TOB - The Battle of Michigan - offers MSU vs Mich so far...

Submitted by TESOE on

TOB just posted part 4.  Lots of good stuff here.  The Battle was really a Dantonio / RR story but clearly Hoke is looking to mine the homefront.  Thanks to TOB for this...

 

Neither team has any commitments yet, but the list of prospects both schools have offered and are pursuing is impressive:

 


  1. LB James Ross, Orchard Lake St. Mary's
  2. WR Aaron Burbridge, Farmington Hills Harrison
  3. LB Royce Jenkins-Stone, Detroit Cass Tech
  4. CB Terry Richardson, Detroit Cass Tech
  5. DE Mario Ojemudia, Farmington Hills Harrison

In addition, Michigan has offered these prospects, but not MSU...:


  1. DT Dan O'Brien, Flint Powers
  2. TE Devin Funchess, Farmington Hills Harrison
  3. WR/TE Ron Thompson, Eastpointe East Detroit

...while MSU - but not UM - has offered the following:


  1. WR Dennis Norfleet, Detroit Martin Luther King
  2. OL Kelby Latta, Battle Creek Harper Creek
  3. DL Matt Godin, Novi Detroit Catholic Central
  4. DT Jabari Dean, Detroit Renaissance
  5. S Riley Bullough, Traverse City St. Francis

10 offers from MSU and 8 from UM - 13 prospects total - is a very, very large number so early in the process. It's a sure bet that both schools were certainly offer at least some of the kids the other side already has. And that's not even factoring in kids that neither have offered yet but are still evaluating and waiting to see in camp during the spring and summer.

http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/2011/02/battle-of-michigan-2011-…

MattisonMan

February 11th, 2011 at 2:13 AM ^

MSU's certainly not making any easier on us but as long as we don't have an implosion year on the field, we should regain our firm grasp on the state.

It's amazing that Ohio has such a strong talent base and they don't even have to share it with any serious in-state competition.  Imagine florida without florida state and the U.  

mejunglechop

February 11th, 2011 at 3:35 AM ^

MSU is near their apex, we're near our nadir. We better still kick their ass. What else is being big brother about? But really, TOB's fascination in itself with the in-state recruiting battle is in itself odd and unsettling. Excuse the arrogance, but the very fact that Michigan blogger should feel the need to defend this school is rather baffling. We have better tradition, facilities and academics, if it's even close there's a problem.

TESOE

February 11th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^

your saying it's a problem.   Honestly IMO ... I think our out of state more than compensated for this 11 to 10 near victory in 2011. 

The Gholston and Thomas recruitments were major losses for M and discussed non stop.  TOB had good insight on this and this series was born.  The topic is germane as long as there is top notch talent in state... ie it's germane to Hoke's success and M's success in 12 and onwards. 

Does Mattison want Jabari Dean?  If Bullough gets an offer then I think this subject is dead.  Godin will be offered IMO.

Tater

February 11th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^

Whether you agree or disagree with TOB, I feel pretty confident in saying that there are maybe  (and I mean MAYBE) three people here who know more about recruiting than he does.  One is Tom VH and the other two are coaches.  I think his use of facts to dispel myths about MSU "dominating instate recruiting" is quite appropriate, very well done, and not the least bit "odd" or "unsettling."  

YMMV.

dennisblundon

February 11th, 2011 at 8:24 AM ^

This year things should start to return to status quot. On the field we obviously return just about everybody. They lose their 2 leading tacklers on defense and a few guys in their secondary. On offense they lose both tackles and their center, so their running game should take a step back.

As for recruiting, I don't see any big recruits coming out of Renaissance, this should mean we get our pick of the in state recruits. Honestly how many times has Sparty beat us for a recruit that wasn't out of one of their feeder schools? I say lets beat OSU next year and dominate the world in recruiting.

Hoke_Floats

February 11th, 2011 at 8:45 AM ^

I always was of the opinion that MSU had to take the kids with poor academics or sketchy backgrounds b/c UofM would take the talent with good grades and 'church going' tendancies or OSU would take them or ND.  But that seems to be changing a bit.

I just hope MSU gets good kids period (but only after UofM has said pass)

MGoReverend

February 11th, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^

Do we know if Matt Godin is planning on coming out for a Junior day or another visit any time soon?  I know that Tim said in "Wednesday Recruiting" that the new staff might be waiting to do some more evaluation but, Godin seemed to be excited about us after his visits.  Anyone have any more information or insight into his situation?

Michigania

February 11th, 2011 at 10:06 AM ^

Note to Brian....  that 4 Part piece was absolutely FANTASTIC.  Thank you for that work.

Though note, in one of the Parts, you list a ton of states with talent yet make no mention of Illinois, which I think you should, especially this year, for we are hitting it hard with Diamond, Voltz, others...  Illinois has alot of talent and should have been mentioned.