What are your expectations for recruiting?
With a coach on board and Denard seemingly staying the time has come to obsess about the rapid approach of Signing Day. At this point, the general theme from the MSM is doom and gloom. What do you think? Is this class shot? Or can it become Hoketastic?
Current Situation
With the decommitment of Dallas Crawford, we have the following 12 guys committed: Brennen Beyer, Greg Brown, Blake Countess, Jake Fisher, Justice Hayes, Delonte Hollowell, Matt Goudis, Kellen Jones, Jack Miller, Desmond Morgan, Tony Posada and Chris Rock. Out of these guys, Beyer, Countess, Fisher, Goudis, Jones and Posada expressed some level of concern post-RR. Also, I'm still not sure, is Antonio Kinard in or out of this class?
The Absolute Minimum
My hope is that Hoke can keep all of the guys that we have, but I wouldn't be surprised if we lost one or two.
Somewhat Happy to Very Happy
If we can keep everyone and add some combination of Kris Frost, Devin Lucien, Chris Bryant, Thomas Rawls and Ramon Taylor-- all guys that we seem to have a pretty good shot to get-- I would consider that a nice save by Hoke and crew.
OMG, Hoke is a Golden God of Recruiting
If Hoke can land all of the above, get Dallas Crawford back in the mix, land Jack Tabb and/or Frank Clark, somehow convince DeAnthony Arnett that this offense fits him, talks Zettel into fulfilling his childhood dream, convince either Christian Heyward and/or Darien Cooper to go Blue and get a QB--- this might be my favorite class ever just based on the circumstances and would make me very excited for 2012.
I'm not even thinking about it.
"Coach, Dee Hart is on the line. He'd like to speak to you."
January 13th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
Somewhat Happy is very realisitic. I'm guessing that we get Bryant, Frost, Lucien, Rawls, and Taylor in the end.
After that, we need a DT and TE.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
Last I remember reading on here was there were questions regarding Rawls being able to qualify academically. Has anyone heard word on whether that has been resolved? I was under the impression that was the only item holding up his offer.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:38 AM ^
His last set of grades helped the overall situation but it was still cloudy.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:44 AM ^
Timmy Jernigan!
- or -
Ray Drew!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
If Hoke is Hired, They will come
January 13th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
we hired Hoke 2 days ago. Also, DVD players have replaced VCRs. I won't even get into Blu-Ray.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
Field of Dreams reference... but with hoke
January 13th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
But... again... we hired him already.
Moonlight Graham.
January 14th, 2011 at 12:12 AM ^
Every time I see you post, I hear Lionel Hutz (Phil Hartman) and laugh.
January 14th, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
Hartman is gone way too early. I'd love to see him do Hoke at the Presser yesterday.
January 14th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
Ball State University.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:15 AM ^
ooh yuk
January 14th, 2011 at 8:46 AM ^
Obviously, Farley would have done Hoke. It would have been a slight variation of Matt Foley.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
This year, low. Next year, high.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
A return to Texas/ California pipeline in favor of the Florida pipeline in the long run.
I could be wrong - but gut feeling
January 13th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
But I wonder if Denard could single-handedly keep a decent Florida pipeline open. He might be worth one or two FL players per year.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^
Hoke needs to keep the pipelines open to TX and CA, however if he doesn't have in roads to FL he needs to get on it ASAP. There is just way to much talent down there to not recruit it.
Under Bo, Mo, Lloyd (and even RR pulling Lewan from AZ) - Michigan always recruited nationally, and needs to continue to do so.
January 14th, 2011 at 12:12 AM ^
Until RR, we pull 1 or 2 guys a year out of Florida, I think. I remember the 2007 team, the only Florida guy was Matthews. We use to get guys out of Cal and Texas. So there are trade offs.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
Like Magnus and others have started, I don't want Arnett. He seems like too much of a prima donna.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
You'd take him alright. And your opinion would go from "prima donna" to "confident playmaker."
January 14th, 2011 at 1:36 AM ^
to "pre-Madonna."
January 13th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
MOAR 4*
January 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
I'd like to see Michigan get a QB in this class. The pickings are slim, and even the guys we potentially have a chance with (Cardale Jones), we don't really have a chance with, but I think it's important all the same. If not, then QB has to be a focus of 2012.
Arnett isn't coming, so put that one in the rear-view.
A few DTs would be really nice.
Keep Kellen Jones and Blake Countess (I think both just need/want a phone call and all is well).
Find a kicker if Goudis leaves for Miami (which seems likely).
January 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
People are skeptical that he would qualify. We'll probably have to apply Hokey Oil to get one.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
SDSU has a decently-rated QB commit for 2011 (high 3*, 5.7 RR), but I don't foresee Hoke trying to pry him away. So....yeah. 2012 it is!!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
I'd love to see at least one DT in this class. I'm not saying we don't need other positions shored up as well, but I was concerned about the lack of DT recruits under RR and I still am.
Regardless of coach or philosophy, the team that can dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball stands a better chance of winning, and I'm concerned about our D line depth over the next few years if we don't start landing some guys .
January 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
What about Lawrence Thomas? He's an in-state guy that might be favored by this coaching change... How solid is his commitment to little brother?
January 13th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
Lawrence Thomas is an MSU lock, through and through. It would be a waste of time to even consider him changing his commitment.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:58 PM ^
That's ok, he's overrated anyway...
January 14th, 2011 at 12:53 AM ^
I was wondering why a guy who was so highly ranked wasn't invited to any of the all star games.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:04 AM ^
I guess I don't know if he was invited (is there a full list of "invites" and "turn-downs?"), but I wonder if it's possible that he turned down an invite because he wants to play a winter or spring sport. Under idiotic MHSAA rules, if you participate in one of these all-star games, you are ruled ineligible to compete in any other high school sports thereafter.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:27 AM ^
That is ridiculous. I did not know that.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
LT played in the Under Armor game.
Deanthony Arnett (who I agree is a primadonna, but would still like to have him) turned down the all-star games because he plays on the basketball team.
I hate that MHSAA rule
January 14th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
Arnett played in the Army game.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:49 AM ^
He is. He didnt pick us
January 13th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
This is MICHIGAN for Heaven's sake!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
Keep the guys that are commited right now. Get Frost, Rawls (If qualified), Bryant, Lucien and Taylor.
Questions: Is Michigan still in the hunt for Tabb?
January 13th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
Tabb has supposedly eliminated Michigan, but according to a posting on the Wednesday Recruiting Update, we still might have a chance when announces tomorrow. Still, I wouldn't be holding my breath on that one.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
We may have to start flight-tracking from Bolivia.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
I'll choose to look at the sunny side: We have a damned kicker in the pipeline. If the guy's any good it could mean another 30 points next year. I'll take it.
January 14th, 2011 at 1:39 AM ^
which has more than a dozen scholarships to hand out even at this late date.
Sweet!
(Matt Goudis is the kicker.)
January 14th, 2011 at 6:53 AM ^
It was such a windfall when he committed and I hope Hoke can refresh his memory about the horrific state of our kicking and our genuine need for kickers. I hope Goudis is just using the Miami trip as a nice mid-winter warm up and not really to sign there.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:18 AM ^
maybe Hoke or Borges knows his coach or something. Will he be the #1 kicker right away at Miami? Because he will be at Michigan.