With signing day wrapped up, what are your thoughts?
With everyone signed and ready to go, including 2 portal guys, how are you feeling about this class? Any favorites or players you think will be better than advertised??
Myself I think it's a pretty solid class with a chance to have some big time players in it. I really excited to see how Cole Sullivan turns out and if a wr sets up to be a legit #1 option.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:22 PM ^
Edokpayi is a terrific last minute add.
The class held together nicely.
I don't care about recruiting rankings.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
So is Barnham.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:05 PM ^
I care about how many recruits were their lead recruiter's first choice at that position.
If the battle is recruiting services vs our coaches - Im taking our coaches every time.
If the battle is our coaches first choice vs their diamond in the rough fall back -Im not so happy.
Im guessing several that get dismissed as star gazers here feel the same way. How did we perform head to head recruiting vs top 25 teams this cycle? Bama can pay 18 - 5 stars but we are too proud or too broke to go get a 5 star one of our coaches really wants? What are we using our version of the 5 star cash for? More Admins?
December 20th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
The Michigan system of recruiting has been working very well since 2021. They have a 38-3 record. The only team to have made 3 consec CFP appearances. Add to that how many of these 3* and 4* recruits from previous recruitments are now playing in the NFL.
The system itself is about the type of players who will fit this system by be willing to work hard and earn their playing time . To also be coached up. Their own success will determine how much NIL money that can get. Case in point is Blake Corum and JJ.
That fact that Michigan with its current roster that is not loaded with the number of 5* players that Alabama has is still ranked #1 going into this game.
I am fine with the lower overall recruiting ranking given what I mention above. They'll be fine.
December 20th, 2023 at 8:12 PM ^
Honestly at this point, Michigan is likely the ONLY team in CFB that would get hit with violations of NIL if they tried to lure any of the kids to play with bags of cash...I don't think it makes much sense.
To this point, the schools who have really been using that as the primary selling point have not exactly tore it up on the field, and many of the kids going for that lure have ended up flaming out and transferring from those schools in the first year or two - Miami, A&M, etc.
Michigan's system is working well at this point, and given the NCAAs stance on Harbaugh, does not make a bunch of sense to change it at the moment.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:09 PM ^
But Michigan currently has 5 stars on the roster. To bolster the rest. We won't shortly with the new system.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:47 PM ^
If the coaches dont want 5 stars that is fine by me. My post is if they are constantly missing out on guys THEY want we need to figure it out. I dont think you guys read entire posts.
December 20th, 2023 at 10:03 PM ^
I see your point. However, you could also argue that some of our best players during that time period were 5 stars. Not saying we need OSUs roster to be successful, but I’m also not gonna say that I wouldn’t trade recruiting classes with them. I don’t think anyone on this board is that naïve.
That being said, I’m ok with Harbaugh’s approach to NIL and not paying highschool seniors that haven’t done anything. I do wish we were more aggressive in the portal right now though. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the staff to have discussions with current players to get a very good idea of who is coming back and who isn’t even though we still have post-season.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
i think you're hitting the nail on the head here. smashing it, really.
there's only one team in college football with a better record than M over the last 3 seasons. Whatever they're doing from a roster management and player development standpoint, it's working.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Harbaugh has brough in top classes before, the current team still has more 4* and 5* than 3* or less.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:43 PM ^
What are we using our version of the 5 star cash for? More Admins?
Michigan's been extremely clear that it will direct NIL money to admitted and enrolled students, not recruits. The school and coaches want passionate team players, not mercenaries. Such is life.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
Yes I agree. Maybe exceptions could be made for the right players? I dont know is Bama paying 18 5 stars millions each up front? Would be nice if it was more transparent.
December 20th, 2023 at 10:57 PM ^
You can't make it conditional. It WILL destroy the locker room.
December 21st, 2023 at 6:21 AM ^
Team chemistry is one of the most important things for success and Michigan has it in spades over everyone else. Unselfish guys that love football and love to play for each other. That's a great blueprint for a successful program. This is the advantage we have over Alabama as Jan 1 approaches.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:38 AM ^
Obviously we were using it to pay slews of remote videographers.
/s
December 21st, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
Plus, with inflation, these are getting pretty expensive
December 21st, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
Roster retention, we got back Corum, CJ, Zinter, and Keegan with NIL money, probably a few others I am missing. I would much rather have those types of players return for a 4th/5th year instead of paying a 5 star 18 year old.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:58 AM ^
Millionth mention that recruiting rankings are important indicators and are generally legit, and that's a fact demonstrated by all the data. Also a fact- they aren't definitive and don't ensure anything, and staffs like M's can develop players above their rating
December 20th, 2023 at 6:26 PM ^
I very much care about rankings but the class seems good.enough to win with and strength where it matters most.
Still concerned that they don't seem to have the bag game needed for top 100 talent esp as speed positions and QB.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
If the OL continues being developed as they have then elite QB talent isn't always needed for success. Everything opens up on offense with a good OL.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:36 PM ^
look how far cade got us, and he was no barn-burner, slow of foot but a nice, solid game manager with a grade 'B' arm.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:23 PM ^
…and we got smoked by Georgia. JJ went toe to toe with TCU(albeit with some errors) when we needed to make plays and score. Elite QB’s put you over the top. The 2021 season would look a lot different if Cade didn’t have Hutch & Ojabo on the other side of the ball.
December 20th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^
TCU didn’t have an elite 5* QB and they beat us, so having a 5* doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite to winning.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
How did TCU fare against a truly elite team named Georgia?
December 20th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
Their QB wasn’t a 5 Star, but unlike McNamara, he was a dynamic college QB.
December 20th, 2023 at 10:10 PM ^
It doesn’t hurt.
December 20th, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
2021 georgia would've smoked any team we would have put out there. a generational D, with a near-generational TE and 5* offense. JJ got his chance vs. a non-generational TCU and unfortunately booted it. Lord willing, he will get over the hump in 11 days.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
But the rest of the posters say don't worry about 5 stars we don't need them due to culture and things.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:17 PM ^
i know we all want 5*'s, me too. but culture has overcome ohio's 5*'s for 3 straight years. we'll get a couple. we'll be fine. character, tenacity, intellect, true team loyalty make a huge difference. thus, we are 38-3 in the last 3 years.
December 20th, 2023 at 10:13 PM ^
In a few years, everyone may look back on the last three seasons as the peak of Michigan football. A lot of guys exceeded expectations at the same time (Hutchinson and Corum, most notably) and they mixed in some 5 stars who played like 5 stars (Hill, McCarthy, Edwards (at least in 2022), Johnson). This looks like the second year in a row without a 5 Star. This level of success isn’t likely to continue long term with only so-so recruiting, regardless of the chemistry.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Exceeded the expectations of people who either do not matter or who know very little about this game.
Everything about this recruiting class says that this elite coaching staff has brought in yet another group of young men who meet the abilities that they value the most. Three and four years from now Michigan will still be dominating the LOS...and Marshall will have broken Corum's TD records-or perhaps Kapana has.
Otherwise, the complaints and whining by the fans are stupendously ignorant and short-sighted.
December 21st, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
Right. Because everyone knew Hutchinson would eventually be taken second overall and Corum would be an all-time record breaker. That’s bit of revisionist history there. And I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t put any money on Marshall of Cabana (yeah, right) breaking Corum’s TD record. I won’t use your language, but believing this level of success will go on forever, regardless of recruiting, can be more accurately described as short-sighted.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:28 PM ^
I like drama-free NSD's, but I'll reserve my right to be happy or upset until after the Rose Bowl. We've shown that we can recruit to win at a B1G level. Now, we get another chance to see if we recruit well enough to win on a national (ie. SEC) level.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:12 AM ^
This. We've won 3 straight B1G titles, the media hates us, and only place left to go is to the top of the CFP. The coaching has been developing 3 stars into 5 stars. Now we've got mostly 4 stars. Very happy - scratch that, elated to be a Michigan football fan right now. Bet
December 20th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
Has Jo'ziah Edmond moved on? Doesn't appear he has signed.
Edit: now showing signed in early evening. Jo'ziah fills a very large roster gap, though even with him I'm not sure we have enough at DB and hope we can land Domani Jackson in the portal.
December 20th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
Jo’Ziah Edmond officially signed.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:30 PM ^
Jadyn Davis will be elite. Very much looking forward to his era, although I do hope he gets a RS year.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:34 PM ^
I hope he gets the JJ freshmen treatment.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:40 PM ^
Have you seen him play person? I have, I’m not sure if he will be elite but he will be good. I agree with you he needs time to develop. JJ is allot better athlete and a better passer too.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:31 PM ^
Would like a stronger presence at WR and at DB, but this feels like a class Michigan can keep winning with and that’s good enough for me.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
Doesn’t seem like we’re ever going to get elite receivers.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
UM has signed elite WR’s recently
DPJ - 5*
Nico - 4*
CJ - 4*
AJ Henning - 4*
Darrious Clemons - 4*
Karmelo English - 4*
They might not all perform up to their HS rankings, but UM does attract WR talent.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
Which one of these was elite in college? Nico was only one somewhat close.
Some of these guys you listed would not be 3rd string for the top 5 teams in the country. It is what it is, we don't have a single established WR next year sorry.
I dont blame the WRs - it's not an offense to show your wares.
Best hope is keep recruiting the lower end 4*s high 3*s and hope 1 pops every class.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:46 AM ^
That is one elite (top 100) recruit - DPJ.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^
Not if we keep throwing less than 50% of the time.
December 20th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
Yeah. I don’t disagree.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
Just wait til February lol
December 20th, 2023 at 10:01 PM ^
It's been 20 years since Michigan had a receiver go in the first round (Braylon Edwards).
December 20th, 2023 at 11:58 PM ^
Braylon Edwards was the last skill position player to go in the first round.
No team has won s Natty without at least 2 top ten recruiting classes since Oklahoma in 2000. Now the portal changes that a bit but I can't see us sustaining our current level of success recruiting around 15th.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:31 PM ^
I can't find it, did Gatlin Bair sign anywhere?