TomVH: LB Joe Bolden Update
Ohio LB Joe Bolden (6'2", 225 lbs) was up at Michigan around two weeks ago. If you don't remember, you can see his visit reaction here. Bolden came away very impressed from the visit last time.
I spoke with him tonight and he told me that he will be back up to Michigan next Tuesday (April 12th) with his parents. He also told me that he believes he is close to a decision, he's just not sure when it will come.
I should also point out that Michigan commit OL Caleb Stacey has been recruiting Bolden and trying to get him to come to Michigan. We'll see what happens.
The coaches have told recruits "We're going to take six offensive linemen." So I'm going to trust that over speculation. Three linebackers would give us plenty. Five linemen still wouldn't give us a stellar number of players for 2012, especially with the washout rate of offensive linemen.
that means its either Ron Thompson or Devin Funchess or would we take both?
I think we would only take one of those two. Thompson is more likely.
Cuz if not, it does sound like someone is going to have a very strong gut feeling soon...
Tom thanks as always for a good update. Bolden would be a nice addition and a solid way to start our defensive recruiting for the next class. Hardworking leaders are always a plus to get, and could help some more pieces fall into place early on.
thx tom. always look for and appreciate your posts.
Yooo Joe!
Well, outside of Demens, none of our other members of LB Corp are really proven, so I wouldn't be opposed to taking 4 LBs in this class. Will be interesting if anyone chooses to leave after spring practice. I think we'll end up with 20-21 schollies for class IMO.
Four linebackers wouldn't be out of the question. We lose three to graduation this year (Fitzgerald, Evans, Herron), which would leave us with the 6 current players plus the 4 freshmen. Adding another 4 players in 2012 would bring our numbers to 14 (assuming no further attrition). That's a little high to fill only 3 positions, but it's feasible.
that J.B. Fitzgerald is a senior!
...another case of a stupidly burned redshirt.
Definitely feasible and it seems that Mattison knows how to get multiple linebackers on the field at different spots. If Ross and Stone are the best players available and we don't have to turn away someone of need I am sure we will find a spot if they want in.
Possible 3-4 in future adpating to personel?
It's possible. Mattison has run both. But we're still recruiting 3-tech style DT's like Sheldon Day.
what i'm thinking. He did run a 3-4 with the ravens. Besides Cam Gordan and maybe Kenny Demens who else do we have? I think we have a lot of talent on are roster but it's unproven GO BLUE!!!
Possibility of some position switches for some of the guys currently listed under LB. Frank Clark was also considered a possibility at TE (need some depth there). Hopefully one of the bigger guys like Paskorz can move to DE (need depth there too). Also it has been discussed that Desmond Morgan would make a great FB.
The staff isn't going to turn down RJS , Biggs, Bolden or Ringer when we have little "proven" depth.
Paskorz might be moving to TE. In one of the scrimmage videos it shows him playing some TE.
I'm not sure if that's Paskorz or a walk-on. There's also a #94 with a white jersey on, which could very well be Paskorz.
I will take him any day on my recruiting list. I want kids with character, smart & good ballplaying skills. The coaching staff recognizes this 3.9 core gpa. Come on. He is looking at tradition, defensive schemes, academics.
We shall see what happens.
Sounds promising! Thanks TomVH!!
Could turn "we could be getting a 4* LB" into a problem. Beyond that he would probably be the highest ranking LB on the roster, isn't it nice to wonder "how are we going to fit all these great players who want to come?" rather than the "ANOTHER 3*?!?" fights? Let's get them all to actually commit (and close enough that they'll sign too), and then worry about it.
Well what else should we complain about then? "Damn, that 5* QB had a great visit?", or "Shit, all this positive press is terrible." We are what we are.
Is it due to that thing called upperclassmen? I've heard rumors of it, but I'm unfamiliar. Any help from the board would be much appreciated.
Ringer was in town this weekend.
TOM...whats your feeling on Ross and Jenkins-Stone? Because it certainly seems that Ohio LBs appear to be more interested in Michigan, than the local two. Ross I hear grew up an OSU fan and Jenkins-Stone I hear is getting ideas of SEC-grandeur.
ringer > bolden. Idk film can obviously be misleading. but this class can take 2 LBs max...is bolden worth it?
Ringer has offers from Iowa, Ilinois, Syracuse, and West Virginia, among others. But that may be because schools saw it as an Iowa/Michigan race early.
Bolden has offers from Tennessee, Stanford, North Carolina, Arizona, as well as Illinois, Syracuse, West Virginia and Northwestern.
If the 4 linebackers we take are the #1 and #2 in MI, and the #1 and #3 guys in OH? Yes, we can take 4.
but there are needs all over the field and last recruting class we really overloaded the team with linebacker prospects. we need to focus on the two lines, 2 TE's, 1 QB, 1 RB. idk btw we may have jumped to conclusions with bolden btw, he has a sweet offer sheet. I dont mind if he picks michigan but I want those Cass Tech boys.
you can say that,now i'm no expert nor do i know him but from that post it seems like he is BLUE.
not 16. Sorry not trying to be a stickler, but the number to reach at the moment is 18 not 16, and after attrition I would figure we will be looking more towards 20-21 by fall. Just a gut feeling. So if we have to take 4 LB's I don't think it will be a problem in the end. We also need do need a WR or two in this class. After this season gone are Odoms, Stonum, Grady, and Hemmingway. That leaves J. Robinson, Jackson, Stokes, Williams, Gallon, Roundtree, and Robinson (Not sure Dielo will be anything but ST).
By my count, we will have 84 scholarship players in the fall. Fifteen of them are leaving.
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2011/01/eligibility-count-for-2011.html
15 + 1 = 16
If I somehow miscounted in there, please tell me where.
(I know it's yellow text, which is hard to read. I haven't had a chance to change it yet.)
do you mean 'maize'? yellow is dead to me.
Touche.
This might be a stupid question Magnus, are you counting in Ray?
It's not a stupid question, but no, he was removed from the list and not counted.
Not trying to be a dick but where's the 18 coming from? By my count we have 84 schollies (after Vinopal left) with 15 graduating seniors which gives us 16 to give.
Only guess I can make is that you aren't renewing a couple 4th year guys for 5th years. To each their own but maybe we should see what happens this season before crossing that bridge....
That we wouldn't still take Ross and RJS? I certainly don't. I know the numbers, but still, don't be surprised if they take 4 LB.
And I still think we will have 20 schollies to give out.
In this era, there is attrition even on teams that didn't have coaching change. Nowadays, players are FB friends with their old HS teammates and players they meet along the way. When they aren't getting the PT they wanted, an ex-HS teammate from Generic Directional University will say something like, "Hey, I know GDU isn't where you wanted to go, but I really like it here and you are tons better than the guys playing your spot here right now."
So, they transfer to GDU, play a few years, and still don't make the NFL, which is every player's original intention. But at least they played in college. Usually, those players are doing both teams a favor because they are freeing up schollies for new recruits and are giving the lesser schools a usable player.
I would imagine that at least five players would leave in any coaching change year. The number has been low so far, and that is to Hoke's credit, but I think we'll have a much better idea of where things (and players) are going after the spring game is over, or maybe after the semester ends.
but both Rivals and Scout have 18 available schollies for next year.
Mike Willaims counted too maybe? Terrence Talbott is on the roster but not offically back with the team is what I have read numerous places. If he doesn't come back maybe that free's up another?
I counted Williams in with the seniors since he's on a medical scholarship and this will be his last year anyway. That's still 16. My guess is they're either budgeting for attrition before it happens or they're thinking a couple redshirt juniors won't get a 5th year. 18 could very well be available, just don't think the math adds up right now.
Unless Rivals and Scout are withholding information about guys who have departed, then 18 is too many.
I didn't count Mike Williams.
I've heard that Terrence Talbott is still on the team, and he's still on the roster. So I can't remove him from the list yet.
Magnus,
Was Kovacs awarded with a scholarship for next year? For some reason I thought he had a year-to-year wait and see since he was a walk-on.
MMP
He is a Domer fan. I am sure at least an ND offer would give him pause, and maybe even OSU. Way too early to be worried about creating room for other recruits who may or may not end up here anyway.
if we dont take a wr, not having any in 2 classes sound slike disaster ... the point pry doesnt matter though because the class will pry be bigger than 16