Helmholdt re: Pike: "it appears the Wolvernes won't land him"
We'll all find out this afternoon, but wanted to pass on that Josh Helmoldt of Rivals wrote an article in the Freep this morning with that statement, also implying that Auburn was the choice, FWIW. He also discussed other QB prospects we are targeting here:
http://www.freep.com/article/20110420/SPORTS06/110419076/Recruiting-U-M…
UPDATE: Zeke Pike texted Richard Davenport of the ARPreps.com that he is in fact already down to four schools: Arkansas, Michigan, Purdue and Auburn. (That's the order in which Davenport listed the finalists, but we're uncertain if it's the order he got from Pike.) Josh Helmholdt, writing for the Detroit Free Press, says that "it appears the Wolverines won't land" Pike, which would mean that Pike is choosing from among just three options.
Pike's press conference is set for 2:15 p.m. ET. FWIW, JC Shurburtt of 247Sports.com predicts that Pike will commit to Auburn, which will set up an interesting battle between Pike and four-star early-enrollee Kiehl Frazier as the Tigers' future signal-caller.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
how many times have we seen these guys predict wrong? They're like the freaking weather man/woman.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
As the resident meteorologist, I take offense to that! You try predicting the weather.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
If you take offense to weather jokes. Comes with the climate; for lack of a better word.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Don't get your hopes up about Pike on this morning's Recruiting Roundup. Said Zeke would have had a last minute change of heart if he chose Michigan.
Tough loss, but we'll be okay. Still some good prospects to grab for this year; if not, we go all out to land Shane Morris for 2013 class.
how good is shane morris actually expected to be? people have been throwing his name around a lot, and Ive heard hes slated as the top QB in michigan for 2013. but where is he on a national level?
From everything I have read on the kid I wont be surprised if he is at the same level as Pike is this year or even a little better. If we miss on Pike I would more then ok taking a lower rated guy and going all out for Morris next year.
Don't get me wrong though I still really want Pike.
I will preface my statement by saying that I am not a scout or football coach, just a big football fan who has seen Morris play.
While I really wanted Pike, I'm still higher on Morris, especially his throwing. Pike is one huge human being with a good strong arm, but I think Morris, especially for what he did as a sophomore, can place the ball anywhere he wants while in the pocket or rolling out.
I'd still like a solid QB this class, of course, but Denard -> Devin -> Shane wouldn't be bad at all. Plus, who knows how Bellomy will develop. My opinion FWIW.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
between big time QBs...
Sr. - Robinson
So. (RS) - Gardner
Fr. - Pike
My conservative guess is that he would be be a top ten pro-style quarterback for 2013. Probably higher, but I don't want to get people's hopes up too much.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
My hopes are officially up.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Same here, to me he is already the #1 QB for the 2013 class.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
You must have Dayton connections. Insider!
He doesn't really saying anything we don't already know when it comes to the perception of things. He doesn't have anything concrete or new saying that Pike is going to commit to Auburn or anywhere else that isn't Michigan. I understand that he's with Rivals, but this seems to just be a story updating the people who haven't been paying attention to what might happen.
Come 2:15 PM, I'll be prepared for whatever happens. I hope you all are too.
there are just too many other good QB prospects out there, to get worked up if we don't land Pike.
<br>
<br>If he doesn't want to go blue, I wish him luck elsewhere.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
I'd be cautious telling people around here what they can and can't get worked up about.
This article was written around 1 a.m , so this article does not include any "new info" from late this morning. Seems to be more speculation. We shall see. Good article, none the less.
Yea-I am not counting on it-but im not as positive he won't be picking us as I have been with other top prospects. So thats a victory on its own right?
April 20th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
In a way yes, but in a far more real way no.
Oh well he was a big fish we missed out on, thankfully Hoke has shown an ability to close with most of the kids he targets (Hart/Frost not withstanding but he did get Countess to reaffirm his commitment).
God I hate Auburn. How much longer can they possibly go before the hammer drops, will it ever drop? (I'm not implying that Pike's recruitment was dirty, I just mean in general)
It doesn't matter if Auburn's recruitment of Pike is on the up-and-up or not. Having bought Cam Newton and a National Championship last year, they can now reap the benefits of being the reigning NC (tainted though it may be) and draw in an elite class (they were #2 according to Scout.com in 2011).
Conclusion: Cheaters DO prosper in college football. USC, OSU and Auburn all bought themselves a MNC and, in the case of the first two teams, it resulted in a decade of dominant play. I expect Auburn will benefit greatly from their cheating ways. Even after they get hammered by the NCAA they will have stockpiled a bunch of elite talent and be set for years to come.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
Yes, fuck Auburn with a red-hot fire poker, regardless of whether or not Pike goes there. That is all.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
NCAA simply doesn't have the chops to regulate the situation. It's completely out of control to the point that one must assume the top tier programs are cheating. Sad state of affairs.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^
I guess the good news is that the NCAA is at least trying to investigate. You would think that at some point they would get irritated by the blatant cheating at some schools, and really drop the hammer.
Also, some are saying that they may be having the worst offseason for a defending champ ever. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.
The good news for Pike is that Auburn only has like six plays, so he shouldn't have to study much.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/18/jon-gruden-puts-cam-newton-on-the-spot/
Maybe they only have 6 plays because that's all Cam Newton is capable of understanding?
Malzahn is widely considered to be one of the elite OCs in all of football. When you have someone like Newton at QB, you probably only need like 6 different plays to win most of your games. Penn State only has about 3 plays on defense and has been pretty successful on that side of the ball for a very long time.
So... any idea if Shane Morris is planning to attempt to put together a "mega class" next year that we might be lucky enough to land?
I'm telling you guys, It's Purdue. #Blindguess
I am not ready to give up on this one just yet. I stand by my statement about the trees if he does in fact choose Auburn.
but that's just stupid - isn't the guy from 'Bama that did this going to jail? And you're condoning this?
<br>
<br>
Of course I am not. I am just messing around, but there is always a few who don't take it that way. No I wouldn't kill the bulldog from Georgia or the leprechaun from ND for things their football program did. Now take the stick out of your ass.:/
*not trying to be a dick but the last sentence just seemed to fit the theme.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
and after I take it out of my ass, I'll shove it up yours.
<br>
<br>You made the same stupid comment the other day about the Auburn trees, so why would anyone take this comment as a joke?
<br>
<br>No, you probably wouldn't kill UGA over a football issue, but my guess is you'd kick him pretty hard.
<br>
<br>Let's all take this down a notch and remember that while we are all passionate about Michigan football and recruiting 18 year old kids, it's still just a game.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
Good gravy, man, they're just trees. Easy, Francis.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
I don't really care that much about the trees, I was just looking for a fight this morning
April 20th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
alright for fighting, Wednesday morning's alright, alright, alright...wooooooooo!
April 20th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
The tree comment was just my clever way of saying fuck Auburn. If I were to go all insane fan as you suggest, the trees would be safe, however Cam Newton's knee cap would not be. Feel free to take this comment seriously.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
If I could I would +1 that bama fan..
<br>
<br>Fuck nature.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
you wouldnt have to kill UGA, just wait a couple months and the new one will be deal already
April 20th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Isn't that what this /s is for?
I wonder if Pike watches the news? Because if he has he would have seen the shit Auburn got themselves into and wouldn't go within 100 miles of that school for fear of a contact infraction.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
Are paying him more than the other guys, and it'll take him twice as long to come out with the truth as to why he spurned Michigan. (If indeed he does).
Quite frankly I don't care if we lose guys to situations like that, as I'd rather have an upstanding insitution to cheer for than sleeze bags like "Ohio" Michigan State, USC, Oregon, LSU or Auburn. They might win championships, but how long will their banners stay up? i.e. John Calipari at Memphis, the Fab 5, USC/Reggie Bush.
Let's get creative boys