Indirect Tea Leaves: Wiltfong flips Jordan Battle (S) CB to Alabama
Alabama already has one safety DeMarcco Hellams (**** from Maryland) as a 2019 commit. Unlikely they would take 3.
It's happening?
December 14th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
My heart will go on
December 14th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
Do these guys really get paid for ballzing 17-18 year olds.
And
Do yous guys really follow this shit.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
Yes and yes.
It takes just as much effort on my part to follow along with recruiting via this blog as it did for you to visit this site, click the topic and unload your holy judgment.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
UM's defense should just ditch the Safety position and just run all CB's.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
Nope. There is a local paper that he gave an interview with post-flip, in it he doesn't mention staff rumors or anything but wanting to go to Bama. Insinuates the SEC CG solidified it for him and it was a hard decision he felt he had to make, doesn't sound at all like a kid that's confused or debating anything. He's gone, Bama will take both and we'll keep being a 2nd tier program because you need multiple kids like him to be elite in today's CFB.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
The best second tier program in America, which seems to be about what Michigan is under Harbaugh in a good year, isn't a bad jumping off point to being elite. If we can get 10-2 to be our floor, year over year that's going to result in top 10 preseason/postseason rankings every year.
That's going to be enough for a staff of good recruiters to take us to the next level. We already have some good recruiters on the defense. Just need Pep and the new WR coach to pull their weight.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
Possibly but doesn't seem to be trending that way to me. In the past you could really get going after multiple years of perceiving to "build" or underachieve. In the age of social media it really feels like you have to do big things quickly to become elite. It seems like Clemson under Dabo is the last to be mediocre for a few years (for their expectations) and then go to another level. He also revamped the entire program before that happened, IIRC.
I dunno. A lack of elite athletes and a system that has proven to not be able to beat elite teams doesn't instill a ton of confidence in me that this staff can make Michigan elite. They could! I just wouldn't bet on it at this point. Is the sky falling? Am I an apocalyptic fan? No to each. It's just strange how this program can't seem to get put of it's own way. Something is off within the program itself and I have my theories that I've shared before so I'll avoid doing it again.
So, the best 2nd tier team in the country? Ok. I think even that could be debated but ok. I guess that's what Michigan's always been or what we're ok with being now. I'll still watch games.
December 14th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^
I'm of a similar mind. If Harbaugh sticks to his guns and runs things "his way", this is probably it. We will probably beat OSU sometimes, but infrequently. After Hoke's downward trajectory, I'm OK with that for now.
It might end up that Harbaugh builds the foundation that someone else uses to make the jump to "elite". It really seems like coaches either take that jump before the "new coach smell" wears off, or they have a really hard time doing it. Dabo at Clemson being the one notable example of someone who took a while - I think Dabo really got going when he started to pay players.
One thing to keep in mind is that our offense is pretty bad at recruiting and hasn't been great since Jedd and TW where here. Drevno sucked. Shark humper sucked. Pep sucks. Jay and Warinner (himself, not an amazing recruiter to hear OSU folks say it) are doing it all themselves. Things could turn around nicely if we get some more dynamic recruiters on the offensive staff. This WR hire is an important one.
December 14th, 2018 at 1:01 PM ^
This is the mentality I share, thought much more pessimistically than you do.
The vast majority of posters here say JH is the GREATEST EVER and we will go 14-0 every year because Harbz! And I like to sprinkle in a bit more realism (pessimism) to try and balance it out here.
The attacks on that train of thought can be tiresome, but at the end of the day, the dude clearly has set his floor but he also has identified his ceiling - I am just pointing that out, as are you here.
10-2 with yearly losses to the elite teams on our schedule. We just don't have enough jimmys and joes. And the staff's recruiting deficiencies prove those elite kids aren't coming regular enough.
Hopefully, the only sliver of hope there is, is that Day just can't live up to the hype.
December 14th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
inuating that the vast majority of people on this blog think Michigan is going to go undefeated with Harbaugh, every year, is just flat wrong.
Predictions for 2018 averaged 9-4 if not 8-5. Saying most of us predicted 14-0 last year or the year before just makes you a troll.
That or feel free to link to a post where the majority of people thought we were going undefeated under Harbaugh.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
Is Keegan still supposed to announce today?
December 14th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
Alabama doesn’t stay Alabama by saying no to the #7 overall player and #1 safety in the country. If anything Hellams will be processed. Let’s not be naive.
December 14th, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
Ha with that interview Dax gave to Tulsa..pretty much over. Just goes to show you how full of shit Brandon justices tweet was and how him and Webb and other insiders want us to have hope so they can gain subscribers even when they no there's close to zero chance
December 14th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
They are sales/business people. They need clicks and subscribers to make a living. So of course they will say anything to get those. We know now that Dax is 100% going to Bama after what he said to his local paper. We didnt have this info a few days ago.
December 14th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
I get that. But blatantly saying "if I had a crystal ball I'd put it on UM" based off of nothing is a total lie. Pretty sure you lose subscribers by doin that.
December 14th, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
Are you a 247 Sports member? Or are you just trashing Sam Webb without actually even knowing what he's said about Dax's recruitment?
December 14th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
I wonder if Hellams will end up elsewhere, like, say, Maryland. The crootin sites probably would indicate if Locksley was his recruiter at Alabama but I'm far too lazy to look.
December 14th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
Yet another post that is specific to one recruit and potential outcomes, but turns into a gathering of old white dudes shitposting and fawning for the distant pace, lamenting the recent past (heavy, heavy emphasis on the RichRod and Hoke failures of that recent past, but unmentioned), ignoring the very recent past (three 10 win seasons in four years is about as good as we've ever been guys, but yes of course we need to beat Ohio State), and projecting sorrow for untold future years.
December 14th, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
Why would it be relevant to point out “white” dudes? It what circumstance would it be ok to point out another race in this manner? Asking for a friend.
December 14th, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^
What race is your friend?
December 14th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Human, possibly?
December 14th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
Yeah, this is a pretty tiresome virtue signal that adds nothing to the conversation.
December 14th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
Cool story bro. Tell us more
December 14th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
Leave race out of it loser.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:07 PM ^
I haven't been around this board for so long I don't even know what is happening let alone if it's happening.
December 15th, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^
I’m feeling good about Dax and Zach Harrison today. Must be because of the Trevor Keegan news. Seems like they both got caught up in crootin’ and I think they will make the right choice (U of M) in the end.