Recruiting Blitz Primer Comment Count

Brian

Brian Cole is the jewel of Michigan's currently wee recruiting class.

Michigan has a lot of recruiting to do in the next month, and if you're like me you stopped paying attention to it about six seconds before the end of the first half in South Bend. Each decommitment spurred wonderment that there were any recruits left to do that, all updates were guys saying LOL NO politely, focus turned to firing all the things. Now that we've acquired a Harbaugh, that promises to change.

Let's re-orient on Michigan's 2015 recruiting class.

IN THE FOLD

Michigan only has six commitments but at least they're quality ones. They are:

  • MI WR Brian Cole, a consensus top 100 kid and the top player in the state. Cole may be a safety and is listed as an ATH a couple places.
  • OH S Tyree Kinnel, a consensus four star.
  • NJ OT Grant Newsome, also a consensus four star.
  • MI QB Alex Malzone is a six-foot-ish QB in the Drew Tate mode.
  • PA OG Jon Runyan Jr. Legacy kid, obviously. Generic three star.
  • OH K Andrew David, who's a kicker. A good one, and a needed one.

ROSTER STATUS

Michigan has five open slots right now and a number coming. A few months ago the number on the class was supposed to be 16. Not sure if that included Ferns's surprising transfer. For some reason I thought Hoke mentioned that two unnamed offensive linemen are going to go on medical hardship scholarships, but I can't find anything of the sort in the presser transcripts.

Whether he said it out loud or not, some attrition at OL is inevitable. Michigan returns their entire starting five plus Erik Magnuson, and there are a couple of guys who have struggled with injuries for a long time. Some will light out for greener pastures or take medical hardships.

Other attrition might come at DT and at CB, where there's enough returning experience to squeeze out guys who are now staring down the likelihood they'll never play.

REMAINING NEEDS

Assuming 16 guys, which may be conservative:

TIGHT END: 1. If Harbaugh's Stanford tenure is any indication we're in for a buttload of TEs. Michigan does not have one in this class, but with CT TE Chris Clark still considering the Wolverines after his decommitment and tweeting out Harbaugh-related exclamations that might not last long($).

RUNNING BACK: 1. Michigan has a glut in the junior class; Ty Isaac's redshirt means that they effectively do have a back from the last class. Still, Michigan needs a guy. It doesn't sound like MI RB Mike Weber is going to come back into the fold, so they'll have to range afield. KY RB Damien Harris is not reconsidering M either.

OFFENSIVE LINE: 2. Michigan only took two in the last class and with Mason Cole starting from day one their 2014 class is effectively one dude: Juwann Bushell-Beatty. Michigan hasn't taken an interior linemen since Kugler, Dawson, and Samuelson two years ago—it's time to fill out the numbers there, especially if they lose a couple of current members of the roster.

DEFENSIVE END: 2. Michigan has just four on the roster. Edge rusher is a huge priority.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: 1. Nose is probably set with Hurst, Mone, and Pallante all underclassmen and Glasgow emerging into a quality option. Three-tech has plenty of options right now but they'll all be redshirt juniors and Michigan has no one behind them.

LINEBACKER: 1. Still not a huge need even after Ferns's departure; should get one guy to prevent a big gap.

CORNERBACK: 1. See linebacker. Not a huge priority but good to have a guy in.

SAFETY: 1. Numbers are still thin even with Kinnel sticking.

If Michigan ends up with more space than the above assumes, WR, QB, and DT are candidates for additional reinforcements.

THE RADAR

Ace will keep you apprised of the names that might emerge to fill those holes in the regular recruitin' posts. It's a little early yet to have a set of names.

Comments

UMaD

December 31st, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^

If you go with the assumption that we are going to look something like Stanford, we won't need a bunch of speedy backs.

I had the same thought a month ago, but now, with Harbaugh, I think we need to focus on the TE (long-term and short-term depth), OL (long-term need) and QB (short-term need) in this class.

It think we don't have any immediate need at WR/RB and Cole gives you a great athlete in the '15 class.  Beyond that we can grab more in '16.

umchicago

December 31st, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

i saw him interviewed (espn?) last nite on-site for his upcoming all star game.  they asked him about harbaugh and he seemed excited about the hire.  he also mentioned that usc, ucla, oregon and alabama being in the mix.

also, he was wearing #55, so i assume he will be playing DE (not TE).

Erik_in_Dayton

December 31st, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

FWIW, there is an uncommitted four star QB left in the 2015 class, Sheriron Jones of Moreno Valley, CA.  He is a former Florida commit whom 247 now lists as a Tennessee lean.  He's a dual threat, which satisfies my bias toward guys who can run, but I'll leave the QB picking to Coach Harbaugh.*

 

 

http://247sports.com/Player/Sheriron-Jones-20074

 

*Being able to say "Coach Harbaugh" is fantastic. 

UMaD

December 31st, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

I think this is being undersold a bit with Ferns departure.  After graduation (and assuming no further attrition) the top returning players in 2016 will be Gedeon, McCray, and Gant.  Behind them will be 3 guys who haven't played.  One of them is Wangler, who is undersized and was discussed as potentially a 3rd down specialist.  Another is Furbush, who was lightly recruited and mentioned as a candidate to move to DE.  The 3rd is Winovich, who was the only one that had impressive offers. Michigan whiffed on most of it's top LB targets in the '14 class and then lost Ferns, the highest rated kid in the class. 

LB is a position that is becoming less important (in favor of more nickelbacks) but it's also a physically demanding position where rotation and injury are common.

Yes, this need could be addressed in 2016, but LB is a position where it's nice to be able to red-shirt to build up size and strength and learn the system.  In 2017 (when your '15 recruits are hopefully red-shirt sophomores ready to step into starting gigs) we have only the questionable '14 kids and McCray right now - so I think landing one good LB would be optimal.  If they can get a highly regarded player they absolutely should try to do so.

Furthermore, a LB recruit could be a future DE -- another position of need.  Michigan should fine one in '15.

 

Mr. Yost

December 31st, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^

I just wrote this super long best guess list, with responses and stars, and where we'd be in the Rivals team rankings...all deleted.

FML.

Time to drink.

Mr. Yost

December 31st, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

Still upset...anyway, it went something like this...I'll take a shot in the dark and toss some names out there.

I agree on the numbers and actually think we'll get 1 more spot, making 17.

RB - Mike Weber (I've got this feeling, and he's waivering already, I think Harbaugh puts the full court press on him and we use the snake oil to get him late)
TE - Chris Clark (wouldn't surprise me if he's the first Harbaugh commit and it happens before the weekend...UCLA is our only comp)
OT - Rob Dowdy (we have to pull someone from central OH...every coach does it, even Rich Rod)
OG - Darrin Paulo (he's already been recruiting and rumor is we have Tim Drevno, that's his main recruiter at USC...easy one)
DE - Tyrone Wheatley (not confident here, I think Harbaugh recruiting dad is more important than recruiting son...because I don't think we get son without dad)
DE - Marquise Copeland (Vince Marrow is his recruiter at UK, I think we use that connection to steal him from Cincy)
DT - Anthony Rush (no real reason here)
LB - Tyriq Thompson (if JH is going to use the OSU snake oil on Weber, may as well use the MSU snake oil on Thompson...otherwise, I see the Utah/Polynesian connection from Stanford coming into play with Osa Masina or Christian Folau...both LBs from Salt Lake City)
CB - Iman Marshall (we need a splash get, this would be it)
S - Marcus Lewis (former Michigan target, Durkin prospect at UF...another easy prediction)

*edit - I had much better reasoning before...don't care so much anymore, just want this as a reference for later*

...additonal spot to a speed RB/slot WR to fill the LaMichael James (Hayes/Norfleet) role

Speed RB/SLOT: LeVante Bellamy (WMU commit, speedster, makes sense...also John Kelly could fit this role)

That would be (according to Rivals.com)...

*****(5-star): 1 
****(4-star): 4
***(3-star): 5
**(2-star): 1

...to go along with (according to Rivals.com)...

*****(5-star): 0
****(4-star): 4
***(3-star): 1
**(2-star): 1

Totalling (according to Rivals.com)

*****(5-star): 1 
****(4-star): 8
***(3-star): 6
**(2-star): 2

That's a (realistic) lock for a top 25 class.

Dan84

December 31st, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^

C.J. Conrad, a low four-star from Ohio with offers from lower level major conference teams and MAC-type programs: http://247sports.com/Player/CJ-Conrad-33997

Just figured I'd flag given him since he seems like a strong possibility for a flip in the event that Clark doesn't end up coming or Harbaugh decides to load up for his TE-heavy offense, especially if we poach Vince Marrow.

NelzQ

December 31st, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^

Good points m1817.

I would not be surprised to see them changing some guy's positions in order to get the best players on the field.

For example, Wyatt Shallman could be a potential rush end.