the game. Seems like the NY Jets have the same feeling about another Gholston as well.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
We have got to get our guys to work on their pad levels. That is the mark of a 5 star kid, right?
January 13th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
This also means that MSU has the number 1 ranked player in the state... I just love to give those "humble" Sparties something more to gloat about.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
we don't need marcus lattimore when MIKE COX is penetrating any opening he can find.
also, i think toussaint, v. smith, hopkins, and shaw are fine options for the next 2-4 years. Michigan will get a top flight RB in 2011.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
I was initially going to laugh at the Mike Cox comparison to Marcus Lattimore, but then I realized I don't know a damn thing about Mike Cox. I think this might be a ridiculous question (I don't mind admitting when I don't know something, but really, what is going on with Mike Cox?
January 13th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
That might be a question for your doctor, sir.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
rivals i believe is a southern based company, so there gonna favor southern schools. If DG went to florida he would be a 5 star and in the top 50. the fact that hes the best dual qb but not a 5 star is bs. russell shepard who was the best dual threat qb who went to lsu a few yrs ago was a 5 star and top 10 player, but yet he will never play qb at lsu and he cant even see the field for them. so rating dont mean a whole lot, but it would be nice to get the top tier guys everyonce inawhile.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
Gardner had a touchdown pass in the all-star game, averaged over 4 yards per carry, and completed somewhere around 50% of his passes (from what I recall). Not an exceptional showing but certainly solid.
Additionally, because of the straw vote on starters, he had limited opportunities in the game. But did almost as well as can be expected considering limited snaps and poor blocking. HE CERTAINLY DID NOTHING THAT SHOULD CAUSE HIM TO DROP.
Moreover, from all reports, he was extremely impressive in the practices. Drawing raves from those who saw him play.
What I think is happening is a decided Michigan bias by Rivals. More than a Michigan bias..... a Rich Rod bias. I surmise and suspect that someone there does not want him to succeed.
Ricardo = should be a 4 star
MRob = should be a top 100 player or just on the cusp
Devin = should be a top 50 player if not higher
Cullen = should have maintained his position
JRob = should have maintained his position as a 4 star
Furman = should get a bump up to 4 star status because of his exceptional play in the playoffs and off the chart measurables.... but I'd be willing to bet he won't get that bump
And on it goes....
January 13th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
Seriously? Rivals is biased against Rodriguez and therefore rates his players lower? Take off the tinfoil hate.
Ricardo is slow and stiff. He's either a slow WR or a small-ish TE. What about that screams 4-star?
Gardner probably isn't a top 50 player. Rivals rates 5-stars based on the likelihood that they will be first round picks in 3-5 years. Gardner is extremely raw and has the physical ability to be a first rounder, but it's a crapshoot on whether he'll develop the mechanics and aptitude to play at a high enough level to be a high pick. He's definitely not a 5-star, and I don't know that I'd put him on the cusp of being a 5-star, either, which is what a top 50 ranking would do.
Furman should get bumped up to 4-star status because he had 400 yards rushing in the playoffs? He's going to play defense (where he's very raw), which means his rushing stats/abilities have little to no bearing on how he should be ranked.
Marvin Robinson had an underwhelming senior year, and his team didn't have much success, either. I think you're buying into the hype that has been swirling around Robinson for the last three years. He's been on Michigan's radar so long that Michigan fans think he's an awesome player. He is very good, but he's got some flaws, too. And Rivals ranked him as an OLB, which he's never played.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^
Intentional or no, "tinfoil hate" is an awesome phrase.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:47 PM ^
Magnus.... it sounds like you are buying the hype AGAINST our own players.... instead of FOR them.
I have yet to see a recruiting expert say that Devin is raw.... not one. Devin is a proven passer who throws the ball with great accuracy and touch.... according to Ex.NFL coach Sam Wyche and other scouts who have watched him play.
Moreover, I trust our coaches. They have shown that they are great evaluators of talent. Ricardo was a stud before who was not stiff before he committed to Michigan.... I don't see why that should change after his commitment.
MRob was injured part of the year but when he did play his play was exceptional. Didn't he have something like 22 tackles in a single game? Moreover, he performed very well on the camp circuit. Lastly, his junior year was good.
Devin is a 5 star on Scout. And Devin is a very good passer.... very accurate according to the reports coming out of the allstar practices. Combine that with 6'4" frame and excellent speed, and Devin has every bit the change of being a 1st round draft pick when he graduates.
Follow the trend. A player commits to Michigan and evitably drops in the rankings. That is not by happenstance.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
Carvin Johnson
Fitz Toussaint
January 13th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
re⋅al⋅ist [ree-uh-list] –noun
1. a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
EVERY recruiting expert has said that Devin Gardner is raw. They've all said that he needs to work on his mechanics, which = raw. Sam Wyche said it himself, but you must have glossed over that part.
Our coaches have shown that they are great evaluators of talent? Our coaches have gone 3-9 and 5-7. They haven't shown anything yet.
A guy I played with in high school had 22 tackles in a game. You know where he played college ball? Wayne State. I'm not saying Marvin Robinson isn't any good, but 22 tackles in one game doesn't make him a big star. He honestly didn't have a great senior year, and like I said, neither did his team. He's not the elite player that Michigan fans want him to be.
But what does "evitably" mean? I've never come across that word before.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^
don't waste your time on him Magnus
January 13th, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
When I saw that word, I tried to correct it but this site wouldn't let me edit for some reason. I guess you only have so much time.... or until someone responds to your post. Smart arse.... you know the word is "inevitably". Lol. But it's all good Magnus.... I had that one coming.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^
Who cares?
January 13th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
So if everyone's convinced the rankings are bullshit why do they care about them so much?
January 13th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
I only come here for recruiting info. I could not possibly care less if "ZOMG D. Gardner no haz a 5 star!!!!1!!!111!!!" Rodriguez and pretty much every single other college coach takes those rankings with a grain of salt at most. We should not care where our players are ranked as this has no effect on how they play. Pat White! Mike Hart! Ahhh!
January 13th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
The back field was not as much an issue as our defnsive needs.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:48 PM ^
A Noel Devine/Steve Slaton type guy would be nice though.
January 13th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
Well, Devine would be right up there with the players the OP listed. He was a 5 star.