Putting Hokeamania into perspective on the recruiting trail

It's great work; it'll be a few years before all of these recruits see the field, and I can't wait!

Not a Minnesota fan, huh?   ;-)

Numbers aren't really the best way to go about this. Michigan has 22 available slots (?) this year and has 14 commits. Last year, Tennessee signed 24 players and had seven four stars according to Scout with no five stars. That was good for the 13th place in Scout's rankings. Michigan has seven four star recruits to Scout on June 1st. That's impressive. 

If Michigan maintains 50% four stars and 50% three stars and signs 22 players, that would have been somewhere around 9th place last season. That assumes things haven't narrowed down and Michigan is focusing on higher end players.

Seems like Hoke is doing great. But why do people get excited by the number of commits? As if there's some risk that we wouldn't get enough players or something. 

I remember when we hoped for a top 20 class this year. Now, I don't think Top5 is out of the question with the linemen that we are in good position with on both sides of the ball, not to mention Dunn who could very well switch. This could be a very special class in terms of rankings. Now, imagine we win 10 games next year. What will the next class look like?

Look at Texas's recruiting class so far. That's insane.

I think it is much more a case of "Mattison-mania."  Ultimately, though, it doesn't matter, as long as Michigan pulls in a top ten class this year.  

I couldn't figure out why you would quote the former Clemson and Arkansas headcoach, but that was Ken Hetfield.

I think James Hetfield said it best “Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way”. Look out. 

that guys being recruited this hard, this early in the game are guys which the coaching staff believe will make the team great. Make no mistake about it, none of the guys being brought in this early are considered second best as far as Hoke and Co. are concerned (to hell with the stars our coaches have their own, and quite frankly superior, method of player evaluation).  I believe in what our men are doing and this is nothing short of top, top performance.

I expect Hoke & Co to have the same success on the field as they do on the recruiting trail.

September can't get here fast enough.

but why does everyone get so worked up about the speed in which we gained committments from these guys?  It's not like we'd ever not fill the class.  Getting signing day committments from a 4 star = getting a May committment from a 4 star.  Actually, the late committment is arguably better because it leaves the other schools fewer options and no time to find a backup option.

The only thing I can come up with is that it gives the staff more time to focus on some big names down the stretch.  I guess I'll believe it when I see it. Then again, as we all know, coaches have to continually recruit every player, even when they have given Michigan a verbal.  I'm not sure the early committments give too much in the way of comfort.

by clicking on Tim's "Big Ten Recruiting Class Rankings" - and gotten a Notre Dame bonus.