February 11th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
I've seen it mentioned that TR has more speed. I wish USC, Alabama, and Tenn would gtf out of Michigan.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
What is the connection there lately (Arnett going there and a few other guys showing interest)? They haven't been good in a little while, have had coaching turmoil, and I never really remember them recruiting in the state before.
Is there a story there I'm missing? Just an odd coincidence?
February 11th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
I'm assuming he's referring to Danny O'Brien as well
February 11th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
February 11th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
It seems an odd school to suddenly develop a strong recruiting presence in Michigan out of the blue (without being terribly successful on the field lately to boost their reputation across the country). Curious why/how they are targetting kids in Michigan and what accounts for their recent success in getting their attention.
To me it is just as odd/unexpected as if a bunch of kids from Detroit just decided "Hey, I'm going to play at Clemson."
February 11th, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^
I don't think Tennessee is fertile grounds for recruiting, but I could be wrong. They might be like a Nebraska program that has to go north and south of the state to recruit.
February 11th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^
I wouldn't say that they have no talent instate. I have no idea, but I'm willing to guess cities like Memphis and Nashville have some talent.
To compare (according to rivals)"
Tennessee had 2 four stars, while Michigan had 6 four stars.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^
Their program was in a downward spiral when Alabama, LSU and Auburn began to take off. I wonder with way those programs have been recruiting lately down there if Tennessee might be getting squezed out a little bit on the recruiting trail down south, forcing them to come up here more. Just speculation on my part, though.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
Your theory makes lots of sense. I think Dooley is doing a good jog of recruiting at Ten. He had to fix a mess that was left by Kiffin. It seems like many of the players that were recruited by Kiffin have either left or were kicked off for legitimate reasons.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
The Tennessee WR coach is a former Michigan State player and he's from Flint. He seems to have a pretty good recruiting connections in the area, allowing him to get on players from there early. Saban and Bobby Williams have been trying to get a foothold in Detroit for the last couple years as well. Miles has been recruiting Detroit since he's been at LSU also.
We absolutely cannot allow Tennessee to pull O'Brien. The last thing we need is SEC schools flooding our state with their bullshit recruiting practices. This is probably the biggest reason why we need to lock down the state immediately.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
It remains to be seen how Nebraska will play a part in the area in the future as well. No knock on RR, but I'm glad we've got guys like Hoke and Mattison that know how to recruit the region well.
February 11th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
The coach connection helps explain it. I expect teams to recruit the blue-chip guys and I would expect programs with recent national titles (LSU, Bama, SC) to be able to tempt guys. I don't really see Dooley being able to make the same sales pitch about his program right now or his past success. To me it would be like if the top players in Tennessee or Georgia all started looking at programs like Colorado or Washington (decent name/reputation, but not much recent success and no big name coach in a totally different part of the country). Having a guy with strong local connections on their staff explains the weirdness of it.
February 12th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
February 12th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
I wonder when I read posts like the Tennessee question how guys don't realize they're describing Michigan to a, er, "T"
Coaching turmoil? check
Downward Spiral? check
lack of national interest? check
Head coach with lack of national recognition? check
Brand name hurting? check
Toss in the crappy weather, the economic issues, and I don't know how ANY Michigan kid doesn't at least strongly entertain the idea of playing down south.
Oh, and although we in Big Ten land remain eminently envious, the SEC is simply the King of football and the atmoshperes and games are always larger than life and one HELL of a good party. And, it's usually about 70 and sunny or better.
February 11th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
If Dooley pulls O' Brien out from out from under Hoke and Mattison with their prior DL coaching experience; coupled with him being in our own backyard I’ll strongly question their recruiting prowess everyone's been touting.
February 11th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
I suppose I won't fault the coaching staff too much if they happen to miss out on any individual recruit in this class, but I expect them take the necessary steps to scout and lock down players for future classes while catching up on some of the 2012 players. From what I've seen already, it seems like they're doing this.
Something about SEC schools poaching recruits from this area just doesn't sit right with me though.....
February 12th, 2011 at 7:16 AM ^
Sounds like an awful lot of judgement based on the decision of one 17 year old kid.
February 11th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
HS kids watch ESPN and see the talking heads talking about how great the SEC is and Tennessee gives them a chance to play in the conference and isn't that far away. They have a nice stadium, rabid fanbase, and the Kiffikin girls using whatever method of persuasion they use to get these kids to commit.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
February 11th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
February 11th, 2011 at 8:57 PM ^
I think the love-affair of the SEC by ESPN and others has gotten into the heads of the mid-western recruits. The Big Ten has been beaten down by pundits about not being able to compete with the SEC teams. I think the Vols feel like with all the controversy that has surrounded Michigan football that maybe they can sneak a few big time recruits out of the state. They may be using the likes of Mark Ingram as to what they may be able to accomplish. Just a thought.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
Impressive list he is compiling.
Lane Kiffin is an assclown. That is all.
February 12th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
I wanted to know what an assclown was, so I googled it
February 11th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
I just hope Richardson doesn't get pigeonholed into the Booboo comparisons. Just because he's an undersized corner from Cass Tech, doesn't mean they're the same, or should be compared.
Richardson deserves to be evaluated based on his own achievements.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
Seems like a pretty natural comparison to me, at least the on-field comparison - same school, similar hype, similar size and speed. Every player gets compared to other players that came before him.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
If we're not going to compare players who play the same position at the same schoo with similar size, then I don't know why we compare people at all.
February 12th, 2011 at 12:20 AM ^
If we are going to compare them, then do you know why we do?
February 11th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
That's weird considering USC probably won't be able to take even 5 kids in their next class.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^
Why do I feel that they will somehow weasel their way around these sanctions? They will somehow end up Sabaning away schollies from less-talented seniors and end up with a 75-man roster composed exclusively of 4 and 5-star talent.
February 13th, 2011 at 11:55 AM ^
I would be very surprised if Kiffin will get away with the crap the SEC pulls regarding over signing. We have a loud and vocal media presence in LA who will attack over signing if it evolves. The only ones that love them some Kiffin in LA are USC alums.
<br>
<br>If over signing does happen at USC the LA media has a national presence and this topic will catch fire.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
They'll find a way to fu the system and pull 20+...
February 11th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
They are appealing the loss of scholarships and are back signing kids that enrolled early. I have no idea what happens to them if their appeal is not successful.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
I think Richardson's better than Cissoko, yeah.
February 11th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
The services don't agree with you thus far. Why do you think that is?
February 11th, 2011 at 7:31 PM ^
Because its February and they havent even ranked recruits yet, Also BooBoo was what MVP at the Army Combine
February 11th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
The services haven't really finalized anyone's ranks yet.
Rival's 250 watch list gives us an idea who they think will be among the best, but the final 250 will replace several of the current players with players that rise this season.
Cissoko had the advantage of winning awards at the Army All-American junior combine, so he was on the radar early. At this stage he was on the watch list just like Richardson.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
This is just my opinion, but even though they are the same height Boo-boo just looked more built.
February 12th, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
Cissoko was definitely more developed in the upper body. I'm not someone who gets caught up in a cornerback's upper body thickness.
February 12th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
Your post seems to make the assumption that the services were correct about Cissoko's ranking.
(Hint: They weren't.)
February 11th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
alot of big time schools are coming after him.Are we a lock to land Terry and Royce?
February 11th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
No. But now that they've been offered, I think they will warm up to the idea.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^
I though Cissoko was pretty good, on the field. He got ripped on a lot but he was young.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^
I agree somewhat...he got picked on alot playing opposite of Warren. Who knows if he was playing at his potential with all of the off-field issues.
February 11th, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^
It was easy to blame it on him, but the defensive scheme put him on an island way to much. It was to much to expect from such a young player to match up in single coverage as often as he had too.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
I'm nitpicking, but I just didn't like how he acted on the field sometimes. I remember him standing over an ND player and pushing him down after he tackled him. I felt like he celebrated every little tackle he made even if it was after a big gain.
February 11th, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^
Looks like were gonna find out if Mattinson is as good a recruiter as they say he is.
February 11th, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^
I don't know how recruiting really works, but at this point Fred Jackson is his primary recruiter. I think I read on rivals somewhere that Jackson is going to be in charge of Flint, Saginaw and Detroit.
February 12th, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
I suppose that's true, but for such a highly rated prospect, I've got to think that both Mattinson and Hoke will have some hand in his recruitment. Didn't Mattinson personally go to give him his offer too?
February 11th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
Same position, check. Same size, check. Same age... eh, not exactly? Wasn't it reported after Boo Boo was given the boot and during his legal trouble that he was actually two years older than the age he was listed as? If that was the case, it's hard to compare Richardson and Cissoko at the same stage because Cissoko was essentially an overager playing against high school kids.
February 11th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
He would have been ineligible to play in HS unless they forged his birth certificate.