Good vibes for Jordan Payton
Hi, it's me, putting on my TomVH/Ace hat.
Got a tip from someone close to Jordan Payton that he is "thinking about committing to M" and that the only realistic competition at this point is Oklahoma. Not certain, but if I had to guess I'd say he ends up in a winged helmet. This does not qualify as surprising news--premium sites have had M in the lead for Payton for a while--but it is independent confirmation.
/hat removal
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
YAHOO!
We need a stud receiver or two in this class. I'd love to see him in a winged helmet. Thanks Brian
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
Couldn't agree more. As always with recruits, I hope he comes in and performs up to the hype. It'd be great to have a big physical game changer on the outside.
Also, how'd Brian get so many points, does he post on here a bunch or something? /s
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
but I think he gets like 50 points for every front page post he makes.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Could you remove just a little more than the hat? You know, for your adoring fans?
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:35 AM ^
Ace hat >>> Ass hat
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
This is great! I have liked his play from the day we first heard about him. He looks like a technically sound receiver from my untrained eyes.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Hail yes!
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
Got your ninja suit on tonight I see.
Thanks for the good news.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^
needs moar cryptic.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
That is awesome news. Now on the flip side, there have been some pretty good sources saying that we've cooled on O'Brien and he is all but assuredly choosing Tennessee on the 6th. I guess that means we have room for Darboh too?
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:59 PM ^
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
Good points. I like Yuri Wright and hope he goes Blue. I think we'd find room for Dunn with a nice firm handshake to Mike Cox after this year. #noiwillnotmakeacoxjoke
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
they offer a firm hand shake to....OOOOO you mean they are gonna shake his firm hand.
September 23rd, 2011 at 8:34 AM ^
Thany you Peter Griffin...
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
my actual first name is writen in what you just said. And it's not Peter. And lot's of people call me Peter Griffin all the time as a result.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
Can you link these sources? It seems strange that this staff would allow an in-state like this to get away, doesn't it? With all they have talked about instate importance, and with our needs at D-line...
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^
Mostly just stuff I hear around the interwebz from insiderz and stuff. I'm not trying to fan and rumor flames or anything, just thought I'd pose a recruiting question in a recruiting themed thread as opposed to starting something new. We'll all find out for sure with regards to O'Brien in a couple of weeks. I find it odd that we'd take a pass on a player at a position of need, but I'm not our coaches.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^
from Sam Webb or someone who got it from Sam Webb.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:01 PM ^
Yes! Now here's a gif.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
who is on WTKA every Thursday morning?
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
listening to the podcast .. it was just a joke.
Wow, some people here need to lighten up.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Chinatown.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
feel about Payton's skills compared to say, Burbridge.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:09 PM ^
Fantastic, if not equal ball skills, and slightly less speed.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
I picture him as sort of the Junior Hemingway mold. Won't blow you away with speed, but will catch 98% percent of the balls that are thrown his way. Jordan Payton will be a very, VERY big pickup for us.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Jordan Payton is also beefier and lot more physical than Burbridge. Darboh is more like Burbridge. Both are Stonum type receivers. Hemingway or Avant are better comparisons for Payton. Don't let that mean Payton is less than Burbridge, he's still very good.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
If comparing someone to Avant is an insult, you can call me Miles Davis. Me and my buddies were just comparing Hemingway to Avant, and to add Payton into this conversation with those two just makes me that more excited.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
I agree with you, Jasan Avant is one of the most underrated receivers we've ever had. He had to share the spotlight with a few other future NFL WRs while he was here, so he often doesn't get the credit he deserves.
And I'm not saying Payton will be as good as Avant, but he could be. He's just more of that kind of player.
September 23rd, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^
probably more possession-y. Still a very good prospect.
Darboh is viewed as more of a big play receiver.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^
Rivals: Payton #18 WR, Burbridge #20 WR
Scout: Payton #12 WR, Burbridge #16 WR
24/7: Payton #26 WR, Burbridge #8 WR
ESPN: Payton #25 WR, Burbridge #38 WR
They're both excellent prospect (4 stars on all sites), and Payton seems to have fewer academic questions. Be happy if this happens.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
about the ratings and stuff. Was curious about the overall skill sets though. I hadn't seen his ESPN and 24/7 rankings though. Interesting to see how players rate when put up against that many sets of ratings.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
Jordan Payton:
Michigan
Oklahoma
Penn State
USC
Florida
Cal
Notre Dame
among others...
Aaron Burbridge:
Michigan
Illinois
Michigan State
Ohio State
Notre Dame
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^
in this particular case. Burbridge has serious grade issues, which can impact what teams offer.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
That problem seems done with, don't you think?
That said, most of our commits, minus a few, have very nice offer sheets. If anything, it helps to know, when we lose a nice instate talent like Burbridge, that we have the option to get one that's just as good.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
It looks to be cleared up now, but Burbridge went right from "iffy grades" to "committed" with a whole lot of "probably won't leave the state" in there as well. If Burbridge had waited on his commitment, not had grade issues, and shown more interest in schools across the country, he may have picked up more of the big national names outside the midwest.
That said, their offer lists aren't even that different. They both have UM and ND, so that's a wash. Payton has USC, Burbridge has OSU, that's a wash. Payton has a couple more elite offers, but if you're able to get the cream of the crop from your region, and Burbridge has, offer lists are hard to compare. For example - if one recruit had offers from Florida, Florida State and Alabama, and another recruit had Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan, are they really that different?
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
Oklahoma and Florida stick out too much.
And to be honest, you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to get into Oklahoma .. heck, Larry Holmes could probably get into Oklahoma.
Just saying...
September 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
Larry Holmes reference...nice. Easton, PA in the house!
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
I thought there were people on here "in the know" who were skeptical of Payton. Someone had said he was given his high ranking and offers based on his performance as a freshman and that he hadn't developed as well as people expected him to. I know lots of people here were a lot higher on Darboh and the other WR targets.
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
I don't know if I'm "in the know" but there is truth to both of your statements. I am higher on Darboh than Payton, and Payton has been underperforming based on what was expected of him as a freshman. That said, it's not enough to not be excited about his commitment.
After Payton's freshman and soph years, people thought he'd be a top-5 receiver nationally, and a top 30-50 player overall. Instead, he's a top 15-20 receiver nationally and a top 150ish player overall. Yes, that's below where people thought he'd be as a senior. But it's still a very good player we'd be happy with.
September 24th, 2011 at 2:15 AM ^
That's good to hear. We do need some big posession receivers and I'm so in favor of us bringing in Payton and the Darboh. Although I would rather have another DT cuz DTs need a year to just eat and lift while WRs can just step in right away. If you need evidence of this flash back to the '05 PSU team where 4 true frosh stepped in at WR and torched everyone in the Big Ten except UM. Well I just got back from the Blue Lep and I'm drunk so forgive my ignorance but i gotta get up at 9:30 to meet some friends at Peirpont at 10:30. Hope we get there on time. GOOO BLUUUUUEEEEE YAAAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
Payton is from California. We need Sparty to help us with the whole national recruiting or we won't get this kid!!!
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
that we're as national as Sparty.
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
And I havent seen very much film on either but it's very hard to compare these two players. Rivals has payton listed at 6'2, 199 with 4.49 speed and other sites have listed his hands as a major strength, he is a possession receiver at the next level. Burbridge is the exact opposite of that, he is smaller in height and weight and is faster, making him a downfield target at the next level. If I had to choose it would be difficult, but I would lean towards payton because of burbridge's grade issues.
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:20 AM ^
he's quite that big
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
paytons probably more tested than burbridge since he's playing in California, competition level is higher. payton seems like a braylon Edwards, he'll be a great route runner with good hands who will go up and get it. where as burbridge is like a desmond fast and explosive. they both would be great to have, but I like payton. he's fast enough, and has the size, o hope he's like a micheal Floyd if he commits to us.
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
Is that you?