Sam Webb on 2014 RB Recruits
On this morning's Recruiting Roundup Sam suggested that there is a good chance that neither Jones nor Mack will be part of our 2014 class. He said that his opinion on both had changed over the weekend. Details apparently to follow on Scout.
Kind of a surprise - and not in a good way.
January 20th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
But... but... this is 2014!?
January 20th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
knowshon and this guy have a similar problem:
January 20th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
Sam Webb really gets this shit right more often than not. Might mean that the rekindled recruiting of Ballage has some weight to it.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
I think Sam's inside info comse from his relationship with Fred Jackson. So if you talking RB recruiting then this information is probably accurate.
January 20th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
that's how great 2014 is.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
I always have to wonder on these sorts of things when the recruit goes cold on us really quickly.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
Had we redshirted De'Veon Smith he would have been the running back in the 2014 class. There was no need to burn it for the few carries he received. On a similar note, I don't know why Charleton played as a true freshman with both Ojemudia and Clark directly ahead of him. Next year we will have a senior, junior, and sophomore at the same positions.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
We would still be short on numbers either way. Yes, we would potentially have him one more year, but still only have 4-5 RB's on scholarship.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
Unfortunately, we have not been in the position to red shirt everyone the way we would like.
I always kind of thought red shirting RBs was kind of silly. They have such a short shelf life, and if they are going to be decent, they are going to leave anyway when they are juniors, especially with the NFL salaries rewarding longevity the way they do now.
As far as linemen go, red shirt them all, I say.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
I wouldn't dismiss their importance. Giving him playing time can't hurt hurt for the near future. The non-redshirt might be an issue for 2017, but our RB recruiting now probably has more to do with depth issues in 2014. Good RBs usually contribute early so 2017 depth chart issues don't matter much now, as opposed to the OL.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^
how many other top programs red shirt a ton of players, but not curious enough to go and research it for myself. It seems that we overstate the burning a red shirt idea here. If a player is successful on the field, chances are they are not sticking around for 5 years, especially at a position where your pro longevity is already limited due to the amount of punishment you are likely to take on like RB. It may be understandable for an OL to red shirt so that they can add the bulk needed, perhaps interior DL as well, but that is about it. In an ideal world, we have depth so that younger guys essentially can master technique, learn scheme, and contribute on special teams until they are juniors and then they get to start a year or two before moving on. Is the jump so great between year 4 and 5 to warrant massive red shirts vs. the idea of turning over your class and essentially taking 20ish addition players every 5 years and the probability of getting an very special generational type player to pan out with the higher volume of players taken.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
to recruits. High school football players want to actually play once they get to college. They don't want to sit around and marrinate for a couple years. On the job training definitely has to be preferable especially if they are "star" players.
By playing freshmen, M lets them know that they will play if they compete, work hard, and are meritworthy. Just the right message in my view.
In any event, the really good ones are not likely to stay for 5 years. The less than good ones may wind up transferring. May as well get it sorted out right from the git go.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
Why do recruits do this to themselves
January 20th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
Whoever is responsible for that kid (mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle) fucked up.
January 20th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
is it possible that the coaches told Damien Harris that we wouldn't take a RB in the '14 class?
January 20th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
Not likely because Webb said we were still pursuing Ballage. I'm guessing it's the academic problems noted in the posts above. Also, I don't think we would let a recruit have so much say... except about 2012 QB (I know - dead horse...).
January 20th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
star ratings of RB's isn't that important. If the holes are there any competent running back with vision will find them.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
Uh yeah but we don't so we need RB's with stars!!!!!
January 20th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
At least Webb seemed optamistic in regards to Mcdowell.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
Jared Shanker at ESPN Insider has an article on Malik's FSU trip and the quotes are from Malik's father, Greg.
Greg notes that Malik was having a good visit and could see a path to getting on the field. It goes on to discuss how Narduzzi's in home visit helped dispel some rumors Greg had heard about MSU players and how serious they take their schoolwork or lack there of.
But the money quote is:
“My son likes Coach Narduzzi and the coaches at Michigan State, but it’s always been University of Michigan first with me,” Greg said.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
What'd he say (love the show, but no time to listen to the podcast today)?
January 20th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
Can anyone tell me where I can listen to Sam Webb's discussion on recruiting matters? I live in Dayton, Ohio and would be interested in hearing him talk about recruiting.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
I Lived there for seven years (worked for NCR). Was glad to leave. Very vanilla, utilitarian kind of place. Everything seemed dull . . . the location, the topology, the buildings, the entertainment/nightlife, the people . . . all of it. I went there immediately after living in Ann Arbor for school. It felt like I fell off a cliff.
January 20th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
Drake is coming off an injury, Rawls may transfer, Hayes may go to slot, Shallman is not an RB and Damien Harris is no longer a lock.
This class really needs McDowell AND an RB and if we miss on both it will be pretty disappointing.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
We should take a RB in every class. Also isn't Hayes moving to slot?
January 20th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
Here's what Alabama's taken the last few years at RB.
2011: Hart
2012: Yeldon, Drake
2013: Henry, Kamara, Jones, Tenpenny
That's 7 RBs in three years. Take as many good ones as you can.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
FYI:Alvin Kamara is transferring.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^
Thanks. Didn't know that, but it reinforces my point of taking as many as you can because they get hurt, transfer, etc.
I was always surprised that Kamara committed to Alabama. As the last one to commit of that ridiculous haul it was just odd. I mean good for him wanting to compete, but there were a couple of studs ahead of him on the depth chart, plus 3 other RBs in his class and he could go pretty much anywhere he wanted. Now he's burned two years of college.
January 20th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
Counting on RBs is foolish. Take as many good ones as you can afford to, and then let them sort things out on the field. Even though we have Green, Smith, and Hayes you never know what will happen. Kids get hurt, arrested, homesick, etc. So your depth can go away quickly. And Harris is a 2015 recruit, which is a long ways off, and there's no guarantee that we get him. Counting him amongst our RB assets is also foolish.
So in the same way you should take a QB ever year, you should take at least one RB every year too.
January 20th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
January 20th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
This sucks but I hear good things about Damien Harris and McDowell.