2020 Recruiting
I know we have barely kicked off the 2020 recruiting cycle and that we have a set of new coaches we are bringing in, however, I can't help but notice that we seem to be lagging in this cycle early on. I know there is a LOT of time before the next NSD, but recruiting relationships are not built overnight but seems that we are not the school for a lot of top commits in this cycle despite it being a good year for talent in-state.
Just scrolling through the 247 top 100 recruits, we seem to have an 'in' with one target ... at rank 98. By comparison, Ohio State looks have an 'in' with 9 such targets. (An 'in' being highest CB school or commitment).
I also acknowledge that the rankings themselves are very early before to the senior season and subject to a lot change but again just seems like a weaker recruiting cycle for us at this stage.
Is there something I am missing?
February 15th, 2019 at 8:17 AM ^
Yes.
The recruiting cycle has barely started.
Rankings are not worth anything until later in the cycle. Even then it is debatable at best.
Find something else to worry about.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
Alabama already has 10 ESPN 300 commits in 2020 and you think the cycle has "barely started"?
LOL.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
You mean ESPN bumped all the Alabama commits into the top 300 because they know Bama kids get drafted thus fulfilling the only reliable data point they have to confuse those that don't understand statistics?
February 15th, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
Guy who doesn't understand that there are only ~30 five star recruits each recruiting cycle compared to thousands of three and two stars but think recruiting rankings don't matter because the number of 5 stars drafted is comparable to the number of 2 stars drafted even though the percentage of 5 stars drafted is 3 in 5 while the percentage of 2 stars drafted is 1 in 34 is now lecturing other people about not understanding statistics. You can't make this shit up. 
February 15th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
24 isn't comparable to 27?
Shyte, forget statistics, you don't get simple math!
And YES, as your stats show, a staff can find about the same number of "drafted players" whether they spend a dozen hours massaging the ego of one 5* or spend those hours evaluating the 1500 guys that you clowns think are irrelevant.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
In the 2017 NFL draft 65.7% of five star recruits were drafted while only 1.4% of 2 stars got drafted. So no it's not comparable dumbass.
February 15th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Yeah I could use just my dumbass and still win this dialectic.
But i enjoy using my intellect to toy with you like a ball of yarn.
Like this:
Ronnie Bell
February 15th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Newsflash, Michigan is at least two levels below Alabama. Why would you expect us to do anything remotely as well?
February 15th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Shame on me for having expectations for our $7 million dollar head coach in year 5.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
Why does his salary continue to bother you? Michigan football is a money maker. I would much rather have an overpaid good coach than a mediocre coach that is a real bargain. Right now Harbaugh is clearly the best head coach for Michigan and yes, he may be "overpaid" on results but he could likely get that much in the NFL right now so Michigan needs to "overpay" him to stay based on his market value.
Your constant refrain about his pay is so annoying.
February 15th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
His salary doesn't bother me. What does bother me is when people get mad at others for having expectations commensurate to what he makes. Frankly shame on anyone who doesn't have expectations of winning national titles. "Leaders and best" means something to this alum.
February 15th, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
The expectation is for the position, not based on the salary. Sure it matters a bit how much he is getting paid but even if he was earning $2 million a year, it would be a similar situation. We want to win. I am not going to give him a pass if he's earning less. Lloyd was vastly underpaid but it didn't stop us from demanding championships.
February 16th, 2019 at 11:52 AM ^
I don't know how one could say that JH is "clearly the best head coach for Michigan". I think that is a leap. We don't know what another coach could do.
Is Harbaugh a good coach...Yes. Has he done something extraordinary at Michigan...No. Does he win 10 games...Yes. Is there immense value in those 10 win seasons...debatable.
So far, a very fair and objective evaluation of Harbaugh is that he beats the teams that he should. When matched up against a team of equal or better talent we most often lose. His coaching has been quite questionable for the last 2 bowl games with his teams looking quite unprepared and not knowing how to finish games. Furthermore, he seems to be queerly drawn to the "Bo Days" and wanting to win in a way that would in some way pay homage to Bo / make Bo proud.
I don't think Harbaugh's record or coaching would indicate he is "clearly" the best coach for Michigan. He is a good coach here. Represents the university well. Has won 10 games multiple times. Hasn't beaten his rival. Was responsible for the most historic loss in Michigan History vs. OSU. Struggles to have that landmark / turning point win.
February 15th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Hei2man you've been a troll since you joined last fall. Are you really going to mgoblog quote other posters? Your posting history is abbissmal.
February 15th, 2019 at 8:24 AM ^
If you're going to compare our recruiting to OSU, you're generally going to have a bad time.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
Hence why we keep having a bad time on the field vs them.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Genau.
February 15th, 2019 at 8:56 AM ^
Stop. Just... stop.
Michigan gets in early on guys who are a bit under the radar but make big rides up the rankings. JD Johnson and Kalil Branham (who has already started rising) fit that mold already.
Being “in” on a guy near a year before they can sign, does nothing. This time last year we were at the top of Noah Cain’s board and nobody knew who Charbonnet was. Nobody had a remote inkling that Dax Hill was even interested in Michigan. Guys like Mike Morris we’re committed elsewhere. Hell, a couple of our commits didn’t even have a recruiting profile yet.
Being a guy’s top CB pick a year in advance doesn’t tell you how we are recruiting. Michigan is going after plenty of highly ranked guys (if that sort of thing matters to you) and are high on their list.
Just based on a recruit’s warm/cool internet list, we’re in the warm interest for 14 top 200 players. And another dozen 4*s outside of the top 200 and some high 3* guys as well.
Are we going to get all of those guys? Of course not. Are we going to get a handful of those guys? Almost certainly. Are we going to get some guys who aren’t currently on that list? Definitely.
We have 4 new coaches. It’s going to take some time for those coaches to establish new relationships with recruits. Offers are still going out. And we’ve had to deal with some dead periods where coaches can’t recruit.
Relax. Take a step back. And let the coaches do their jobs. Everyone was panicking this time last year too. Saying we couldn’t recruit. Yet we finished with the #8 class and had the top class in the conference. Just let it play out. Rankings will change, interests will change, new prospects will emerge, players will drop off, and when it ends, we’ll pull in another solid class.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
My exact thoughts. There is just too much of the story yet to be written here.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
JD Johnson is the #560 player in the composite and #664 on 247. He has a worse recruiting ranking right now than Wilton Speight and a comparable one to John O'Korn. If that's a guy that is "making big rides up the rankings" then what does that say about where he started.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
EXACTLY! Ratings are so meaningless they can't account for a player who "started" on the bench behind the #11 prospect this year.
Of course, ranked the 24th best passer before you've earned the starting job probably ain't the worst "start".
I can do this all spring :)
February 15th, 2019 at 11:10 AM ^
Weird because Dorian Thompson Robinson's ranking wasn't affected sitting behind Tate Martell. Moreover Johnson started 5 games last year when Rattler was hurt, there is more than enough film of him to make a proper evaluation which is what Rivals and 247 has done.
You can do this all spring and I will dog walk you each and every time.
February 15th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
But did his ranking INCREASE noticeably once he WAS the starter?
Hope you brought a bag for my poop.
February 15th, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
And Dorian Thompson-Robinson came in to an offense designed for his skills, and he completed 57.7% of his passes for 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while averaging 1.4 yards/carry and scoring 0 touchdowns on the ground.
February 15th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
And? ......And?
And ......... Beilein CAN recruit!
February 15th, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
What does that even mean? If a player rises up the rankings and ends up in respectable rankings territory by the time the cycle ends, who cares? Kyle Hamilton was ranked 1156th when Michigan offered last year, and ended up as the 60th ranked player in the country. Would you not want him because he started out lower than where JD Johnson is now?
February 21st, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
Maybe check the rankings now.
Its never a smart idea to complain about rankings until senior season is over. They are fluid...and very volatile this time of year.
February 15th, 2019 at 9:22 AM ^
I reckon we have two new key coaches and they reasessed things with them...for instance, pesek hickson was probably shot down by Campanile who is in on a few much better players he prefers...
February 15th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Webb said Hickson was told a grayshirt would be a possibility when he committed, it had nothing to do with Campanile.
February 15th, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^
Michigan just needs to finish in the top 20 and they'll be fine. It will probably be a small class, but I did a study and you CANNOT finish outside of the top 20 even once in a 5 year stretch and expect to be in the CFP. M's #37 finish in that first class that Harbaugh had a few weeks to work on meant that they were out. Finish inside the top 20 5 years in a row and you're one of 7-8 teams that will be in it at the end, unless you fall apart like Florida State or USC this past year.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Michigan just needs to finish in the top 20 and they'll be fine.
No they won't be "fine" if the expectation is to beat OSU and compete in the CFP. This is an incredibly low bar for one of the highest paid coaching staff's in the country the bare minimum should be top 10 classes year in and year out and if anyone wants to sniff a national title top 5 classes are pretty much a must.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
Dabo must haunt your nightmares.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
You’re so predictable Maizen
Also, Maizen, if you can let me know how there seems to be the exact same amount of 5 stars each year and there are never more or less, that would be great. It’s crazy that with millions of high school football players, there is pretty much the exact same number of elite kids each year
February 15th, 2019 at 9:28 AM ^
I seem to remember this exact thread at one time about the 2019 class
February 15th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
*sigh* I hate Michigan fans sometimes.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
You mean "some" Michigan fans, correct?
They are the usual ( loud whining) suspects.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
Results on the field matter the most followed by "hot" new hires when it comes to building a class early.
Michigan failed on the first part and Gattis is more warm because hes a coordinator and not a HC.
Michigan has a lot more interest than you are giving credit for in the top 100. They may not appear as the top choice right now but if Gattis can blow this offense up in a good way then guys will be jumping on board.
February 15th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
I think a couple of recruits have mentioned that they're going to wait and see this new offense before committing to Michigan. Unfortunately, Harbaugh has most likely hindered our recruiting efforts on this side of the ball. I expect more defensive players to commit prior to the regular season than offense.
We just have to sit and wait until Harbaugh and this offense prove they're serious only #speedinspace
February 15th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
If we end up with a top 10 class I’ll be happy. Top 12 and it’ll be meh. Anything less than that sets us back from where we need to be. I think we need to be more selective early and only take higher guys, there are plenty of 3 star fillers we can add at the end of the cycle, focus on the big fish early. We are a little behind the Alabama’s and OSU’s, but I think we can make up that ground.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
Just saw Bryan Bresee highlights, DE for 2020..Do want...check that out if you want to be depressed because it looks like Penn State, Ohio, and Clemson have the early lead. Lets get this young man! Unleash the bagmen!
February 15th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
You answered your own damn question when you said, " I know there is a LOT of time before the next NSD"
Step off the ledge everyone, hug your loved ones, enjoy the ride. It will all work out in the end, or it wont, so it goes.
February 15th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
Next year may be a small class, depending on attrition. I don't know. Not 100% in tune with the roster situation and how many guys are slated to graduate. So that may play a part.
But I'm also sure that the way our season ended, with yet another resounding thud for the umpteenth year in a row, played a part as well. I'm sure there are plenty of recruits and their families who are now going to sit there and say "let's see Harbaugh beat OSU and win the Big Ten before I even consider visiting, much less committing."
Hate saying it, but if I was a completely neutral recruit with no prior ties to either school, wasn't looking for "the better business or engineering school," but was rather making my choice solely on football, then I'd choose OSU over Michigan. And until Harbaugh starts beating OSU, that's more often than not how the situation is going to unfold.
February 15th, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
If people look back at early returns for the 2019 class it had the same "man, we aren't in on anyone" vibe outside of 1 or 2 people. I think with the increased number of transfers and the general upheaval in college sports, it might take a while for it to shake out.
But in the end, Michigan has recruited at an elite level save for one year (2018) since Harbaugh arrived, and I doubt that changes.
February 16th, 2019 at 9:12 AM ^
February 17th, 2019 at 9:32 PM ^
Yeah so osu could have a better class in 2020, but we just need to be close. They are going to get the new coaching staff excitement and boost which is expected. We had the better class in 2019 and will hopefully beat them next year on the field which will reverse momentum.