Sam Webb Michigan Football Recruiting Update
Sam Webb has a 2014-2016 recruiting update in the Detroit News. One interesting target is 2015 Offensive Tackle Jake Fruhmorgen son of the former Alabama standout. Many say he is an Alabama lock but his father says he wants him to make his own choice and appears sincere about it. There are some Michigan ties there including him being friends with Tyrone Wheatly Jr. Getting this 4* recruit out of Florida would be great. Let's go Nuss!
Good Article. Link
January 19th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
I know Nuss went to KY on Thursday but since then things have been pretty quiet. Has Webb addressed this yet?
January 19th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
But he has do what he has to do.
Good luck to the young man and wish RBs can get the job done.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
Yes, Webb said he was supposed to speak with Harris, but his coach told him he doesn't want to talk to the media about football right now.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
Sam talked about Harris this morning on the GBW radio hour and (I only tuned in after they started but) he made it sound like we shouldn't be getting our hopes up that Harris will stick with his commitment. It sounds like the whole process, including interaction with fans on Twitter, is really wearing on him and he doesn't want to talk with the media for a while. While he hasn't really given any indication as to whether he is wavering it seems like a logical conclusion since he was really close with Borges.
I'm paraphrasing but that was a basic summary of what Webb said on the air about 4 hours ago.
January 19th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
In addition, SW said that it's not unusual at all that kids who commit so early will re-evaluate their options at some point. And with the Michigan coaching change, we should not be surprised if Harris does this. In any case, it might take a little while before we learn anything definitive about his plans.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
Making a nearly one hour commute into Ann Arbor gives me a chance to listen to Sam's morning show on the way in. Now I have to hear the podcast of the ones I miss! Time burner!
January 19th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
not re: tweeting about stauskas (i don't closely follow what these high schoolers tweet about) but more as relates to hating the process/spotlight and not liking to talk to reporters. main difference is he has already "committed"
i am interested to see if/where borges lands on his feet and whether harris follows based on the good relationship those two appear to have. has BBrown spoken with or attempted to speak with him?
January 19th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
It is absolutely nothing like the "McDowell situation".
January 19th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
i was talking about TheGeneral's comment about harris hating the process, spotlight, reporters, etc. last I read, mcdowell appears to have similar sentiments. please, enlighten me as to why this is not true rather than flatly dismiss the comparison. TIA
January 19th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
I didn't read your post very carefully. But I didn't downvote you either, so... TIA?
January 19th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Now if we can only get some wins on the field our recruiting can really take off.
January 19th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Not sure if the silence on the Harris front is good or not. He would really look good in a Michigan uniform.
January 19th, 2014 at 11:30 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Harris is a child. Children are fickle. When I was that age I could barely figure out what shirt to wear to school, let alone what university I was going to play major sports at. He will waiver on his commitment because that is what kids do, they question themselves and their decisions. One way or the other his commitment (or decommitment) will work itself out on the field next year. Calm down.
January 19th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
Impressive generalities here. Child, really? Child, please. By 11 they are early adolescents, so at least go with teenager.
Children can be fickle. Teenagers can be fickle. Adults can be fickle. Of all things to call an athlete who is making a life decision based on a continuously fluid situation, fickle is not the one I'd use. There is nothing fickle about considering other schools because the coach you built a relationship has been let go. I'd go with smart or mature instead fickle.
If he starts talking about wanting to go to a school based on their local candy store, and then changes to say he prefers another school because they have a good fire department, then you can start slinging around fickle.
I do agree with your conclusion, however. Also: Fickle is Einhorn.
January 19th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
but for clarity, I'm not calling 11-year-olds teenagers.
I'm saying they're early adolescents by 11. So, for Damien Harris (age ~16), I'm not expecting you to use the developmental nomenclature of "adolescent", but at least go with teenager over child.
Child is both incorrect and can be demeaning. I'll let the amateur linguist Chad Ochocinco enlighten you on the intricacies of "child, please".
January 19th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
On their parents insurance policy until age 26. Uncle Sam says young people are children until age 26, why not go with that?
January 19th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
...pronounced onesey-one?
/michiganinsideriheartradioPSAshauntme
January 19th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
As much as id like to finish 2014 snagging Jeff Jones, Mcdowell is so much more important right now.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
top recruits. He has a OC known for developing top running backs. When he looks at this picture, it has to be tough for another team to beat when you consider he has always been a Michigan fan. Even if he decommits, I don't see him going anywhere.
January 19th, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
If he's really up around 290, then obviously he has the weight for the interior of the DL. But given how Hoke/Mattison like to run the 4-3 DL with the 3 technique, I question how McDowell fits in that scheme. He's probably not the NT (too tall, not heavy enough, not the body type to occupy two blockers), maybe the 3 technique (though again, his height may be an issue as maybe first step quickness). I don't see him as the DE.
If he's going to end up a 4-3 DE, his weight might actually work against him some. I'm going to roll with NFL stats b/c they're more valid (different college kids go against a wider range of schemes, level of opposition, etc.) But here are the top DEs in terms of 2013 sacks.
Robert Quinn, DE, 19 sacks, he's 6'4, 264
Greg Hardy, DE, 15 sacks, he's 6'4, 290
Cameron Jordan, DE, 12.5 sacks, he's 6'4, 287
Jared Allen, DE, 11.5 sacks, he's 6'6, 270
Chandler Jones, DE, 11.5 sacks, he's 6'5, 265
Olivier Vernon, DE, 11.5 sacks, he's 6'2, 268
No pass rushing DE in the NFL carries the size & weight of Malik McDowell if he truly is 6'6 or 6'7, 290 or 292 as listed on 24/7, Scout and Rivals. Tha'ts not to say that UM should not pursue him simply because of this (I hardly doubt anyone ever thought a guy 6'5 235 could ever dominate the WR position like Calvin Johnson does) but just to get some discussion about how McDowell would fit, that's what he's up against. If he does come to UM, Mattison or whomever the next DC is if Mattison retires soon is going to have to likely try something different than the traditional roles for DTs and DEs to accommodate this different size and skillset. I can't think of any NFL DTs who excel inside at 6'6+. Who am I missing?
Personally, I'd love McDowell as a weakside DE in a 3-4 scheme.
January 19th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
Thought McDowell was off the table for us now. He's visiting MSU next weekend instead of LSU. Would love to get back in it with the state's #1 recruit in McDowell, but it seems like he's made up his mind he is not going to Michigan.
January 19th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
I don't know where you get this, he's been pretty close-mouthed about his preference.
January 19th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^
January 19th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
I'm certainly no closet Sparty and I had the same understanding re: McDowell.
Wasn't it just a couple weeks ago when he came out with a top five or six that didn't include Michigan? Not that it necessarily means we have no chance (things can always change in recruiting before Signing Day), but I thought Michigan was not really considered a factor for him at this point.
January 19th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
I just googled MM and got the following:
ESPN lists several schools on his list. It appears to be alphabetical except that OSU appears before UM and MSU. It doesn't reflect a degree of interest.
247 lists M, MSU, OSU and Fla. St. as having "warm" interest. I'm surprised Alabama isn't on the list.
Rivals lists those 4 plus LSU with "high" interest.
Scout lists those 5 plus Alabama and Florida with "Medium" interest.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:50 AM ^
Nobody really knows what he's thinking. Nobody who claims to know anything actually knows anything. The bottom line is that he's visited/visiting Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Florida State. All signs suggest that he will choose one of those schools and sign his National Letter of Intent in a couple weeks. I don't understand why it matters whether Michigan is #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, etc. Do we get an award for finishing #3? No. The only "reward" we get is if we finish #1, and nobody knows whether we will or not.
I'm sorry. I follow recruiting as much as anybody. But all this nonsense about whether Michigan's in his top three or top five or whatever is silly. In this case, "If you ain't first, you're last."
January 20th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^
Magnus, I couldn't agree with this post more. The up / down flip/flop nature of 'who's going where, based on X information' surely gets old, especially when the true insiders are basically only ever making educated guesses. Some posters assume all recruiting sites are required to be notified by each recruit everyday: what they had for lunch, every thought that pops up into their head, etc. It's insane.
MM indeed has a tough decision to make. It often makes me wonder what would go through my head if I was put into the shoes of a recruit -
MSU surely looks like a great option. At what point does it come into play that Narduzzi will more than likely leave for a head coaching gig before a current recruit graduates?
Will FSU remain on top, after their superstar QB leaves in another year / two max?
Will the tradition / family pull of MI come into play, and if so, how much?
What about OSU? They have looked quite good since Urbs took over, and I doubt that ship will sink anytime soon..
It's no wonder these kids often want to keep to themselves...even from the outside I would have a tough time figuring it out, and I don't have people representing a school filling my head with relevant / non-relevant info.
January 21st, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
Closet Sparty? Not a chance. Call it like I see it though, and I would be shocked at this point if we landed McDowell.
I'm basing this off this week's quote from McDowell himself, "I'm just liking Michigan State a lot right now," McDowell said. "It's all the coaches and there's a good chance I can come in and play early. Plus I like the type of weather here because it's cold. I like that." For a kid who has been extraordinarily tight lipped throughout the process, he's certainly sounding like MSu is his favorite.
Coupled with the fact that Dantonio will have an in home with he and his folks today and it's likely Malik is taking an official to MSU this weekend rather than LSU. He also talked about OSU being off his list now.
I think McDowell is an important recruiit for us. He fits what we are trying to build perfectly, but I just don't see him coming here.
January 19th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
I could see him as a 3-tech as well. WDEs typically get the big sack numbers.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:54 AM ^
At a certain weight, you presumably lose the ability to chase down quarterbacks, beat tackles with a speed rush, etc. Michael Strahan was one of the bigger 4-3 defensive ends in the NFL, and he was 6'5", 275 lbs. I'm not saying McDowell is too big, because frankly, most of these listed recruiting weights are exaggerated (a guy listed at 6'7", 290 lbs. is probably 6'6" and 275 lbs.), but if his body matures as most do, then he's going to be over 300 lbs. soon. He would have to be a freak athlete to manage playing DE at that size.
January 19th, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
Go back to managing the game, Colin Kaepernick. He lost this game for the 49ers.
January 19th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
Call a timeout, you had 2, don't force a throw in the end zone.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:06 AM ^
January 21st, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
MGoGrundle?
January 19th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
So if we miss on McDowell and the 2 RB's who else are we looking at? Any official visits before NSD to Michigan????