Your most coveted 2017 recruits

Submitted by Hard-Baughlls on

First post...be gentle.  I was thinking who were the most coveted recruits left on the board for us this cycle and why.  Here's my top 5.

1) Cesar Ruiz - Having a solid center is a great start to building a dominant line

2) DPJ - Looks like we will already have a great reciever haul, but want to keep him away from OSU and MSU.  He seems to be a big UM lean, so would hurt if he went elsewhere.

3) Drew Singleton - Keep that Paramus Jersey pipeline flowing

4) Baron Browning - Looks like an elite LB and opens up the Texas floodgates

5) Leatherwood - Go head to head with Bama for a top recruit and flip him.

* I would have put in Najee Harris which would make it 2 years in a row where we get the top recruit, but it looks like a flip from Bama will be really tough at this point.

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1974

October 6th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^

No offense, but this kind of thinking (echoing the OP, who wrote "... want to keep him away from OSU and MSU ...") hurts my brain. We have Harbaugh. Let's just get good recruits. I agree that a 4-star from Michigan is, "all other things equal," more desirable than one from Arizona, but I think the geographical origin of recruits is overrated. What if Michigan's top-tier players were no better than a Rivals 5.5 (low 3-star) and Dantonio got all of them while Harbaugh was pilfering a bunch of New Jersey 4-stars? Would you care?

Joined: 04/17/2011

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getsome

October 6th, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^

yeah, the goal remains signing the best possible class.  as long as theyre locking down top-of-their-board targets and valuing all 85 scholarships by signing dudes they envision as impact players, geography doesnt mean a ton.

re most coveted, id say tufele, people-jones, ruiz and ambry thomas (if were talking uncommitted and realistic targets).  id love to see harris, wills, delpit, leatherwood, solomon, garrett, etc but they seem like long shots (and im sure im missing names of numerous top prospects).  i think theyll end up with a nice OL haul regardless (both quality and quantity) and they already have their QB and a ton of commits so id priortize the 2 best in-state athletes plus ruiz and tufele at 2 key spots

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canzior

October 6th, 2016 at 4:25 PM ^

at some point that school will have 4 and 5 star players, and if you have a relationship with the school and coaches you have an advantage.  Also proximity allows the players to come to campus more often which is always a benefit.  Finally throw in kids who go to MSU and aren't recruited by M...they havea  chip, and chips fuel DISRESPEKT

Joined: 05/28/2010

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Mr Miggle

October 6th, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^

There will always be multiple in-state players we want. It is important to have a base in recruiting and we need to protect ours. We'll be going up against OSU and MSU frequently in-state and I'd like to see us win those battles. MSU will take a step back in talent when we do. That's a side benefit. A strong MSU has won recruiting battles against us in nearby states too. A weak MSU rarely did.

Joined: 10/07/2010

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Steeveebr

October 7th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^

I don't disagree with most of what you said, but I want to point out that we are building multiple bases of recruiting under harbaugh many of which are out of state.  I think the biggest reason MSU is taking a back seat in recruiting again is that both schools are recruiting the same types of players again.  This didn't happen during the spread years when MSU was able to find some success.  It's awesome to win the head to head battles but I'm not sure it's good practice to recruit a player just to keep him from another school.

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Double-D

October 6th, 2016 at 2:56 PM ^

Then the WRs (with DPJ along comes Ambry and JKP). Add Tufele and Bey and a couple LBs and we are looking good. Edit. If you have the wall whoever you have at RB is going to be looking good and it also may be your best chance to flip Najee.

Joined: 12/21/2013

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schreibee

October 6th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^

There's something about flipping a commit Bama really wants that sends a message. I'd love any and all of the players listed of course, and keeping the best MI talent Blue is very important.

But... getting Leatherwood and/or Najee would be a COUP, no doubt about that!

Joined: 11/02/2009

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Coldwater

October 6th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^

I want DPJ and JKP to commit right now so they can start recruiting for Michigan. If they know already they are coming to Michigan they should stop the other visits and commit!
I'd love to see Leatherwood flip to Michigan. That would be huge.

Joined: 12/14/2008

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Pit2047

October 6th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^

1. Ruiz. We NEED a center this class unless we plan on playing Bredeson there.

2. Jay Tufele/Aubrey Soloman - Also NEED a true NT. Mone is the only guy on the roster next year unless we flip Onwenu.

3. DPJ - Best WR in the country? Yes please.

4. Leatherwood - With Newsome's injury we need tackles and he looks like the best prospect. Would take any of the tackles we are in on though

5. Browning - How long has it been since we had a DUDE at LB? Peppers but he is a DW (defensive weapon).

6. Harris - don't need anymore RBs this cycle but have you seen his highlight tape?!

7. Ambry Thomas - elite local CB? Yes please.

8. Darnay Holmes - elite CB? Yes please

Joined: 06/12/2013

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UMfan21

October 6th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^

Good names already mentioned.  I'll just add Nico Collins to the list.  Collins, DJP, and Ruiz would make me very happy.  But there are many great targets out there.

Joined: 09/28/2009

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Nolongerusingaccount

October 6th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^

1) DPJ/Nico Collins. It has been awhile since UM has recruited stud 5 star receivers.

2) Leatherwood. Good football name and massive human being.

3) Solomon/Jeter/Irving-Bey. Chances with two-thirds are unlikely since Solomon has already decommitted and Jeter has already committed to ND, but UM will need to build more DL depth.

4) Ambry Thomas. A ballplayer. Plus, good to see in a UM uniform than Sparty one.

5) McCaffrey. More QBs for Harbaugh to work with.




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