Michigan Commits and Targets Dominating in U.S. Army All-American Bowl Practices
Scout.com identified the top 5 stars from the East and West during the first day of practice for the U.S. Army All-American Game, and there are LOTS of friendly names on the lists.
For the East, WR commits Donovon Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black made the top five, along with Georgia DT target Aubrey Solomon and Florida OG target Tedarrell Slaton. East story here:
http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1742578-army-bow…
For the West, Jay Tufele (DT target from Utah) made the top five. Very glowing assessment of how well he's doing. West story here:
http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1742322-army-bow…
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
...would anyone mind filling me in one where things stand with Solomon and Tufele? Not good, right?
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
Solomon trending hard to Alabama.
Tufele trending out west somewhere.
January 3rd, 2017 at 2:32 PM ^
Largest living alumni base. Not a bagman in the entire bunch.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
The future at DT is not looking so good right now.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:10 AM ^
As long as Mattison is here, I'm only mildly concerned. Heininger Certainty Principle FTW.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
Who projects as a DT in this class? Just Paea? Seems like we need to at least take some fliers just to have the people to develop, right?
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
I'm holding out hope that after an offseason of a college S&C program, Rashan Gary will be a 300 lb maneater. He will be SDE and 3T like Wormley circa 2015. In 2018 he will 3T/Nose fulltime as a Suh kind of player. We will have the DE's to make this work.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
I would actually be alright if Solomon played a little worse.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
I am sad we do not win every game and every recruiting battle. *sniff* Can we hire Brady Hoke as a special consultant for D-line recruiting?
January 3rd, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:44 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:09 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
Did any of you saying "OL is all" get a chance to see that Rose Bowl? That kid Darnold was under pressure constantly, but got rid of the ball so quickly (AND accurately!) it didn't matter at all. I rewatched on espnu "Instant Classic" and he looked better on 2nd viewing. Hell, the psu qb we completely dismantled looked great in spots too.
Based not solely on that game, but also in part on the 9-game winning streak usc went on after he became starter, that guy looked like another Aaron Rodgers.
So, yes, O Line upgrade by all means, but we could play the QB position at a much higher level than we did this year. After that game I'm really hoping Peters beats Speight out next year. We need a higher level of execution to make it to the next level.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^
I think there is a chance we get Tufele
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
While I love following crootin news, I'm becoming more and more skeptical of the "evaluations" we receive. It's very difficult to gauge where a 17 year old stands in terms of body development, strength, and mental composition. So while I love the recruiting class we've assembled, I won't go as far as saying "damn, that Isiah Wilson guy was going to be the next Jake Long", because he just may not be!
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
Oh yeah for sure. Many times these kids are ranked so high becuse they're kids in a man's body. Think Derrick Green or Marvin Robinson. On the other hand you have someone like JJ Watt. It's a harder than you'd think. The mental make up is something that the coaches would know more about than any recruiting guru. That's why it's best to trust in Harbaugh's judgement rather than star gazing.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
I agree with your assesment. It's obvious by just watching these all star games that a very limited number of guys actually pop out at you as a wow, look at that mother trucking stud. You'd think that some of these 5 stars woud be lighting other dudes up like hardcore but they don't. They are all just kids and human beings. Now that Clowney guy was an exception. Derrick Green too.
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
A while ago about how some coaches are careful when it comes to Texas recruits. The theory was something about how Texas High School football is so intense and insane that they have great coaches and weight programs that often, some of those kids reach their "peak" before getting to college. Where some kids you hope to develope and put on weight and so on, those in Texas have already done that and don't have much more to go to reach their ceiling. Not sure how true that is, but I thought it was interesting. But to your point, you just never know, 5 stars can end up not being much while 3 stars and lower end up being first round draft picks.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
on Tufele.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:51 AM ^
Solomon, Tufele, and Slaton are all headed elsewhere.
DPJ and Harris would be athletes at their respective positions that we haven't had at Michigan in a long time.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:54 AM ^
We are so thin at DT now. Absolutely crushing to miss out on an impact DT in this class. We needed at least 2 more, we're getting zero.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:07 AM ^
We're going to have to make some SDE types into DTs. Hudson will definitely play DT, maybe NT, Paea will stay on D at 3T, Irving-Bey may have to play inside as well. Hudson looks like he will be a prime player and, with Mattison's coaching, I'm certain we will develop one of our other DL kids. It would have been great to get at least one of Solomon or Tufele, but we have enough bodies and coaches to make it work.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
Don't forget Gary projects to the interior too. Mattison will get at least one less heralded guy kicking ass. It won't be this year's line, but we'll probably be fine 2017 and the next year.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
Yeah, that will depend on how people develop behind him. He certainly won't be playing end, but whether he is anchor or 3tech will depend on how guys fill out. He will be an anchor next year for sure, 2018 he could flex inside if Jeter or one of the Ends like CMH bulks up and moves over to anchor.
In 2018 we are strong players from some of the biggest DT types like Taron Vincent, Tyler Friday, PJ Mustipher, and Michael Thompson.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:41 AM ^
I am kind of expecting to see Gary inside in obvious pass situations in '17, similar to what OSU did with their speed rush package, with guys like Uche, Kemp, or even Vilain getting some chances to play a role similar to what Winovich did this year. Also hoping that Dwumfour is ready to provide some depth on the interior next year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a grad transfer come in for that same purpose.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:09 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:53 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:53 PM ^
The problem is that they can't play every snap.
Then they graduate and we're left with one or two guys total.
We have to get some bodies this year. At least one.
Imagine running backs blowing through the center of our line from 2018 onward. That's what it means at this point.
January 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^
I don't understand how D-lineman aren't dying to play here. We have 7 guys this year who will probably end up drafted, either this year, next, or year after. Along with Brown loving to blitz and Mattison who's a beast coaching the d-line...
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
Well they also watch Alabam and Clemson so that is probably it
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:55 AM ^
I also read a solid update on Scout about Deron Irving-Bey getting into the backfield and Ambry Thomas is running well downfield. Filiaga sounded solid in the little I saw also.
I am hoping to hear something good about McCaffery today. I think he missed practice yesterday since he was showing up a little late.
http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1742731-army-bow…
January 3rd, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^
That advertisement in the middle of the screen is killing me.
January 3rd, 2017 at 10:57 AM ^
Yeah we aren't getting either of thsoe DT's and Slaton probably can't qualify at Michigan even if we did still lead for him so mostly its just good to see DPJ and Black doing well.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
I wonder if the staff starts taking swings at varous 3* & 4* DTs around the country. Seems like we're likely to whiff on both guys, but I haven't heard of the staff offering anyone else suddenly.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
but are there any "back-up" DT options? I see a number of offers, but I haven't heard much beyond Tufele and Solomon.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
I wrote this in an earlier thread but it applies more here. Solomon said yesterday that Michigan wasn't recruiting him as hard as Alabama and Georgia. It's been a dead period for almost a month. So if those schools are talking to him when they shouldn't be then Michigan looks like they're not interested when they're really just following the rules.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^
I believe that only applies to in person contact, but phone calls and text messages are still allowed.
January 3rd, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm not certain by any means, but I believe the dead period means that our coaches aren't allowed to make contact with recruits at all. However, if a recruit contacts them they can then talk.
January 3rd, 2017 at 3:47 PM ^
I believe they have never adapted the contact rules since texting & social media became a thing. So, if I've read reports on this blog about "dead periods" correctly, then visiting & phone calls are out, instagram & twitter are OK.
So if a guy says another team is hitting him up harder than M is, that's probably what he means?
And if even after the whole "nice to have seen you at the BBQ Mr. Soloman" thing, another team is STILL going after him harder than M, it means either they just don't love him that much or they're convinced his mother doesn't love M that much.
next...
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^
Michigan has seemingly been shitting the bed with the Solomon recruitment. From misspelling his name to apparently not keeping in touch with him prior to the de-commit. He may just be throwing out excuses about why he is moving away but for some reason it doesn't seem the staff has put the full court press on him despite being a highly rated target at a huge position of need.
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:21 AM ^
January 3rd, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
Maybe the staff just doesn't think he'll be a great fit at Michigan? I mean, the way he got all bent out of shape about the name thing seems to indicate that maybe there's some personality conflict type issues there.
If I had a fit every time someone misspelled my name I'd be homeless. It's really not a big deal.