Recruiting Roundup
From hailvictors.com recap from Sam Web
Sam has a strong gut feeling *** DL Ash has decommitted from wvu and going to come to UM
Stills is no longer considering Florida. Not sure if this helps Michigan since Jefferson is looking at michigan and oklahoma,usc has lost favor for jefferson. Both will probably end up at Okie
Hankins he is very difficult to read cause it changes hourly however, he did have OSU as his number one followed by UM. This one is 50/50. Mom, Dad, brother, sister all love UM
S Parker has lost some interest in USC because of USC Safety class, so its looking good for michigan
No longer interest in Michigan from Baxter
Michigan Coaches will be talking to **** Cincinnati Bearcat DL Jivar Black, don't know how much he will open up his recruitment.
Furman will decide this Saturday, Jefferson and Stills will decide Friday.
Rashad Knight and Torien Wilson will be in for a visit in Jan.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:32 AM ^
Sounds like good news for UM with a lot of these guys. It is going to be exciting to say the least.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:53 AM ^
Did anyone notice that in 2009 USC recruiting 4 safteys, the #2, #4, #5 & #6 safeties overall...I know they can recruit, but sometimes its just sick. This year they have the #1 & #2 WR's (per scout)
I'm guessing thats why some guys are looking away, there's a difference between competition and trying to beat out 1st round NFL picks every years. Guys who could be NFL players will never get a chance to develop because they won't see the field.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:18 AM ^
USC has a legitimate chance at getting the top 5 overall recruits on Rivals this year.
Regarding guys looking away, remember that USC has a feather in their cap by the name of Matt Cassel. All they have to say is "even if you don't get a chance to see the field much, we'll still prepare you for the NFL where you'll make millions."
December 15th, 2009 at 11:28 AM ^
I could go with this but I have a hard time believing that a stud recruit would be cool with "not getting a chance to see the field as much". USC is not the only place that can prepare you for the pros. Why not go to another major program, get PT, dominate, then get paid? There's are plenty of programs that a top 25 recruit who lives up to the rating can go to and be guaranteed a shot in the NFL.
Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Florida St., Florida, LSU, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, USC
Not to mention the Iowa's and Wisconsins and Georgias and Tennesees of the world. There's absolutely no reason for a stud recruit to go to a place that is overstocked with comparable at his position.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:08 PM ^
If you're good, you'll make it to the league. Recruits want to win during their brief stop in college.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
but having been an athlete all my life I have to say that playing time does factor in for most people.
The Matt Cassle thing would never have even happened had Brady not been injured so he could showcase his talent. There are not many college backups who make an impact in the NFL (not saying none, just not many).
If Parker goes to USC there is a good chance he never sees the field as a starter in his career, that has to factor into a highly touted recruits mind.
I agree they want to win, but you can also win at other schools and get playing time as well.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:43 PM ^
If Parker goes to Michigan, there's no guarantee he starts. Having 4 or 5 stars next to your name doesn't guarantee you playing time anywhere. What if he picks Michigan but it turns out players like Ray Vinopal and Carvin Johnson are better than he is?
If he thinks he's better than the other recruits, why not go to a school he loves and prove that he's as good or better than what people thought coming out of high school? I'm sorry, but if I was an elite athlete in high school, I would have gone to a place I loved and proven myself. If that means going to USC and beating out everyone else on the depth chart, that's his prerogative. If that means going to Michigan and turning the defense around, more power to him.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
USC is stacked at safety for years to come. He has older guys ahead of him as well as the stable they have brought in this year.
UM has guys his age to compete with, there is a big difference. I know there is a couple of older guys there, but everyone saw what our safety play looked like this year so a recruit would have to look at that situation and think it was a good one to be in.
Further, I don't think USC was his dream school. From what I had heard on this siite and others, he wants to leave Cal when going to university.
Finally, I have to simply say that I think getting to the NFL is most of these players primary goal. To have the best chance to do that you need to get PT and a lot of it. His chances of earning that PT are clearly better at UM than USC. Could he beat out the guys at USC....possibly, but is there a chance he doesn't....yes. At UM his chances are definitely better to win PT, and that is with all due respect to the current players and verbal commits planning on coming.
December 15th, 2009 at 1:00 PM ^
I made the distinction of "a stud recruit who lives up to the rating" specifically for the point you restate. No recruit is guaranteed PT unless you're Keith Nichol. But, given that a guy is highly rated, is he more likely to play at Michigan or at USC?
Also, I'm also not saying that a kid shouldn't go where ever the hell he wants to go. I was simply saying that Matt Cassel argument (PT doesn't matter) is rubbish. PT does matter and if a guy is as good as the rating agencies say he is, then his chances of cashing in on his talent goes way up if the earlier he plays and the more games he plays in.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
I agree that it is rare for a back-up to make an impact, especially at quarterback. Apart from Cassel, Brad Johnson (who was Casey Weldon's backup at FSU) is the only other one I can think of.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:22 PM ^
Isn't Gutierrez holding a clipboard in the NFL? He makes my all-impact team for sure.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
but not all of them have USC's weather or cheerleaders.
December 15th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
So, a 5 or high 4 star recruit is MORE concerned about the weather and the cheerleaders than they are about their playing time? I suppose that's because benchwarmers pull all sorts of primo tail, right? Come on man, that's just ridiculous.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
It has seemed to work for Tennessee...
December 15th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
First of all, yes benchwarmers pull primo tail. Hell, you should have seen the tail Garrett Rivas was pulling in college, and he was a chubby kicker.
Secondly, there are a lot of non-football factors that kids take into account when choosing a school. If you're from many parts of the country, the prospect if living in LA for free for 4 years is pretty appealing. And don't tell me a 17 year old guy isn't impressed by beautiful woman. THAT comment would be ridiculous.
December 16th, 2009 at 1:14 AM ^
Ok. You're right. A stud recruit's primary concern in selecting a program is how much tail he can pull. The original premise was essentially "don't worry about playing just look at Matt Cassel." It's then turned into "dont' worry about playing, go tanning and get laid."
I never said there weren't other factors to consider nor that a 17 year dude won't turn his head when a babe walks by; those are a straw-man ploys. This sub-thread is about what matters more to a top 25 national football recruit that is accurately rated. A kid like that is going to land as much tang as he can handle and probably way more than that limit; where he plays isn't going to change that.
So, the decision to go to USC over another of the 15 programs mentioned boils down to the weather vs. your chances to start from game 1. Go ahead and believe that the weather matters more to a football player than, you know, playing football. If he has a hard on for the school, OK. But get real if you think that competing against 3 other guys who are as good as or better than you in your own class is a better situation in which to become a MULTI-MILLIONARE than going to a place where your closest competition was walk-on freshman coming off of knee surgery.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
How many Cassel's have they had though? For all the top recruits they've had you'd expect to hear about more than just 1. I wonder how many Cassel type players didn't develop because of lack of playing.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:46 AM ^
but it's getting harder to see where all these guys might fit into the class.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:48 AM ^
It's Jibreel Black, not Jivar.
Parker has said that he's looking to leave the State of California. I think he'll end up at either Notre Dame or Michigan.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:53 AM ^
of Mcknight or Parker who do you think looks like the better safety? Also, which do you think has a better chance of landing at UM?
December 15th, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. There is/will be room for all the guys who want to commit. But you can probably dismiss the idea of Stills and Jefferson coming here, so that's two guys from this post that should have very little bearing on the room we have left.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
This post gave me a boner.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:01 AM ^
...do you really want others to know you get a boner over high school boys?
December 15th, 2009 at 10:36 AM ^
Get it straight.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
...provides ample space for it. Do you prefer Tressel's mouth to RichRod's?
December 15th, 2009 at 9:57 AM ^
Nice succinct update. Much appreciate the info!
December 15th, 2009 at 9:59 AM ^
Parker is a better safety. He's a solid tackler with great ball skills. We haven't had a kid like him in a while, in my opinion - he's a true free safety (well, he'd be a strong safety in this defense, but you get the point).
Knight is more likely to end up here, I think. He's a great hitter but is a little slower and lacks elite ball skills.
I really really really want Parker, but Knight's good, too.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:15 AM ^
appreciate the insight. It would be nice to have a great safety at UM again.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
It's been so long I don't even know if I can remember the last GREAT Michigan safety. *Sigh*
December 15th, 2009 at 2:45 PM ^
I would kill for a Shazor or an Adams right about now.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:02 AM ^
I am not sure what the norms are with using another site's info (perhaps ok if you, as you did, cite it?), but it really is nice to get this recap here. Thanks.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
the OP is recapping Webb's recruiting roundup on WTKA, not premium info.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
Rich and the coaching staff realize that they need quality players in the defensive backfield and are trying to address this.
See you guys, Rich DOES read MGoBlog! How else could he be aware of this astute and knowledgeable analysis of the team??!
December 15th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
Last year's class actually also focused on LBs and DLs, except we ended up striking out spectacularly with Graves, Jones, Hill, and Witherspoon.
So, to give RichRod some credit, he probably saw the problems at LB and DL developing quite a while ago.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
Hill/Witherspoon = 08
Graves/Jones = 09
point taken though
edit: beaten to it below
December 15th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
You mean Jibreel Black right? He's also a DE.
He was recruited by Hopson per Rivals so there could be a downside in an LB coaching change. Weighing keeping Hopson vs. getting a 3* DE, ehh ...
December 15th, 2009 at 12:02 PM ^
I vote to lose them both.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
Jibreel Black is a high-3*/low-4* guy (5.7 3* to Rivals, a 4* to Scout). He's not a slouch.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
I definitely agree. Lord knows we need DE's and if there's a possibility we can move him over to DT if there's a need or desire then a borderline 4* is a huge get for us. If we're stretched and I had to choose between giving a scholarship to Black or Ash I guess I'd choose Ash (Pahokee!) but I certainly hope Black becomes Blue.
Remember Indiana was crying when he de-committed and I'm sure that Cincy will be doing the same.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
Hill and Witherspoon were in the 2008 class, Rodriguez's first at Michigan.
Graves and Jones were in the 2009 class and would have just finished their true freshman seasons.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
yes I'm sure that is who hailvictors was refering to.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
I understand what you're trying to say, but barring injury, Parker could easily be a starter at Michigan pretty early in his career. He would probably sit behind Woolfolk for a year, but after that, I think he'd be in competition to start at SS, depending on where Emilien plays.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:55 AM ^
If the rumors are true, Grimes, Murphy, Furman, and Ash are all blue. Assuming we have 28 spots, it seems like we would only have room for 1 more commit. Seems to me we have the best chance with Hankins or Parker.
Would you rather close with another DT or another safety?
We don't really have a true NT in this class yet but I would love to add Parker above most players.
On another note, Hankins will announce before Parker. If Hankins goes blue does that effectively end our recruiting class?
Perhaps if Sean Parker is willing to commit to Michigan, then a recruit who has not yet qualified will be out of luck.