Recruiting mailbag questions for Monday

Submitted by Steve Lorenz on

Hey guys, 

Hit me up with your questions for next Monday's mailbag. 

There were some good questions remaining in last week's, so I may answer a couple of those still. I am keeping track of all questions asked in each of these so I'll keep picking out the best ones, even if they're from past board posts.  

- Steve 

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2017 recruiting
'17 Recruiting

MGrad

September 15th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

Why does it seem that Michigan can't get the pile of early commitments from the top 150 crowd like Alabama or OSU? I know timing doesn't matter, and we do get traction early with the QB commitments in particular, but ultimately it would seem like building momentum by getting many of them early has a compounding class effect for those other programs. We get our share but it is more of a nail biter position to the finish line rather than a dominance of the race from the start of the process. Am I wrong with this perception?

Joined: 08/13/2009

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beef supreme

September 15th, 2016 at 10:45 PM ^

are any of the offensive line prospects out there with a chance to start next year if we get them? We will have Cole, newsome, bredeson, and maybe onwenu left as what I'd call guys we are high on. Dunno about ulizio or spanellis. After that it's a bunch of dudes that have never been good enough to crack the lineup. Seems like a bad spot to be in, especially since all the redshirt seniors currently starting are very "meh". Obviously referring to prospects we actually have a chance to get.

Joined: 12/07/2015

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Ahriman

September 15th, 2016 at 10:45 PM ^

Hi Steve,

Just had a quick question about Solomon. Most of the news seems to indicate he's staying south (probably Georgia), but I was wondering if you think there's a chance he might get back in the fold. It seems positive that he hasn't committed to Georgia yet, and he did say he'd like to make it back to campus.

On the other hand, reports indicate his mother wants him to go to Georgia. But if Georgia doesn't have a great year, Michigan does, and the staff can smooth things over with his mom, it would seem Michigan might be able to get him back, no?

Thanks for all your updates over the years.

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

September 15th, 2016 at 10:57 PM ^

An obvious foundation to UM rosters in the past, Ohio recruiting has produced very little under Harbaugh especially with the recent de commitments for 2018. How would you describe the strategy and level of commitment to Ohio at this point?

Joined: 11/01/2012

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Danwillhor

September 16th, 2016 at 2:14 AM ^

That seems to be Urban's strategy in Ohio but the talent he leaves behind bolsters about 30 different programs of varying quality, high-end to lower MAC. Michigan has to get back into Ohio eventually. Ohio is arguably a top-5 recruiting state. Even if it's just the same strategy as Meyer, we can't allow the top kids on a talented bordering state to be a foregone conclusion to not come here. The amount of Michigan greats that came from Ohio is very likely double that of our own state or any other. 2/3 Heisman winners were Ohio guys. It's an important area to recruit and the fact that we're debating if it's important shows how lopsided this rivalry has been. We need to start winning that game NOW. We can't do much about the next handful of classes as they're all kids who grew up with osu as the place they're almost supposed to go to. We have to start winning over the current elementary school kids. It's that bad. I'm an 80s baby, product of the 90s. I was born in SE MI but spent half my youth in Ohio. I knew more Michigan fans than osu fans. Heck, I almost had as many ND fan friends as osu friends. Now? Not only is that entire town and state completely pro-osu but a few of my UM fan friends are now osu fans. Sure, clearly were never "hardcore" UM fans to switch like that but those people have kids, too! Ohio is not a friendly place for UM to recruit right now and it absolutely was in the 1990s. Hoke took some Ohio kids but almost all of them were kids osu didn't recruit hard anyway. Carr wad losing the state by 2005, RR took scraps, Hoke did better but still mostly 2nd tier Ohio kids and Harbaugh seems to know the deal so he is hitting the entire country as hard as possible. We have to do that anyway but Ohio is an area we must make easier to recruit again. Winning does that.

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nb

September 15th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^

Michigan has some success to sell and open PT in 2017/2018. Position coaches were a huge key to Harbaugh's success. Who will be the next star recruiter for Michigan to bring in the next 1st round level talent? Who will be the position coach to take him to the next level?

Joined: 09/23/2009

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Bleedmaizeblue

September 15th, 2016 at 11:18 PM ^

How many early enrollees can we have this year? I assume due to the amount of starters leaving that we will try to fill as many early enrollee slots as possible. And who is has already stated that they are going to enroll early that we have a real chance with. (Not a Jim Carey Dumb and Dumber chance, a REAL chance) The only recruit I've heard is an early enrollee is DPJ.

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MichiganMan2011

September 15th, 2016 at 11:42 PM ^

How much of the redshirt bonfire do you think is a burn the boats tactic to free up slots and keep scholarships moving vs a recruiting tactic to demonstrate playing time meritocracy? What do you think is the biggest factor in Ohio States advantage over us in getting five star recruits? Do you see a path for Harbaugh to get to parity in the near term? How do we possibly replace the players getting drafted this year without backsliding?

Joined: 07/03/2008

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seegoblu

September 16th, 2016 at 8:36 AM ^

How do recruits view so many freshmen playing? On the one hand, like MichiganMan2011 stated above, it can be viewed as evidence of a meritocracy where the best players play regardless of class. However, I wonder if recruits see the depth chart filled with players only slightly older than they are, with similar remaining elibility, who will be here for a majority of the recruit's 3-4-5 year career at UM.

I think the pat answer is that recruits don't care because they believe in themselves and believe that they will outperform anyone else, but that seems to fly in the face of some comments from recruits where they highlight the depth chart being open at their position and a "need" for them to play early. 

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San Diego Mick

September 15th, 2016 at 11:56 PM ^

thanks for taking the time to do this. My question concerns the RB situation.

With Smith graduating, we'll still have a bevy of backs available that are on the team already not to mention Taylor, Samuels and Dillon joining next year should they maintain their commitment and indeed make it to A2.

With Evans, Isaac, Higdon, Davis and Walker that's a pretty crowded RB group. What is the coaching staff's thinking on playing time and just generally what is the strategy in recruiting that position?

Appreciate what you do, Go Blue!

Joined: 05/11/2011

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Billy Ray Valentine

September 16th, 2016 at 12:13 AM ^

Thank you for mailbag sessions, Steve. I hope they become a mainstay. In the past 5 years, Michigan has recruited a handful of players from Colorado and Utah. Michigan is recruiting in New Mexico. Michigan played Utah two consecutive years. We are playing Colorado this weekend. The population is booming in the Rocky Mountain region. Large, successful high school football programs are beginning to pop up. Who are the Rocky Mountain region recruits we should be paying attention to over the next few years? Do you see this region as an area for future Michigan recruiting success?

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funkywolve

September 16th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^

The population maybe booming but I wouldn't consider it a hotbed of college football.  There's always a couple players that are pretty good but Colorado isn't what I would consider anything close to a fertile recruiting state.  In the 2016 class they had 0 five stars and 2 star recruits.  In 2017 they have 0 five stars and four 4 star recruits.  

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Billy Ray Valentine

September 16th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^

I agree ... Colorado itself is not a "hotbed."  Utah itself is not a hotbed.  New Mexico is definitely not a hotbed.  The region as whole will likely never rival CA, TX, FL, LA, GA, OH, PA, etc.

 

My impression is the Rocky Mountain region (I-25 corridor or Front Range, I- 70 corridor, SLC and I-15 corridor, and I-80 corridor) is in the early-to-middle stages of a major population boom.  The weather is condusive to almost year-round football minus insufferable humidity.  The area is littered with transplants, many of which have relocated from football hotbeds such as CA and TX.  Midwest transplants who love and understand B1G football are also relocating at a significant rate.  

 

 I find it intriguing that Michigan has been so active recruting and scheduling this region in the past 5 years.  I'm intrigued whether this is a short-term play, a long-term play, or both.  If Michigan is able to pull 1 or 2 4-star caliber players annually from the region, this would be a good thing, no?  Heck, our highest rated 2017 recruit per the 247 Composite is from Colorado.  

 

I could be way off base ... that's why I would love to hear Steve's opinion. 

 

 

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1464

September 16th, 2016 at 12:24 AM ^

Do you get the sense that the attrition we saw a week or two ago resonated with any current recruits? Also, in a more general sense, does the peer pressure/herd mentality of waves of decommitments affect the thought processes of these kids?

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StephenRKass

September 16th, 2016 at 12:49 AM ^

So, I'd like to get a better handle on OSU vs. UM recruiting. Obviously, they kind of look for someone different at QB. I'd assume they'd compete over almost every other position.

  • For 2017, OSU seems to have an insurmountable lead, at least in quality. Should we be concerned? If yes, why? If no, why?
  • Where especially do we really recruit the same players? Where different?
  • What are each school's strengths in recruiting?
  • Where do we really look for a different kind of player?
  • OSU fans despise Harbaugh and his antics. But he seems to be very popular with athletes. UM fans can't stand OSU, and diss it's academics. But it looks fairly similar to me, albeit not quite as good in academic quality as UofM. I guess I'm curious if you see any PATTERNS for who likes Meyer and prefers OSU, and those who like Harbaugh and prefer Michigan.
  • Talk about current hot head to head competition between the two schools in recruiting.
  • How did Michigan fail so badly on Antjuan Simmons. And Weber?
  • After 2017, what to do you see as the key head to head recruiting values.

Honestly, I'm not worried about MSU, or the rest of the Big 10. But it seems we have to recruit on approximately the same level as OSU if we ever hope to beat them.

Joined: 07/15/2008

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Danwillhor

September 16th, 2016 at 2:25 AM ^

Listen, osu runs a system that already means they can achieve more with less so that system with elite talent across the board is a problem - no doubt or sugar coating it. We need to turn this rivalry around and quickly because it's getting out of hand. We cannot rely on recruits from the 4 corners of the country to replace what we should be getting in Ohio as a WC/Southern kid can like you all year and then decide he'd rather not move across the country. We need Ohio, like it or not. We haven't been a factor for top Ohio kids since 2002/3 and our program has felt the effects of it. Beyond that, I've always been curious about Simmons. Did we know he wanted out of the state so we didn't recruit him to avoid the perception of our home being raided or did we truly slow play him?

Joined: 12/02/2008

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Maul

September 16th, 2016 at 2:09 AM ^

Harbaugh's staff seems to be more willing to recruit and take commitments from a few guys with grade issues.  Please compare their approach with Hoke's in terms of grades, qualification, off-the-field stuff, etc.

Joined: 12/17/2015

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gorilla tactics

September 16th, 2016 at 4:33 AM ^

you've called Cesar Ruiz the most important player left on the board and I've always been a little confused by that.  Personally, I feel like Drew Singleton and DPJ are the most important.  Why do you feel that way about Ruiz ?

Joined: 07/24/2016

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Rather be on BA

September 16th, 2016 at 4:57 AM ^

Negative recruiting. From your talks with recruits and pulse on the landscape how often do you think it is happening to us? Has it gone up in recent years? Does it have an effect on most recruits or do you think many see it for what it is? Do you think Michigan employs it against other schools?



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Stuck in Utah

September 16th, 2016 at 5:43 AM ^

What are the chances we get Najee Harris and how hard is Harbaugh pursuing him? Landing the #1 overall recruit in 2 consecutive years would be epic. Plus, he would fill a need at RB where it seems we still lack good vision (with the possible exception of Chris Evans). 

Joined: 07/07/2013

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JTrain

September 16th, 2016 at 7:10 AM ^

A little of the UM trail... But just out of curiosity....
Do you envision Lovie Smith reviving a pretty beatdown Illinois football program. He seems like a guy that brings instant credibility in the recruiting world and could potentially affect some of the ebb n flow in the big ten recruiting world with his resume....
I personally think he's a great hire. I have always liked the guy..just not sure all old pro coaches wanna work as hard as ours.
Thoughts?



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Everyone Murders

September 16th, 2016 at 8:02 AM ^

Harbaugh's satellite blitz tour this summer was great for getting Michigan's name in the paper during the offseason, and gave some kids exposure to programs that might not otherwise see them.  So definitely a positive for the program.

For all of that, what impact has it had on recruiting players Michigan is interested in?  Is your sense that, from a recruiting angle, the key thing was to build relationships with h.s. coaching staffs?  In short, what tangible benefits in recruiting do you see (as someone with relationships with coaches, h.s. players, and their families) coming out of the blitz, both short- and long-term?

Joined: 12/14/2010

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Darup

September 16th, 2016 at 8:08 AM ^

It seems like Kai Leon Herbert has been on the verge of decommitting for a couple weeks. When will he make the announcement that he is gone? Also there has been talk that Hall will be processed by Michigan. With Michigan processing some recruits last week does that mean they are more likely to keep Hall? 

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