5 Star 2020 OG Justin Rogers to Commit 'Soon' (probably not good news)

Submitted by Caesar on

Intro

  • According to his 247 Page, the Oak Park, MI recruit is ranked 14th in the nation.
  • Announcement was made on his Twitter. As per his tweet, whatever you do, don't ask him why.
  • A pinned tweet from earlier this month names a need to 'feed his family' as a primary driver in his decision.

Summary

Per Maize n' Brew, it's not looking up for the good guys. Ohio State held the vast majority of crystal balls, and Georgia was a very distant second. The rest of his listed 'warm interest' schools are south of the Mason-Dixon line. 

Some Thoughts

This looks to be the third deeply annoying in-state OL defection in two cycles. With Ohio State's recent woes, you've got to think Georgia is the front-runner. There's plenty of time between now and the first Class of 2020 Signing Day, but the schools in this kid's recruitment makes me wonder if there's some fishy business going on here. On the other hand, Michigan's main competition both went to the CFP, so Michigan may have lost out straight up. If that track record is important, maybe a good year from Michigan with strong OL performance turns the tide.

JonnyHintz

August 20th, 2018 at 9:52 AM ^

The kid just wants to leave the state for college. It isn’t out of the ordinary at all. Some kids don’t want to stay home and go to Michigan. It happens. I don’t see why we have to get all worked up about this every time it happens. It’s not like we are unable to go nationally recruit top players.

Space Coyote

August 20th, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^

People lose their minds when Michigan loses a top ranked kid out of Michigan. But then act like Michigan should be pulling top ranked recruits out of Georgia (Hinton, Solomon), or Ohio (ever, but Rumler this year), NJ (ok, most good kids are leaving NJ), Texas (Filigia). It happens. Kids leave the state, even when they have great programs at home with great history.

You can't act like it's unacceptable when it happens to you and act like it's the expectation when it happens to other schools. Sometimes kids just don't want to stay home, sometimes they just don't connect with Michigan, sometimes there are other factors. It happens. That's life. It shouldn't be a huge deal. You want these kids, no doubt, but sometimes it doesn't work.

JonnyHintz

August 20th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^

And obviously Michigan can afford to lose a few top ranked in-state kids because we can also go out of state and pick up top players. You’re putting too much emphasis on WHERE these kids are coming from. It really doesn’t matter. 

Some kids want to leave home and spread their wings. Some kids want to go south and enjoy the weather, campus, and the women. It happens. Obviously you’d like to keep them here but it ultimately doesn’t matter. 

Rogers is also a guard, which Michigan has gone heavy on recently. So it’s a player at a position we can afford to lose. 

JonnyHintz

August 21st, 2018 at 8:44 AM ^

Not really. Michigan only has 20 or so P5 caliber players most years. Some of which are “P5” type kids who get picked up by teams like Syracuse, Mizzou or Iowa State.

Even from the group of P5 players, many never pan out. If you look back at previous classes, you’ll tend to find that only a handful of those guys had meaningful college careers

njvictor

August 20th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^

Exactly, it's always the same people that complain either way. If Michigan is recruiting well in-state, but not out of state, they complain about out of state recruiting. If we don't get the top in state guys, but get good recruits nationally, they complain about in state recruiting. Either way we're getting good recruits

RobSk

August 20th, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^

So, I generally agree with your take here, but:

Is it ok if I "act" like it's disappointing? Not suggesting anybody should be fired, or the world is ending, or Michigan will never get another recruit. All that said: I'm disappointed in missing out on some of these outstanding local kids, especially in an area of need.

But clearly, as more than one person said: Winning cures all these ills. Let's go out and get 10-11 in the W column this year and suddenly these things are healed.

           Rob

gustave ferbert

August 20th, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^

this feels like a recruit that doesn't seem to be good for us.  

I agree with a previous poster that he this recruit has priorities that are inconsistent with Michigan's program. . . 

 

WoodleyIsBeast

August 20th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^

Kid wants out of Michigan and the added value at U of M does not line up with what Rogers values(said he wanted to go South anyways).  If he ends up in Columbus, "going South" was more than likely just fluff.

Don't think we should waste time talking about him unless he reaches out to the coaching staff for anything further.....

ak47

August 20th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^

He can pretty easily say his goal is to be best prepared for the NFL as early as possible. So looking for playing time and proven development. Pretty easy to explain away.

I mean I would pick Wisconsin if I were him but it doesn't strengthen Michigan's case.

Yost Ghost

August 20th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^

Our coaching staff can provide just as much NFL preparation as any team in the NCAA. Who knows right now if playing time for him in 2020 is or isn't an option? Once Gary and Winovich are gone it is possible. If UM is truly a meritocracy it's possible for him to play as a freshman. Gary played his first year so clearly there's precedent. I don't think any of these are reasonable explanations for that comment.

Gentleman Squirrels

August 20th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^

Michigan is not even in his most recent top 14 or 15 group. We werent even under consideration anymore. I would have said that he's likely to go to OSU, but with his other top group and the shit OSU is going through right now, I expect him to land in Georgia. Georgia must be doing something different for them to pull so many top ranked OL from the north. Isaiah Wilson, Xavier Truss, and possible Justin Rogers too.

ak47

August 20th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^

He was never coming here. It is what it is, don't know why people are talking about values and taking side swipes at this kid that his values essentially aren't good enough for Michigan or something. Winning will solve far more problems than anything else so just do that this year.

Alumnus93

August 20th, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

Bill Martin's decision holding Lloyd on another two years,  is still reverberating....   he single-handedly caused this decade, and contributed indirectly to msu's improvement.

StraightDave

August 20th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^

Harbaugh needs to close the talent gap.  Yup 2017 was a good class, 2018 was average at best and the 2016 dudes are almost out of here.  OSU is killing it in 2019 and 2020.   Get out of the Midwest too.  Meyer is all over the country and his best athletes are not from the Ohio area.   Move on to talent rich states and start recruiting like a coach who makes $7 mil a year. 

SkyPanther

August 20th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^

2020 is a long time away. He could change his mind. And if he doesn't choose Michigan, there's other OLinemen. Life goes on.

Next?

njvictor

August 20th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^

"feed his family?" Sounds like he didn't need much convincing from the Georgia bagman

If he goes commits to OSU though, I honestly will lose all faith in humanity. Like who would possibly commit there right now given their circumstances

Jimmyisgod

August 20th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^

I think Logan Brown and Devontae Dobbs are both overrated from the 2019 class, Brown more so than Dobbs.  As much as I think they're overrated, Rogers is the real deal.  Best O line prospect from this state in a long time, he's going to be a dominant college player.  Wanted to leave the state the whole process, neither MSU nor us were ever in it for him.

outsidethebox

August 20th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^

With the incoming 2019 OL class Rogers may not see the field for a while. I'll trade JR for MH straight up with Georgia any day of the week. Hopefully Myles  commits then gets in Rogers' ear.