Sam Webb: If Brohm Goes to Louisville, We Get 5-Star Karlaftis

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on November 12th, 2018 at 10:37 AM

This isn't really breaking news, but Sam Webb was as direct as I've heard him on the subject this morning. If Jeff Brohm takes the job at Louisville, we get George Karlaftis.

To recap, Karlaftis LINK is a 5-star defensive end from West Lafayette, Ind. He is committed to Purdue, but as Sam reiterated this morning, Karlaftis has been saying all along that if Jeff Brohm leaves Purdue, then George Karlaftis is leaving Purdue, too.

"If Brohm leaves Purdue, then Michigan gets another 5-star. It's as simple as that," Sam said. He also said that Karlaftis is so good, he sees the field as a freshman, no question. On our line, that's saying something.

Seeing as how Louisville has no other real options, I'm feeling good about this.

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northernmich

November 12th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^

Watching the Brohm weekly press conference right now, first question was regarding him and Louisville, never came out and said no I’m here to stay at Purdue, which probably means he’s gone. He gave a bunch of coach speak about focusing on the rest of opponents on their schedule, but he is imo gone. Probably will leave right after the regular season and if they make a bowl game they will have an intern coach.

Joined: 10/12/2018

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markusr2007

November 12th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^

Karlaftis wouldn't follow his commitment to Brohm and go to Louisville?

If interest in Michigan is high, with Mattison and Brown still at UM, why commit to Purdue at all?

It's because of Brohm.

If Brohm goes to Louisville, he is going to try to take recruits with him.

Also, Rondel Moore is going to be pissed.

Joined: 10/21/2008

MGoPoints: 19372

Ali G Bomaye

November 12th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^

Seems to be good news for us. Even if Brohm doesn't go to Louisville, he's proven that he's an up-and-coming coach, and should get an appealing offer from a team that's better than Purdue.

Speaking of which, if Karlaftis will only go to Purdue if Brohm is there, then I don't understand why he's considering Purdue at all. Does anybody really think Brohm will be there for another 3-4 years? 

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 17697

Rabbit21

November 12th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^

Louisville has plenty of other options and for that matter so does Brohm.  Plus Karlaftis may just decide to stay home regardless and may like his new coach just as well.  

There's just too much for this one to let play out.

I would love this to be the case, but it feels a little cart before the horse-y.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30360

A Lot of Milk

November 12th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^

Just watched his junior tape. How much of his dominance is pure skill and how much is a result of laughable competition. Guy looks like a dude, but every game it literally looks like they have a team full of Tom Izzo's trying to block him

Joined: 02/17/2013

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maize-blue

November 12th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^

It's probably already a done deal. Brohm has issued a generic "I already have a job, I'm committed to this job" type of statement.

Joined: 01/10/2013

MGoPoints: 44662

butuka21

November 12th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^

That would be great, but If it was me why wouldn't you just stay at Purdue? Louisville has had some recent success, but isn't that a lateral move taking away his ties to that school, and he seems to have Purdue going in the right direction.

Joined: 11/22/2016

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TrueBlue2003

November 12th, 2018 at 1:01 PM ^

Purdue is probably a more difficult place to win.  You're in a state with not a lot of football talent, will always be 2nd (or 3rd) fiddle in the state to ND, and you're at a basketball school that spends a lot less money on athletics. Purdue has much more difficult academic standards too.

Louisville's athletic dept revenue and expenses were about $120 million in 2017, putting them at 22nd in the country for revenue.

Purdue was around $85 million for 46th in the country.

Louisville has demonstrated it'll pay anything, do anything, and allow anything to win at basketball and football.  That's a situation a lot of coaches would like.

Joined: 01/05/2010

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blueinbeantown

November 12th, 2018 at 12:46 PM ^

On a separate note, if you're Brohm, why would you go to the disaster that is Louisville right now?  Pitino and Petrino, what a combo if it were a Sopranos episode.  Know all the local angels, but this isn't Harbaugh coming back to Michigan to take over and rebuild the alma mater.  Brohm is the flavor of the month with his pick of available jobs, perhaps even NFL.  If you were him, say with Louisville and USC on the table, what do you choose?  However, make the choice soon, especially if lands another 5 star toy for Coach Brown and Coach Matty. 

Joined: 12/16/2014

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Alumnus93

November 12th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^

Why it assumed Brohm goes?  I think hes building something good at Purdue..and the BIG west appears weak... I imagine his team only gets better, as his recruits come in and get older.... to have to start over, for a program that isn't that much greater in stature, let alone his alma mater and the caveats there, and I don't feel this is a probable thing... 

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

bronxblue

November 12th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^

Louisville is down now but, historically, they have the ability to recruit Florida and the South well enough to field some pretty good teams.  Since they joined a conference in 1996, they've won 10+ games 5 times and another 5 seasons with 9 wins.  By comparison, Purdue has had 1 10 win season in their entire existence (1979) and 3 9-win seasons since 1996.  The ceiling at Purdue is pretty hard, and I can see a guy from his alma mater and see if he can really make the Cardinals a thing.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171849

bronxblue

November 12th, 2018 at 1:45 PM ^

this is great news, and I think also reminds people that for all the talk about how guys should commit to the school and not the coach, in reality guys like the coaches they talk to and want to play for.  And there's nothing wrong with that.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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ThatTCGuy

November 12th, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^

Even if Brohm doesn't go to Louisville, he's the hottest coaching prospect in the country and programs like USC and Oklahoma (if the rumors about Riley leaving for the NFL come to pass) will definitely snatch him up. I'm 90% sure we wind up with Karlaftis.

Joined: 01/20/2015

MGoPoints: 3544

Michology 101

November 12th, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^

I trust that this kid is very talented, but sometimes I just don't know what to really believe with these player recruit rankings.

Karlaftis is ranked as a 5 star and 9th player in the country by 247. So naturally that's the service ranking we're going to focus on to rate his talent.  

Though his player ranking is no where near that high on the other recruiting services. I'm not talking about a little difference, because that can happen with player rankings.

The discrepancy is really enormous. I mean, Rivals has him ranked around 200 in the country and far from being a 5 star player. ESPN isn't showing him that kind of love either. 

The 247 service doesn't feel Chris Hinton is a five star player, but he does have a 5 star composite ranking.  

I'm starting to understand how this works. Whichever recruiting service has your commit or prospect ranked the highest... that's the one you focus on as being the most creditable.

Joined: 06/02/2014

MGoPoints: 3798

StephenRKass

November 12th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^

I'd kind of like to get a better understanding of how many players you can take in one recruiting cycle. I see Chris Hinton, David Ojabo, & Mike Morris are at SDE. Gabe Newburg is at WDE. Mazi Smith at DT. Zach Harrison & George Karlaftis are at SDE, Isaiah Foskey and Aeneus DiCosmo are at WDE. Which of these players (and positions) are somewhat interchangeable? How many can you take? I see 5 current commits, along with Harrison, Karlaftis, Foskey, and DiCosmo as remaining prospects. If Harrison and Karlaftis wanted to commit, you have to make room. And probably the same goes for Foskey. I'm not understanding fully how this works. Definitely a first world problem!

Joined: 07/15/2008

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4th and Go For It

November 12th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Isaiah Foskey and Aeneus DiCosmo aren't coming here. Foskey wants to play Defense and we are offering him primarily as a TE. He's going to ND more than likely. DiCosmo is going to Stanford once his academic stuffed is approved by all accounts. 

Magnus has a good breakdown above about potential position fits for the other guys. 

Wouldn't be surprised if a couple lower ranked guys looked around before signing day for places with a clearer path to PT. 

 

Joined: 08/04/2017

MGoPoints: 455

Bones032

November 12th, 2018 at 5:16 PM ^

SIAP above, did not have time to sift through all the comments so far but

I just want to point out the 2019 SDE rankings by 247 go like this(for the entire nation):

1. Zach Harrison

2. George Karlaftis

3. Natahn Pickering ( Miss State Commit)

4. Chris Hinton

If we ended up with 3 of the top SDEs in the nation, that would be absouletly insane. Just getting 2 in 1 class is insane. Lets GO

Joined: 09/01/2012

MGoPoints: 1032

outsidethebox

November 12th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^

OTish: Gray is expected to be at the Big House this WE. Another crystal ball for Zach Harrison-to the good guys. 

Edit: More OTish...I see Steele has de-committed from USC...so another big player gets added back into the pot.

The kid I would really like to see at Michigan though is Bru McCoy-the kid could be a very special player for Michigan...on either side of the ball but especially on defense-viper...or safety along side Hill-OH MY!!! Bring both these Cali kids on board...Steele to replace another terrific Cali kid-Long.

Joined: 01/23/2017

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