Michigan DT Recruiting - Not a Single Rivals.com 2020 Top-50 DT?
Source: https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2020/DT
Rivals is just one piece of the recruiting industry landscape, I realize, but let's just use its data for the time being.
A big, gap-plugging DT is critical for EACH AND EVERY class from here on out. I don't care if he's a 5-11 'tweener with short arms but great leverage. Wisconsin will NEVER change their strategy / identity. OSU just followed their blueprint. Others will look to do the same if we have great speed on the outside (LB, Safety level) but no anchor. This is a critical time for Coach Harbaugh. Coach Harbaugh routinely has/offers a QB each and every class, regardless of depth or numbers. Which is smart. The absolute SAME has to be done for a gap plugging DT.
Alabama has 4... yes, 4 (!) of the top 50 DTs in the nation for 2020 according to this list. Nebraska has two. Frickin' Notre Dame has a kid ranked #25 and a four-star. Stanford comes in at #44 ranked. There is simply no excuse. I don't care if he's a three-star project. We need size at this position and we need to take one each and every year if the B10 "cross over" is always going to be Michigan-Wisconsin or Michigan-Minnesota and then that sledgehammer at the end of the season. This is just dumb. Hoke didn't do much right but he prioritized the line and this area as well. See Willie Henry. See others. Chris Wormley, etc. Heck even Indiana has a prospect committed on this list!
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:51 PM ^
Michigan recruits uniquely on defense. I theorize it’s due to Browns equally unique scheme. In my opinion Brown developed his scheme at schools like BC which were at a recruiting disadvantage and made due with lesser athletes or smaller athletes. The issue is he continues to look for these archetypes even while having a crack at blue chip guys. oSU is too fast for his scheme to work consistently.
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^
Is by "unique" you mean "sucky," I agree.
Brown has always been very good against teams with lesser talent, mixed against teams with equal talent, and a shit show against teams with superior talent.
I've said it a thousand times: recruiting is part of coaching. If you are not recruiting the talent you need to compete at the level of expectations, then you are failing as a coach.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:29 PM ^
I guess unique I mean the players he seems to target most interior DL they’ve gone after are the DE convert types or undersized guys. I think he has an idea skill wise and body type wise at the different positions and doesn’t move off of that. He found a way to get Matt Milano on the field at BC out of necessity, seems like he’d rather re-create that scenario (I’m looking at you Jordan Glasgow). I like Glasgow and he had a great year until oSU.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:14 PM ^
I don't care if they offer a couple 350 lb fat kids who can't run 50 feet.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:04 PM ^
A lot of fans say this
Because they have NO CLUE how or what it takes to play the interior of the DL in Michigan’s 4 man front.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:46 PM ^
And a lot of fans thought it was just swell to play a FB at DT and line up a LB at DT on the goal line.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 PM ^
I see 350lb run stopping DTs in the nfl. I thought Harbaugh was a nfl guy?
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:39 PM ^
It is possible they may be recruiting somebody else at a different position in high school with the intent of developing him into a DT. Not every kid in one position in high school plays that same position at college.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:52 PM ^
It’s recruiting malpractice to ignore defensive tackles like this. Michigan MUST have a stable of mean-ass 310lb. defensive tackles and nose guards ready to rock at all times.
You can’t keep moving 270lb. Defensive ends inside. It’s suicidal
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:54 PM ^
You might want to file this thread under "It takes two to tango". I'm sure UM put out offers to elite DTs. You can't blame some for choosing top schools or others for preferring to stay close to home or in the southern / west coast imprint. Mattison and Partridge are top recruiters, but they didn't close.
How many 5*s or top 100 recruits does UM have in next year's class? The original Harbaugh aura has worn off and now it's results on the field that count for elite prospects. Clemson's rise was a 5/6 year progression.
Look at the attention Juwon is getting from top recruits.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:11 PM ^
Shaun nua should not be our dline coach. Bring back hoke
December 4th, 2019 at 8:27 AM ^
Interesting.