Magnus

January 7th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^

This is not accurate. Team rankings only count your top 20 recruits. So as long as we have at least 20 commits next year, the team ranking should not be affected. The top three teams for 2016 recruiting (LSU, OSU, FSU) all have 19 or fewer recruits, while the next three teams (Michigan, Florida, Ole Miss) all have 20+.

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FormAFarkingWall

January 7th, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^

Actually it is accurate, depending on the site.  Scout uses 25 players, which does get skewed by larger classes.  Rivals uses 20. 

247 appears to use 25 also - in 2015, Tennessee (with 30 recruits with an 89.43 avg.) was ranked 4th, ahead of #7 Ohio State (26 recruits with a 90.25 avg). 

No clue about ESPN

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Magnus

January 7th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^

Tennessee also had a 5-star (the #6 player in the country) that was ranked higher than Ohio State's 5-star (#34 overall). And Tennessee had fifteen 4-stars, compared to Ohio State's fourteen 4-stars.

Additionally, this discussion popped up a week or two ago, and Steve Lorenz confirmed that 247 uses just the top 20 recruits.

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GoBlueNorth

January 7th, 2016 at 6:12 PM ^

My concern is that we may be turning away some of this last minute big talent. This class filled up early with "lower ranked" kids that the coaches see something in. I trust the staff's evaluations more than I do the stars. I see quite a few posters suggesting that maybe some of these kids grey shirt. The problem I have with that is 1) they may not be able to afford out of state tuition for a semester and 2) we offered, they accepted. Oversigning is necessary to a degree and I once again trust the ethics of our institution.

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BlueFish

January 7th, 2016 at 6:27 PM ^

My concern is that we may be turning away some of this last minute big talent.

Just speculation: this might be why we're hearing that some commits haven't heard from the staff in a while, and some commits are looking elsewhere.  Perhaps a mutual, unspoken parting of ways, as the staff senses an opportunity to upgrade the quality of the class with late-committing blue-chippers.

But again, that's pure speculation.

Recruiting is fascinating.

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GoBlueNorth

January 7th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^

Not in total disagreement. This is just one of those issues with 3 sides to every story and one where people have different views. I've seen posts on here from one extreme to the other. Everything from I don't care as long as we win to let's to it right. I suspect that most programs keep it close to playing by the rules with the occasional stretching (no intended reference) of those rules. In my own mind though, I like to think that if we offer a full ride, not a grey shirt, that we honour it. Hell....all of football is fascinating!!

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Ruffneck61

January 7th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^

I'm not even going to pretend I know anything about football but it seems like coach kind of panicked. You always hear about relationship with recruits is a major influence in their decision. JH had 1/4 of the time to build relationship with this class as other top coaches in the nation. I think he underestimated his effect on the top hs players. This leading him to take these lower rated players early on. I'd be shocked if this happens with the next class



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Mevo

January 7th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^

Our biggest need is at linebacker and now a 4* linebacker decommits from Alabama.  Harbaugh should put on the say the full court press and bring him to Ann Arbor.  We are in serious need of linebacker talent.

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True Blue Grit

January 7th, 2016 at 6:31 PM ^

on how serious he really is about Michigan.  At a minimum it could give us another option if neither Jones nor Jackson pan out.  I don't know how Yulee compares to those two guys, but I like his highlight film.  

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San Diego Mick

January 7th, 2016 at 6:38 PM ^

love the way he can go sideline to sideline, my only worry is some of his tackles were of the borderline horse collar variety, he might need to watch that at the college level but damn he's nasty on the field.

I LOL'd big time when he kicked off and then was the first guy downfield and lambasted the ball carrier.

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Magnus

January 8th, 2016 at 7:34 AM ^

Yes. It means that you have a certain number of students with risky academics who will be allowed into the program for their athletic ability. It means that their football abilities outweigh their academics. Players still have to qualify by NCAA standards, but they may not meet the normal standards set by the university.

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Mr Miggle

January 8th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^

The school allows football to take a limited number of recruits that meet NCAA minimums, but little more. It calls those academic exceptions. That's not an NCAA term. To the NCAA those kids are already qualified, just like someone with a 4.0 GPA/1400 SAT. It's something that some strong academic schools like Michigan do to strike a balance. They want to keep high standards, even for athletes, but the coaches don't want to turn away top players that could go almost anywhere else.

Michigan still does require more than the bare minimum, even for an exception, So do some others like ND, Wisconsin and especially Stanford. The idea of an academic exception means nothing at a school like KSU, where regular students that fall below the NCAA minimums get admitted.

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TIMMMAAY

January 7th, 2016 at 8:55 PM ^

I realize this isn't anything to get excited over just yet, but if we keep getting interest from more blue chip guys we're going to have to end up rescinding a lot of offers to the lower rated guys that have already pledged to M. Or greyshirt guys, and/or medical some guys and give the firm handshake to 5th year seniors. This makes me feel very conflicted, and a little uncomfortable. We ridiculed Saban/Bama endlessly for putting themselves in this situation year after year. Time will tell, but it really looks like we're moving in that direction ourselves... 

It's awesome to be getting interest from these guys, but I think Harbaugh needs to figure out a better way to handle the inevitable. Maybe hold off on accepting commitments until later in the cycle. I don't know, but the optics are bad. 

Hopefully it's a temporary thing, once the base is built and the locomotive has lots of inertia this sort of thing won't happen... 

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Magnus

January 8th, 2016 at 7:36 AM ^

I get what you're saying, but the truly shady thing that Alabama (and others) did was "cutting" players who were already on scholarship. I still don't think it's the right thing to do to yank a scholarship offer, but at least kids have a chance to begin their college careers somewhere that they're wanted.

Truthfully, I have less of a problem with this tactic now that scholarships are 4-year commitments. I think you really have to be sure that it's a kid you want in your program for four years, because you're stuck with him unless he decides to transfer.

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MotownGoBlue

January 7th, 2016 at 11:38 PM ^

He just retweeted that #UVAfootball is going to be special. So, I wouldn't look too far into this unless he actually ends up on campus for a visit....and time is running out.

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