Interesting Tidbit: Nine 2017 commits (as of now) have won state titles

Submitted by Indonacious on

Nine future #Michigan players won a state title — JKP, McCaffrey, Kurt Taylor, Josh Ross, Ambry, Stueber, Kai-Leon, Kwity, and Jeter. Wow.

There are more people that could be added to this as well (DPJ for example). I wonder if this is a unique occurence or if this is something that is within the realm of normal.

Also, curious if there are any trends of Harbaugh liking players preferentially on high school teams that are doing really well or who are part of high school programs that have historically done well.

JonnyHintz

December 11th, 2016 at 1:15 AM ^

You'd have to think that for the most part, you're going to have highly ranked players playing on powerhouse teams. A D1 player is often times a game changer at the high school level, especially at skill positions. You have a P5 QB, RB, or WR and you're probably winning a significant chunk of your games. and then you have instances where the DPS teams have such great coaching and youth leagues that the teams at Cass and MLK are top notch, so you get 3-4 D1 prospects on the team at once and you're looking at a state title.

Another way to look at it is that you often aren't going to find many teams winning State titles at the higher divisions in their state that don't have D1 prospects.

Maybe the number of players that actually won titles is on the high end, but most of them are going to be on state title contenders at the very least. Only exception I've noticed as far as Michigan goes is Deron Irving-Bey, who plays for 1-8 Flint Southwestern in the Saginaw Valley League.

JonnyHintz

December 11th, 2016 at 1:51 AM ^

That's what I'm saying. You have to figure the average high school student isn't going to be able to hang with a D1 caliber player. You run your team through that player, you're setting yourself up for success. Hand the ball off to your 6'0" 220 lb running back that runs a 4.5 40. Now imagine your average high schoolers trying to take him down. Or someone trying to get off a block from a 6'4" 310 lb lineman.

So to answer your question, it's pretty rare that the caliber of prospects that would get offers from Michigan AREN'T at that high level.

JonnyHintz

December 11th, 2016 at 1:58 AM ^

I also think it's more evident in states where football isn't huge. In states like Michigan, a quick look at the recruiting rankings over the past few years tells you that there's a few schools that really stand out. Cass, MLK, OLSM, and Brother Rice. All perennials when it comes to State title conversation.

You look at states like New Mexico, New York, or Connecticut, and you're talking about one recruit every few years. You're talking about almost assuredly winning a state title if you have that talent.

Then if you go to talent rich states like California, Texas, or Florida, and you're talking a ton of elite prospects. You're obviously going to find more prospects who aren't on great teams.

At the end, I think it says more about where we have gotten our recruits than anything. I find it hard to believe that Harbaugh really cares how good the kids high school team is.

LSAClassOf2000

December 11th, 2016 at 7:56 AM ^

I've thought about this before - while I don't pay a lot of detailed attention to recruiting necessarily, I do pay attention to state rankings and which high schools are producing the talent. Here in Michigan, it's kind of easy to do and and it is to those schools that Michigan and other schools genenrally look. In talent-rich states like Texas and Florida, you can go to schools that were in the middle of the pack in their own divisions and still find high-level prospective D1 talent sometimes.

1VaBlue1

December 11th, 2016 at 8:17 AM ^

And just how the hell is the state of New York, with it's 10 Million population city among several others, NOT a football powerhouse?  That is something I've never understood...

Another thing to look at is that the better players will seek out, and transfer to, traditional HS football powers if that option is open to them.  I'll use parochial schools as the example, because they can often provide tuition help to get players that otherwise couldn't go there.  That used to be huge back in the 80's, but I don't know if the MHSAA has changed rules to better disallow that anymore.  How does Cass Tech work for enrollment?  Is that a straight address thing, like most schools, or based on academic achievment?  It would be intersting to analyze the traditional, or better, football schools from that standpoint.  Basketball, also...

WestQuad

December 11th, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^

My HS coach played for Wyoming and then his coaches took over at Nebraska (years and years ago.)   His first year as a HS coach he called up his old college coaches and said he thought he had 3 players that could play for them.   The Nebraska coaches said if he had one player that could play at Nebraska he would have won the state championship.   

D1 player at the HS level makes a huge difference.   I've seen difference makers in HS, who did not go on to play D1 football because they weren't that elite.  

I do wonder though about the diamonds in the rough.  There has to be huge kids with talent that show up all over the place.  I wonder if the lack of development that good cub and HS programs bring (to the recruited kids)  just leave the the kids in BFE too far behind in their "10,000 hours."

rainingmaize

December 11th, 2016 at 9:49 AM ^

If anybody here remembers Devin Gardner's HS career, he single handedly lead Inkster to the D2 high school championship game where they lost to a really really well coached Lowell team. Once DG left, Inkster immediatly sunk to mediocrity and the school eventually shut down a few years later. 



And that Lowell team, while they didn't have a single D1 commit, one of their lineman walked on to Michigan State and started for them for a few years. 

MGOFishBio

December 11th, 2016 at 3:34 AM ^

Coach said at the event, I think when talking about Devin bush, that alot of the signees won championships and are all Americans...He wants the athletes to be successful in every facet of life

I dumped the Dope

December 11th, 2016 at 7:48 AM ^

hints at good coaching, not just X & O but getting players focused as a Team, teaching them technique and putting in the work, not just going to lift weights so more chicks will be in play.

Mr. Yost

December 11th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^

I heard a stat the other day that Zeke Elliott hasn't lost a road game since his freshman year in HIGH SCHOOL.

I'm sure we have some, but recruiting guys who are used expect to win can only help.

The Fan in Fargo

December 11th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^

I like and respect coach Wheatley and everything but why this kid doesn't get more touches against the good defenses just blows my mind. He doesn't get any. Honestly, of all the backs this year he was the only that seriously could've gained yards in that second half against OSU. Doubt me all you want, I'm right way more than I am wrong. Yet, I am wrong a lot. Anyway, Deveon couldn't see a hole unless it was two feet in front of him and and the other two just didn't have the power sometimes to break arm tackles. Isaac has the best mix of them all. This team so needs one or two featured backs it's not even funny. I cant sit here and sugar coat these dude's shit anymore. In the big games, with good teams, with the game on the line and a play is needed, Michigan just doesn't have a guy that can do it right now.

Edit: In this upcoming bowl game and against Florida opening game 2017, if the running game isn't doing anything, you have to feed Isaac some carries. What the fuck is the difference right? If no one else is doing anything? Damn this obvious shit pisses me off.

Night_King

December 11th, 2016 at 11:54 AM ^

It will be interesting to see how we use the RB's next year... Obviously a lot will depend on if we land a guy like Najee Harris or not. But I'm curious to see if Kareem Walker gets a decent amount of looks mixed in with Higdon and Evans. I don't think we will have a back get as many carries per game as Smith did this season in the close games.

pbmd

December 11th, 2016 at 8:52 AM ^

Huge increase in number of "state championship teams" over the years
7 divisions in Ohio
8 in Michigan
Could be a thousand kids in those 2 states alone that are state champions




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OwenGoBlue

December 11th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^

More divisions and more elite schools that recruit like IMG, Bishop Gorman and Greyson(?) in GA where Taylor transferred to.

Still a tough thing to do, but more top recruits will have rings moving forward. Can't wait for someone to make this about millennials and entitlement ("in my day we had one ring to rule them all and we had to play at Mordor to get it!").

MGOFishBio

December 11th, 2016 at 9:25 AM ^

From my last post, almost all our commits from past 2 seasons, have been invited to All-America all star games...under armour Polynesian army etc..it's pretty impressive