Michigan has #1 recruiting class on ESPN now.
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/classrankings
2. Texas
3. LSU
4. Florida
8. Notre Dame
13. Ohio State
14. Penn State
17. Northwestern
It's early, and the class size will be small, but I like our chances of ending with a top 3 class.
I'm bored at work, so what the heck, here are our top remaining targets and rankings.
2. Jabrill Peppers. ATH
4. Da'Shawn Hand. DE
55. Alex Bars. OL
69. Malik McDowell. DL
75. Corey Holmes. WR
85. Artavis Scott. WR
87. Parker Westphal. CB
This is an interesting read for those that have ESPN insider.
http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/michigan/forums/_/the-den#!/topic/1368660589-723-899
This is pretty good news even if it is ESPN really, and it is interesting that it should come now that I am working on a diary about recruiting rankings. I've been using Rivals data, but the last two classes (2012 and 2013) have the average recruit at 3.5 stars or better, which is far above the conference mean. Right now, the average for 2014 is at 3.44 stars, but that's with only nine commits to date.
Within the conference, even Ohio State has not strung together three straight years at 3.5 or better in my own research, so it would be great to be the first to do that. It's also a good situation when your seven remaining targets are all in the Top 100 per their list anyway.
but I know in years past ESPN has been the least kind to us rating-wise overall (they had us at 7 in 2012, and Scout had us at 4, 6 in 2013, Scout at 2, etc.), so could this odd flip in bullishness be maybe because ESPN has evaluated our prospects more recently? I know a couple places haven't really looked at people for a few months, so they might bump up soon enough.
TomVH?
will report whatever increases readership/viewership. Right now, Hoke seems to be in good favor with them, except Coach Holtzthhhh.
Pretty small. It will start around 12-15 but should grow a few spots due to the normal level of attrition.
(Score: 1,000 Normal)
Sure that wasn't his shadow's time?
/s
Probably won't matter in the end...but still sweet to see. Something I've never seen before since I've followed recruiting.
ESPN is amazing at evaluating talent. This is probably the best talent evaluating to ever occur
Michigan/Elsewhere (IMHO):
2. Jabrill Peppers. ATH 95/5
4. Da'Shawn Hand. DE 45/55
55. Alex Bars. OL 0/100 (ND commit)
69. Malik McDowell. DL 70/30
75. Corey Holmes. WR 30/70
85. Artavis Scott. WR 45/55
87. Parker Westphal. CB 85/15
I believe we will get Peppers, Westphal, and McDowell. I would be happy if we get one of the other guys, ecstatic if it's Hand.
I think Getting McDowell and Peppers could really put a dent into VT's lead with Hand...he will want to play in a great D and I'm sure a lot of commitments will be in town for the ND game. Most or all of the 14 class could be committed by then and help swing things in our favor
since recruiting by potluck
Hand is #1 to 247 and Rivals, and was once #1 to Scout. ESPN doesn't like him as much tho