Recruits Visiting, Updates, etc.
Just to let everyone know, we're not allowed to talk to the recruits while on campus during official visits, so there's not a lot to know right now. The recruits that got there Friday are still there right now. They should be leaving sometime soon.
The kids that got their Saturday will leave tomorrow. Cullen Christian is one of those kids.
I will hopefully have some feedback from the CA kids (Baxter, Stills, and Jefferson) later today.
I did talk to Kenny Wilkins last night. He said the crowd and atmosphere was amazing, and everyone seemed to have a good time. He couldn't really get a feel for what everyone was thinking, but he said it seemed like everyone was pretty excited. The commits that were there said it was their goal to recruit as hard as they could this weekend.
When I hear something, I'll let you know. If you hear anything, post it here, so people don't have to create 80 threads about it.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^
Thanks Tom. Clearly the weekend has big implications for closing out the class.
Question: How would you respond to people who describe recruiting is 'down'?
I ask because it seems like there is still a lot of time left and this weekend appeared to be such a big weekend.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
I would respond by saying we just had 10 kids official visits, all of which are 4 stars. Baxter is the 26th ranked player in the country, according to Rivals, Kenny Shaw is the 24th best WR, Kenny Stills is the 20th ranked WR, Beachum is a hybrid/freak, Cullen Christian is the 6th best DB in the country, Tony Jefferson is the 4th best safety (might move to LB) in the country.
Rashad Knight, Richard Ash, and Josh Furman, unfortunately, didn't make the trip, but we're in the mix for all of them.
We also have the number 1 ranked QB (Gardner) in the country, number 4 ranked kicker (Hagerup), 7th ranked offensive lineman (Pace), and 17th ranked LB (Marvin Robinson). All while we went 3-9 last year, 5-7 this year, and missed a bowl game two years in a row.
Yeah, I'd say recruiting is down. /sarcasm
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 AM ^
Rashad Knight didn't make it? Should we read anything into this?
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 PM ^
I read somewhere, I wanna say on Scout, it was weather that caused them to not come.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
damn, i was hoping Ash would be there. I love the Pahokee boys, we need more of them.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^
Great answer. Thanks! I feel better already.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
2002-2009
Average commitments: 20.75
Average 4+ star recruits: 12.25
2010 at this point
Commits: 20
4+ star recruits: 4
2004-2009
Average commits rated under 5.7: 6
2010 at this point
Average commits rated under 5.7: 12
Recruiting is down.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
How did those kids from 2004-2009 work out?
Do you trust Rivals more than our coaches evaluation of talent?
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
"Trust the coaches" is not an evaluatory method and that's a particularly disingenuous argument after you just used recruiting rankings to justify your optimism.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
But apparently "Trust Rivals star rankings which are based upon scouting done by people who spend far less time judging the player than our coaches do" IS a method of evaluation?
That makes sense.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
TomVH used them in his own argument, so I figured he thought they were relevant. Also, yes, recruiting rankings have been proved to be indicators of future success.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:05 PM ^
is that their star rankings take into account if they believe a certain player is NFL worthy. Why they incorporate this into their star formula is beyond me as how can anyone know if a 17 or 18 year old (or 25 year old if you go to OSU) kid will translate into a productive NFL player.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
Well, NFL worthy players are likely always college worthy. Not all college worthy players are NFL worthy. It's primarily around measurables. For QBs, NFL arm, NFL size. Tweeners get punished.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
First of all, it's kind of pointless to point out raw numbers without context. The 2009 class was the #6 class in the country, so that's not exactly "down."
Also, the 2010 class is incomplete. We could get a few more 4-stars or a guy like Beachum or Miller could get a fourth star.
I wouldn't say recruiting is down coming off a #6 class and with 2.5 months between now and signing day.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^
I'm only making a judgment on this specific class so far.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
I understand, but it's still somewhat misleading. A lot of highly ranked recruits wait until late in the process to announce because they have a lot of suitors. Lower-ranked recruits seem to commit a bit earlier on average because they might have fewer offers and, therefore, teams won't wait on them to commit as long.
You don't see random 2-star commits pulling a Will Campbell or Terrelle Pryor or Bryce Brown.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 PM ^
Yeah, I know, that's why I included the number of guys under 5.7 we already have to show that it's not just an issue of the better players waiting to decide.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 PM ^
I think this number is just the product of signing a full class this year (note that the average number of signed players is roughly twenty in the earlier period you mentioned). As long as the number of top-end prospects is close by signing day (it certainly was better last year and should be decent this year) then I think getting more lower ranked guys to fill out the class is actually a big positive (I'd rather have 12 guys as opposed to 6 and let them compete for playing time).
EDIT: I would also point out that the two best classes Michigan has had during the period you looked at in terms of four-star+ volume came in 2008 and 2009, skewing the numbers higher. If Rodriguez picks up 3-4 extra four-star guys (or others get a fourth star) between now and signing day, this class should be on par with recent non-Rodriguez UM classes in terms of star power while also giving us a handful of extra 3-star bodies to fill out the depth chart (since we will undoubtedly sign the max this year). I'd definitely take that coming off back to back losing seasons.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
To be clear, I'm not saying this recruiting class is UNACCEPTABLE. Far from it. Having won 3 games last year it's quite understandable. But I think it's inescapable that unless we finish very strong it will be a historical outlier.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^
What a relief to click on one of these threads and see that it's not just another guy asking, "Where are the updates?"
Good to hear that the recruits are doing work for the team. Besides the outcome of the game, it'd be hard for a kid to say that that wasn't the type of atmosphere they'd love to play in every year.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
We need Jefferson and Big Tex! Hopefully these guys realize the privilege of playing at the Big House. Go Blue, get em next year
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
Thanks Tom
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 PM ^
I suppose with the commitment to RichRod as coach the anti RichRod mafia has to focus on something. Recruiting being "down" is somewhere for them to hang their hats.
Then again, when you make a steak...and it's on the barbecue for 4 minutes (and done at 8) do you look at your friends and say:
"I think steak preparation is down today"
Maybe we should wait until the signing day to decide on recruiting being up/down.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
and OSU didn't even cover the spread how could it be that bad. The team played a very good game, but was a little short on talent and experience. OSUs D starts all SRs & JRs and we still had an opportunity.
The team could have crumbled after the fumble recovery TD and our missed FG, but they continued to fight. If Hemingway goes and gets the ball instead of waiting for it in the end zone I don't think OSU gets the pick and we may even get a PI penalty. Didn't happen that way and can't dwell on it as it was a close game and the crowd was into it. The atmosphere and the chance for some early PT especially on D should bode well for some of the recruits. Close the deal Rich Rod!
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 PM ^
I'm just curious, with OSU being the biggest recruiting weekend of the year every two years, how does this weekend compare? Only time will tell how many commits come out of this weekends visits but are we still getting the same caliber and quantity of recruits giving us a look?
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
that were there yesterday. I think this class will be a really good class. I cant wait to see some of these kids and the ones that redshirted to play next year!
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
always glad to hear your updates...
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 PM ^
Hopefully not having a post-season isn't a death sentence for getting good defensive recruits.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^
I'm naming my first kid TomVH
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
+1 for picture and post
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 PM ^
Rashad Knight just told me that he did miss his flight. He got to the gate late, and they wouldn't let him board the plane.
He's going to reschedule, he's just not sure when.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 PM ^
At least he didn't have that happen in Paris...
No that's good though, happens to everyone. Good that he didn't just decide to be a no show, hopefully we can get him in and still impress him with a good bball game and tour of the Glick.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:59 PM ^
There is no link in this thread...FYI...
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/marvin-robinson-starting-fs-not-slb
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
Anyone know what's up with travis williams? The corner from florida. Remember he wanted to commit in the spring but RR told him to think about it harder.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:52 PM ^
Think about it harder meant, if things don't work out with other kids, then you can come.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
Oh wow, its to bad, I kind of liked the versatility he showed on some of his tapes. I thought he would've been a good fit. I seriously doubt he commits if we land grimes & christian.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^
Did Holmes Don't Feel Like Trying to Spell His Last Name make it up?
Man, I really hope the door isn't totally closed with him. It'd be very comforting to get another LB recruit in this class, especially one his size.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:25 PM ^
...be determined to be a bust for the coaches? I would think at least one would be nice or is that asking for too much?
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
The coaches have information that isn't necessarily public. Cullen Christian is deciding on Tuesday. He's still in Ann Arbor, so I haven't spoken with him, but all signs point to M.
The rest won't come out and announce for awhile. Whether it's public or not, it's been a good weekend.
Tony Jefferson is planning on enrolling early, so he needs to decide soon. He's on the plane, and should be contacting me later.
The other two CA kids might be awhile.
I hate to be vague, but part of all this is letting these kids have their moment in the spotlight, and not interrupting that. This was a good weekend, though.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
You do a great job, keep it coming....
I feel the recruiting is where we should be focusing our energy right now. Bringing in a few more 4 and 5 star guys will go a long way in getting rid of the bad taste left from the season
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 PM ^
2011 S Ron Tanner just told me his visit was, "Great! It was really exciting, I could'nt believe it." Nothing earth shattering, but he's a safety, and he's good.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 PM ^
Re. 2011 - Wasn't Demetrius Hart there as well? Any word on him?
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
I think he had a game.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
6'1" - 180 - 4.4 fake 40 time. Sounds good. We're trying to pry him out of Columbus, though.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Tom
Thanks for all of your hard work. I am showing some of this stuff to my son, who is just starting to get interested in recruiting. He is hoping that you call him someday.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
This is what the teaser summary says:
The long road to college appears to have finally come to a positive conclusion for Deerfield Beach, Fla., cornerback Adrian Witty. This weekend he was in Ann Arbor taking an official visit with the school he plans to attend starting in January.A nice bit of good news. http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1019829
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^
Does Witty count as an 09 still? I'd hate to think he counts against the 25 limit for this year.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:18 PM ^
He'd be enrolling in December and could count back to the 09 class.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
His '09 letter of intent is null and void since he failed to qualify, so he goes back into the pool of recruits for the '10 class. From that article, it looks like he'll enroll in January, so he's basically like an early enrollee for the '10 class.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:46 PM ^
Is that why? I have been trying to figure that out. Where did you read that?