Sam Webb article re Deveon Smith

At least it's not 52-48.

This is one of the first recruits to have a chance to evaluate pitches from both across the entire recruitment process. I'm thinking Mattison can do this, and if he does, it would be symbolic that Meyer can't get every guy he wants.

see more Gifs

Nice article.  My issue with the pro-style vs. spread offense debate (and it was one I had during the RR days) is the notion that it really affects how a kid can perform on the field, especially at a position like RB.  Steve Slaton was a great college RB in the spread, as was Noel Devine.  LeMichael James has had a great career in a spread offense, and Monte Ball set a rushing TD record last year in the most manball of offense.  Guys who are good show it on the field, and going to the pros, those scouts are educated enough to look beyond a system as see if the kid can really play at the next level.

I still want Smith to go Blue, but the notion that there is an offense better suited for him to run the ball seems silly to me,

I get that he's from Ohio where it's 24/7 Buckeyes, but it baffles me that any tailback would be 50/50 between these two teams right now. Look at the different situations. Michigan has an extremely favorable depth chart filled with scatbacks and guys without a whole lot of carries. Ohio just grabbed two more four stars to go with the other 3-4 they have on the roster. A Meyer RB has never run for over 1,000 yards, whereas Hoke and Borges have constantly publically stated they want a workhorse back to give 20-25 carries a game to.

I get that Meyer tells these guys things like, "I've never had a 1,000 yard rusher because I've never had anyone like you", but do recruits really not pay attention to these kinds of things?

This is the biggest decision of his life, so he should consider everything. That said, how can a self-professed Michigan fan be split 50/50 between Michigan and Ohio State? 

I want to start by saying this is in no way meant to be a personal judgement of Mr. Smith. I don't know anything about him or his upbringing and would love for him to come to UM and have a great career here.

Having said that, I just don't understand how someone that is a lifelong UM fan could possibly put UM and OSU 50/50. I mean, I know kids all having different interests and desires when it comes to what they are looking for in a university. I can understand when a kid who is a UM fan gets offered by USC and has thoughts about heading there because they offer somethings UM doesn't (climate etc).

What I will never understand is when a UM fan would look at their most hated rival and be able to even consider committing to them. I say this as a lifelong UM fan myself, knowing that I wouldn't care one iota if OSU ran the style offense I loved, offered the major I was looking at and offered me free tattoo's over every inch of my body I could never attend that university.

It would be different if UM didn't offer, but even then I would go somewhere other than OSU. I will freely admit though, one of the two things in my life more important to me than UM is my family so if that is what is driving him to OSU I guess I could maybe understand it somewhat....nope, sorry, I can't. Never OSU!

edit..Damn, late again. I am having trouble putting my thoughts into posts today I guess.

Has he come up for a visit yet?

this is like brionte dunn 2.0.  a RB who probably wants to go to OSU but is a better fit for our offense.

Dude is a beast.  Plays around my area here so I've got to see him a few times.  Really hope he goes blue!  

Deveon Smith is one of my favorite running backs on our board, so this article was reassuring. I like our chances and I think he's an ideal back for our offense. He might not hae elite speed, but he's physical and does not go down easily. 

But it seems OSU has no real need for a powerful bruising back since they just signed Dunn.  How many "bruising" power backs do you have in a game at one time, and what are the chances Dunn not start or leave early.  Seems like a no-brainer from a biased life long Michigan fan which school he should choose.

I'm not sure Ohio State will have room for him.  I assume they'll take one running back.

They have:

Brionte Dunn

Warren Ball

Carlos Hyde

Rod Smith

I suppose Smith and Hyde could/would transfer if Dunn or Ball pass them, but that's 4 good backs (and Jordan Hall, who'll be a senior).

Derrick Green seems to be high on OSU and I'm sure there are other RB offers out there.  If one of them commits first, I'm not sure there would be room for Smith.

"I always had my Michigan on whenever we played Ohio State."

Commence subtext overanalysis...

Why do people take everything a recruit says when talking to media about their recruitment at face value? Not every kid has the desire to put their sincere thoughts out to the internets about their recruitment. Many play it right down the middle until they make their decision.

Just a note on him:

Both his brothers were Division 1 athletes. Maurice Smith was a monster who went to Michigan State before later finishing up at FCS Youngstown State. Lance Smith played at Wisconsin and seem to be the heir apparent to PJ Hill before finishing up at Memphis. Very talented family. Not sure if either brother had offers from OSU, but it is safe to say he and his family are familiar with Big Ten schools and recruiting.

Also- Howland which is my alma mater is a completely different school district than Warren Harding (Manningham, Antwan Molden, Boom Herron, Maurice Clarett, DJ Williamson, Davion Rogers). Both schools have produced a ton of Big 10 talent however.

Eh, I'd rather put our eggs in the Ty Isaac basket

With Dunn at OSU, we should get him. he looks just like LT!

Considering we have a better offense for him, and he grew up a Michigan fan.  He even referred to Michigan as "we":

"I always had my Michigan (gear??) on whenever we played Ohio State. It was just really funny to be the opposite of everybody."

have seen him play in person 3 times now, once as a sophomore and twice last year as a junior, and the kid runs HARD. reminds me a lot of maurice clarret in high school, minus some speed. the both run hard to the holes, the first person never ever tackles them, and both seem to get 3 more yards than they're supposed to on tough runs.

i've heard around town that he owns several michigan t-shirts and hats and has been a fan for a long time, so there's that. lol

again though, he absolutely manhandled a (very young) warren harding (prescott, diggs, mario, etc.) team. just a man among boys. the last game i saw was delayed by lightning for about an hour. harding was up, maybe 2 minutes left in the game, but howland had the ball.

they came out of the delay and fed de'veon 6 straight times for 60 yards and the go ahead score. literally everyone in the stadium knew who was getting it and likewise what was going to happen.

runs like he has a touch of the Minor rage, i hope he makes the right choice.

Can't remember the last time we won one of these 50/50 splits for a coveted recruit so I'm not holding my breath.  We have two positives in that he's a UM fan and our O is a better fit for him, but two negatives are he lives in Ohio and Urban Meyer's snake oil is like RR's snake oil but faster.

to enroll in an out of state school. does this have any impact on their pro carrer one way or another. would the pro scouts look favorable on a graduate who goes to a school to fit his needs in lieu of playing near home? this can go for bb, hockey or football.