2016 Recruiting Class - Best Defensive Class Since???
Was just thinking about how good everyone on the defense is playing this year, and was just realizing how many of them were a part of the 2016 Class. These are the defensive contributors from the 2016 class(composite rank in parentheses):
1. Rashan Gary (1)
2. David Long (65)
3. Lavert Hill (132)
4. Carlo Kemp(310)
5. Devin Bush(312)
6. Khaleke Hudson(386)
7. Josh Uche(707)
8. Josh Metellus(739)
9. Michael Dwumfour(947)
10. Devin Gil(997)
Thats 10 Players. 9 of which have started games this year, and the 1 that hasnt started is leading the team in sacks(Uche). 4 are All American Quality(Gary wont be because he missed games), I bet 2 or 3 more make All Big-10 lists.
I mean when is the last time we have had that many good players/contributors from 1 class on 1 side of the ball? Just having 10 players from 1 class as rotation players on a defense is alot, but the fact that they are all major contributors of the #1 Defense in the country. Thats pretty nuts.
Can anybody think of a single class from the past that had that big of an impact on 1 side of the ball before? I am just talking Michigan history, because I am sure Alabama has had some crazy 6 5-Star Class that was all on D probably.
November 8th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
Are Dwumfour and Kemp the only two from the 2016 defensive group have redshirted?
November 8th, 2018 at 6:47 PM ^
Long too, right?
November 8th, 2018 at 6:53 PM ^
The one that kills me the most from those recruiting rankings list is Khaleke at #386. Bush I can sort of get because he was "small." Uche you didn't know if he'd keep the speed after filling out. But Khaleke was a straight up athletic freak. I happened to see him play in HS and remember thinking how on Earth could there be almost 400 guys ranked ahead of him.
November 8th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
Best since 2019.
November 8th, 2018 at 8:11 PM ^
I think everyone was really happy with the top half of that class, but I remember frequent criticism that we took Metellus and Gil only to get Bush and Dwumfour to help with Gary. I'm particularly glad to see those players contributing and ascending. They'll be even more important next season.
November 8th, 2018 at 10:43 PM ^
Realistically it is the best defensive class in Michigan history.
November 8th, 2018 at 11:44 PM ^
1901 class .Both sides of the ball were very strong.
Undefeated in 44 games .
Were disciplined too -No targeting calls throughout.
November 8th, 2018 at 11:44 PM ^
1901 class .Both sides of the ball were very strong.
Undefeated in 44 games .
Were disciplined too -No targeting calls throughout.
November 9th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
If you count Hawkins as a part of that class, it gets even better.
November 9th, 2018 at 9:44 AM ^
If the class had another safety, we could roll out a full starting lineup with just that class