Time to get involved with Norfleet?

Submitted by drewro02 on

This blurb on Norfleet from 247 Sports at the Badger 7on7 National Championships in Texas today:

2. Dennis Norfleet, APB, Detroit (Mich.) King
This kid just keeps showing up at events and making people take notice. He is without a doubt one of the most exciting players in this 2012 class. Norfleet is undersized but he is as quick as they come and a rare competitor. He did his damage on Saturday with a new quarterback but he wasn’t slowed at all.

Recruiting: Norfleet is on record with Michigan State as his leader but we believe that Tennessee could be a major factor as well following his upcoming visit.

I realize he may not be the best fit for the new style of play, but this kid keeps tearing it up everywhere he goes. Almost seems like he's too much of a playmaker to not recruit this kid. Would hate to see him go to Sparty and have to face him for four years. If not UM, then hopefully Tennessee or someone else can pull him out of state.

Lupe Fiasco

July 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I think that even if we offer him and try to recruit him that he will end up here. Just never seemed like he cared to much about Michigan.

ILwolverine

July 2nd, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^

He may be a great player but with our new system I think he would only be a change of pace back.  With the number crunch we are under right now I don't think we can use a scholarship on that type of player, unless a few players fall through and we are left with extra spots.

ILwolverine

July 2nd, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^

So we should take every small running back just because there are a few exceptions?  In a normal class I wouldn't have a problem, but I don't think there is room this year.

Mr Mackey

July 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^

Correct me if I'm wrong, because I usually am and don't know anything about this kid, but I'm pretty sure he's nothing like Hart. Hart was short, but he was able to break tackles and stay on his feet no matter what. Norfleet is just small and quick, but not a guy who will break tackles

drewro02

July 2nd, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^

But he put up nearly 2000 yards last year, and 30 plus touchdowns as a junior. With that kind of production, and the way he has shown up on the camp circuit, it just seems to me like you gotta try to find a place for an athlete like this.

BrownJuggernaut

July 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^

You also have to consider that we took two running backs last year. We have a lot of running backs on scholarship and if we take one this class, it's probably going to be someone who fits the new running style that the coaches want to bring to Michigan.

shorts

July 2nd, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^

I don't think Michigan should go after Norfleet unless the staff sees him as a legitimate full-time starter. As was pointed out above, we took two RBs last year (including a shiftier type in Justice Hayes), and what we need isn't another change-of-pace guy for depth -- it's a true feature back.

I'm still of the opinion that if we can't get Dunn, Garmon or Marshall, we should bypass the position entirely in this class and take a couple more of the highly touted linemen (either side), which would benefit whichever running backs we do have.

Mr Mackey

July 2nd, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

I don't think we should offer him. As has been stated before, this is 7 on 7 where he's doing well, and that really accents athletes, not big bruising backs. I just don't see him contributing too much in this offense.

And even if we were to extend an offer at this point, it'd most likely be too much ground to make up

wlubd

July 2nd, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^

If the coaches wanted to get involved with Norfleet then they would have already. It's not as if they don't know about him.

michfan6060

July 2nd, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^

I think it is probably too late now, but I think this kid will be a heck of a player. As another poster pointed out Hart wasn't a very tall guy either.

TampaBLUE

July 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^

We can't take everybody and he is not that rare percy harvin type. We have plenty of needs. Patience, If we just do our job on the field then we can get great players every year. There is always a new and improved model coming out. I will trust the coaches until proven otherwise.

ken725

July 3rd, 2011 at 5:45 AM ^

I agree.  There is obviously a reason that he only has offers from Cincinnati, msu and Tenn.  He might have put up big number and been great in 7 on 7, but coaches all over the country seem to think he is not that special.  

Does anyone know if they play in the same league as Cass Tech?

umfan323

July 2nd, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^

could be where he does his damage for us and be change of pace back ... Noone on our team so far is a legit threat returning punts so I say we should offer him

HarBooYa

July 2nd, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

7 on 7 is richrod football. Still could be a change of pace back or slot. Talent is talent and this guy has numbers and tape to prove it. Also a "guy in our backyard". Hate to have msu "find a way to use him".

drewro02

July 2nd, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^

What is any different from the style of play that we plan to move to compared to what Michigan State does offensively? The kid is lightning quick, and a playmaker. I don't know why we couldn't line him up at RB and Slot similar to how LSU used Trendon Holiday a few years back. Also, I agree that having a weapon like this for kick and punt returns can change games.

drewro02

July 5th, 2011 at 2:00 AM ^

The point is, is that they offered him and want to add him to their team. Just don't wanna see a playmaker like that making  plays against us a few years down the road.

GoBlogSparty

July 2nd, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^

For the record, I can see Norfleet ending up at Tennessee. The staff did mention that they were only interested in one RB this class, and MSU got their guy in Tomkins from GA. I would hope the staff would make an exception for somebody like Norfleet or Mahone who they were pursuing as well.

HarBooYa

July 2nd, 2011 at 10:51 PM ^

I will still take pipkins, shittu and obrien to the exclusion of nor fleet. I love the guy if there is room but rbs will come to Michigan as will wrs particularly if Morris is top 3 rated in the country. I think if we get 2 of the 3 dt above and the other guys in this class stick our d will finally return to form very quickly. Absolutely love film on all those guys. If norfleet lingers it may make sense to maintain a relationship to keep him interested in case a spot materializes. Can't see doing it now with Dunn a possibility.

Callahan

July 3rd, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^

Not a slight of the kid, as I know virtually nothing about him, but aren't we all stocked up at the "undersized athlete that can play slot, RB or CB" position?

joeysos33

July 7th, 2011 at 1:55 AM ^

Watch this kids highlights from the Michigan camp in Febuary. He has a great football swagger and confidence and can just play.

-MiQuale Lewis 5'6 201 Ball State 2008 1736 yards 22 tds (coached by Hoke)

-Ronnie Hillman 5'10 175 Fr. SDSU 2010 1532 17tds (coached by Hoke)

 

I think this staff will take whoever can go out and Play football. Norfleet will keep proving and i hope he gets that UM offer.