Who's this year's second most important recruit?

Submitted by jmdblue on

While most of us are looking at next year's squad as a top ten and potential playoff outfit, 2017 is a different story.  We'll lose all three top receiving options, every starter on what looks like the best secondary in the country (assuming Peppers moves on), over half the 2 deep on an elite DL, and likely 4 starting OL.  

Gary is clearly our most important recruit this year.  If he is even half what the world thinks he is he'll be All America by his 2nd year, but given our needs going into '17 I think the upcoming Raulerson visit is incredibly important.  

We'll either return a starting qb or a guy who supplanted a starting qb.  I'd also anticipate at least 1 solid RB.  Raulerson would anchor what could still be a good OL in spite of possibly 4 new starters (given Newsome's emergence and Dawson's hype).  Good OL and RB?  Sounds like the start of an offense that could protect a rebuilt defense.  Without Raulerson, my confidence in fielding a good OL in '17 is greatly diminished.

If we have a great year next year, 2017 will define national perspective of our program.  Did we have a confluence of Harbaugh and a bunch of great seniors followed by a dropoff, or are we already at the "reload" stage?

Thoughts?

MGoBoard

schreibee

January 15th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^

But isn't the question aimed at 2017? To my mind O'Korn will still be starting in '17, so I'm saying Devin Bush Jr is #2.

Position of great import (see last osu game - last several actually) with little depth. While '16 appears to be a great class with multiple future starters, and even potential stars, so many of them are of similar quality it's difficult to pick out one WR or 1 DB etc to say "That's our 2nd most important recruit" (assuming Rashan Gary here of course!)

Now in '18, if we've steadily moved up the hierarchy to B1G champ, CFP contender, etc, Peters may be huge in continuing the momentum. But in all honesty, he may be surpassed by Gentry or Dylan McCaffrey or another QB before he ever starts a game! So, no I'm not saying Peters...

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BrownJuggernaut

January 15th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^

This was my first inclination as well. Peters seems to have both the arm and athleticism to be next level under Harbaugh. At the same time, we've seen Harbaugh as the QB whisperer so does that mean that Michigan doesn't necessarily need the most gifted quarterback? Does that mean that whoever we recruit at QB is less important? I'm just spit balling for the sake of discussion cuz Peters would certainly be my choice behind Rashan Gary.

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champswest

January 15th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^

important but not critical this year. Who ever starts this year at QB will have at least one year of eligibility left in 2017. So we could still bring in a 5* stud QB in 2017, redshirt him his first year and start him in 2018. I would not be surprised to see Peters sit for two years before starting, so not that critical.

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Mich1993

January 15th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^

After Gary, the next most important recruit has to be either Long or Hill.  We need a top flight CB in this class.  Either Long or Hill appear to be a significant step up from any other DB on the roster once Peppers and Lewis take their talent to the NFL.  

LB and OL need the bodies, but our defense won't likely fall apart with the LBs we currently have and a redshirt freshman OL is unlikely to be a savior in 2017 relative to Cole, Newsome, Kugler, Dawson, Bushell-Beaty.

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SAMgO

January 15th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^

2017 is going to be rough. We're replacing almost the entirity of both lines so Kemp and Elliott are going to be hugely important on D, and then you need Bredeson and Big Mike and Swenson to step up on O. How our young lines preform in a couple years is going to ultimately determine if we can still win 9+ games that year.

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Big_H

January 15th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

I think this is overblown some. Just wait and see who steps up this year.

 

Dline: Gary..Hurst..Mone..Johnson/kemp/Marshall

With Elliot backing up Mone.

 

Oline: Newsome..Cole..Raulersen/Kugler..Bredeson/Owenu..JBB/Hamilton

 

Could return 3 starters on the oline for 2017 which is really good for most teams and you can't forget about Dawson.

 

Let's just see what happens but I am not at all worried. Kids will step up and you have to remember Harbaugh.

 

If we can land Hill and Long... to go with Cole..Kinnel..Peppers (2 short for NFL until 2018) and still have guys that redshirted this year. Everything will work out.

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Big_H

January 15th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

Yeah, I just don't see it unless he really blows up!! But, the only thing with that is he plays Nose Tackle and isn't supposed to be a penetrator like Mike Martin who got noticed all of the time but more like a space eater who kinda goes unknown. Just because he will be invisible at times doesn't mean he isn't extremely valuable though.

 

For a guy who played some as a freshman and didn't acquire a lot of stats I doubt he leaves for the NFL after his first whole season. AND he might not even be the starter after Ryan Glasgow cemented his name at that position this past year.

 

IMHO.. Mone will be back in 2017 as a Red-Shirt Junior and if his play warrants it he will leave after that..not much suggests otherwise besides hype and we all know how that has been the past couple years..

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A Fan In Fargo

January 15th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^

pretty salty, going to guess that 2017 won't be as strong but there is this guy who goes by the name of Harbaugh. Pretty descent trumping card. Just as Ohio reloads, Michigan is now in the same boat. One mustn't worry so much anymore about replacing players with underclassmen as these guys will be ready and skilled. Cant wait to see this 2017 recruiting class as well.

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Monkey House

January 15th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^

Devin Bush or David Long. the dline will take a step back so we need a fast lb that can clean shit up. secondary is going to need a lock down corner and Long is a true stud that can step right in.

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Leaders And Best

January 15th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^

We are going to lose a lot of players in 2017, and it is hard not to take a step back after that. I think next year is a lot more important for the future of the program. Having a big year in 2016 will solidify Michigan nationally and hopefully lead to another big recruiting class in 2017. The 2016 & 2017 recruiting classes are going to be the backbone of Michigan's future going forward.

For that reason, I think LB (Devin Bush Jr) is the most important recruit as it is the biggest hole on the roster for 2016 after QB.

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Wolfman

January 15th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^

Have no idea who they are, but  what I saw accomplished this year makes me think that probably as many as three players we did not see this year but who were learning the system will make a significant impact this year to keep the momentum going along with expectations.

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UofM626

January 15th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^

Gary - for obvious reasons. But to show the country u can be a beast and win in the big 10.

Peters - he will need to be Luck 2.0 if we are to be a top 4 team in the future.

Bredeson - saw him personally all week at the UA Game and he's a road grader and kept all D lineman at bay all weekend. He said he's probably gonna end up at guard.

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