Sam Webb NON-NAJEE Updates from AAA Practices via WTKA

Submitted by ColeIsCorky on

Sam actually touches on this whole Alabama flight saga if you care to listen to it, but there's nothing real positive or negative that really needs to be added to the discussion. If you care to hear about it, listen to the podcast. We will know where Najee goes on Monday. 

On to the other stuff.

Chuck Filiaga - Prepare for a Hello post. Nothing much on performance, but it doesn't sound like much has changed as far as expectations. 

Donovan Peoples-Jones/Tarik Black - Tarik Black is "the revelation" to Sam. Tarik Black is now right there with Nico Collins in Sam's opinion (which Sam is very bullish on Nico). He's been the "big play threat" so far, more so than DPJ. Sounds like we should expect a rankings bump, which I believe he's already a composite Top 150. DPJ is still DPJ, but it sounds like Tarik is performing swimmingly.

Ambry Thomas - Going to really be a factor in Michigan's secondary as a Freshman. 

Deron Irving-Bey - Looks like he's going to start on the DL for the East team. Not refined with technique so much, but he's really fast off the edge and in that fashion has been turning heads. 

Jay Tufele - "Unblockable." Not very big, but "they can't get their hands on him." Don't believe things are trending well for him, but he's still one of Michigan's top targets. I haven't heard about Michigan being completely out of it for him, so there's still at least some hope there.

Aubrey Solomon - While some of you are writing him off and/or don't want to hear his name again after the drama the other day, it sounds like the staff has been pursuing him even harder now. Sam isn't saying Michigan will get him, but mentioned the word "weird" in regards to his recruitment. Michigan not completely out of the picture, and it's hard to tell if maybe this piece of drama between him and Michigan actually helped Michigan's chances? Who knows. If you don't want to hear more about him, just ignore this section. Either way keep your expectations low for your sanity.

This is perphaps the strangest/most dramatic non-Signing Day recruiting season I've ever followed, and it looks like these last four weeks will continue in that trend. 

We have a killer class so far, so no matter what happens between Najee, Tufele and Solomon (and others of course), we are still going to end up with a top 5 class. DIB and Tarik Black are two that I would expect to see a rankings bump so far based off this new information. 

Back to work. Hope this helps start off your weekend in a positive direction. Have a good day, ladies and gents.

Link to podcast. Sam starts talking about half-way in. 

 

 

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4EverBlueGirl

January 6th, 2017 at 12:07 PM ^

I am hoping we have a signing day surprise and land someone talent equal to Aubrey Solomon that we may not even realize we were in on.

 

Yes, I am likely a bitch because I don't easliy forgive a kid saying "F-Michigan" when they know they are being recorded.  Teen mistake?  Maybe...but come on!

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blueblueblue

January 6th, 2017 at 12:53 PM ^

I would like it if Auberon Salamander committed. Then "f- [x team]" could be a running joke throughout his career. Like when a reporter asks him how he feels about playing Florida, he could just say, "You know how I feel about Florida. F- Florida." Eventually he would not have to provide the second part of the answer. 

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jalenwestman

January 6th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

Huge get for us at this point!

If we got one of these 4: Nico, Gay, Tufele, & Solomon I would be a happy GO BLUE camper. I think that only real shot we have is Nico then maybe Tufele.

Can't wait for the Najee Harris 30 for 30.

Really interested now what the Harbaugh back up plan is for Najee. Eno doesn't seem like an option (unless he pulls a Hidgon).

 

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nerv

January 6th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^

The back up plan for Najee is already committed. Keeping Samuels in the fold may be difficult if Najee shows up in AA but I hope Harbaugh is able to keep him on either way. We have quite a few young RB and have two in this current class so I don't really think a non elite 3rd back is that crucial.

I think where we see Harbaugh enacting his back up plan is at DT. I expect to see more attention and/or offers going out to some interior linemen committed to other schools.

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Real and Spectacular

January 6th, 2017 at 11:54 AM ^

Sounds like DIB will be playing inside at Michigan which is good for those concerned about DT recruiting, but we still have a need at nose tackle. Doesn't sound likely for Solomon or Tufele so we will have to see if late names pop up, otherwise it's a huge priority for 2018. I hope we hang on for Collins but we appear to have 2 very good ones already plus Hawkins so it won't cripple us.

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jamesjosephharbaugh

January 6th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^

What's going on in harbaugh's head that the staff would double down on Solomon now? What's the logic there ?

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Magnus

January 6th, 2017 at 11:59 AM ^

Michigan (and other schools) can't really recruit anyone right now. So if anyone says they're going hard after a recruit right now, it's either illegal or a lie. What it probably means is that Michigan amped up their recruitment of him in December, and they'll pick up again when they're allowed.

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Mr Miggle

January 6th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^

The dead period means no in person contact, but puts no limits on other ways of communicating with recruits.

I would think this is the time you would push for recruits to schedule OVs. Certainly you could amp up contact in that way and most recruiting work isn't done in person anyway, is it?

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ColeIsCorky

January 6th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^

I debated on how to word this. From how Sam discussed it with his tone of voice, it sounds as if something was learned after the drama occurred outside his apology. Maybe he had a discussion Aubrey personally? I don't know. Otherwise I agree that I would have been surprised to hear of an "uptick in recruitment" this week alone for reasons you mentioned,

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cletus318

January 6th, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^

Because he's a supremely gifted player whose only crime appears to be some immaturity, making him a typical teenager. People have responded like he has a criminal record.

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lhglrkwg

January 6th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^

but I'm starting to lose a little faith in Sam Webb's opinions. He's seemed overly optimisitc on a few recruitments that he didn't seem to really know much about in retrospect. Maybe it's just better to say "I don't know" instead of "Everything is great and I'm projecting everyone to commit."

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jalenwestman

January 6th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^

For a homer, I think Sam does a pretty good job in the recruiting. It's so fluid and you never really know what a teenager is thinking.

Every prediction business you are going to have misses and big misses. He gives hope.

Sam is the best of all the Michigan recruiting guys and it's not even close. You compare Sam to some of the others and it's like comparing a genius to an insane person.

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WolverineInCbus

January 6th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^

That's fine if you think that, but it's hard to doubt or question the sources that he has at Michigan. There are certain recruiting-related things he posts where I am amazed that he was able to get that information. I will give you that while he is the most keyed in on the Detroit area kids, he may not be the best on national types.



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ColeIsCorky

January 6th, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^

Not going to neg you because I understand where you are coming from. The deal is that when an "insider" says "X player is looking good for Michigan" or "Michigan should get X player," in particular Webb, that doesn't mean Michigan will get them. That's why Sam uses "gut feelings" to differentiate between "Michigan should get X recruit" vs. "Michigan will get X recruit." And I'm sure you understand that, but it's hard for us to differentiate between the two when we want a guy like Najee as much as we do. When Michigan doesn't get a kid that guys like Webb say we "should get," we assume they don't know what they are talking about and just say stuff for "clicks." Steve and Sam are probably the most accurate and least Homer Michigan insiders out there. Sam and Steve both got Isaiah wrong, but everyone besides a few Georgia guys had him to Michigan. And while everyone assumes Najee is over, we will know for sure on Monday. Whoever Najee chooses though, Sam's sources are still the same and still say the same thing. We need to just realize that nothing in recruiting is definite despite what a kid even tells other kids or coaches. Surprises happen.

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ak47

January 6th, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^

For the people who don't want to listen Sam said he can't refute or deny the flight report but Alabama is more confident now than they were earlier in the week.  So he tries to say its still possible but really it doesn't seem all that convinced.  He hasn't heard a definitive no on the Michigan side but its over guys.

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BlueWon

January 6th, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^

and that UM is paying for the one to DTW?

For a guy who doesn't like drama he has created a lot of it by being quiet. But, unless he feels a need to stick it to UM, why would he let this play out this way unless he wants to make a splash by going Blue?

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blueblueblue

January 6th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^

You are swimming in assumptions. How do you know Najee hasnt told the UM coaches his intentions? The kid has been committed to Alabama since May. All we know is that he considered a couple of other schools in the mean time, took some visits, but has not changed his commitment. That's it. All else is assumption. 

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ColeIsCorky

January 6th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^

FWIW Sam says in the podcast that the staff hasn't heard from Najee that he isn't coming. If you now don't trust his sources, you probably won't believe it anyway. But that's the biggest piece of news on Najee in the podcast. Other than that nothing has been verified yet by Sam (as of the podcast).

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LSAClassOf2000

January 6th, 2017 at 11:57 AM ^

Thank you for labeling this as a "Non-Najee" update, by the way, so I don't have to toss my laptop out the window. Granted, the window is on the first floor and it doesn't open, but I would have found a way regardless. 

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abertain

January 6th, 2017 at 12:01 PM ^

This year of recruting has been great. I'm excited about the variety of receiving threats that Michigan is adding to its stable of tight ends. I think 2018 is going to be a hell of a year offensively. I'm excited to see which of these guys end up starting and doing well at Michigan.

That said, I don't always understand recruiting. Michigan has a clear need at defensive tackle, and it sucks that they haven't been able to bring in someone down the stretch here. Hurst is gone after next year and Mone, while I'm 90 percent he stays, could leave if he has a big year. Anyhow, I hope that Tufele picks Michigan because it's going to be thin soon if they don't pick someone up. I'm not blaming the coaches. I'm just surprised that a recruit hasn't jumped at the opporunity to go to a position of need and play for the Defensive Line coach of the year on a team that's going to put 3 guys in the NFL off that line (Wormley, Charlton, Glasgow) this year. 

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Glen Masons Hot Wife

January 6th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^

dont have time to listen to the podcast... What did he say about Najee? Sorry if that topic "upsets" anyone (ridiculous) Thanks for the update.

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ColeIsCorky

January 6th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^

He sounds less confident. Claims the staff has not heard Najee is coming, and he did not say that he's backing away from his projection. I'd only use the words "trending the wrong way" if you mean that he's less certain instead of "not happening." There's clearly still some positive thinking there. Not "doom" like the board is thinking. Sounds like he's scrambling to find something verifiable, but the mood on WTKA is basically that "we choose who we want to listen to." While true, I think it's best to just wait until we see him show up on campus to make a final judgment.

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cletus318

January 6th, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^

Given the swing in confidence, the inability to refute the flight report (opposed to the Oakland flight rumor that was quickly rebuffed), and the growing confidence on the Bama side, trending the wrong way seems to fit pretty well. I don't think it means Sam was wrong to be more confident earlier this week, as these things can be fluid. It's not unreasonable to think that Michigan was in a better or even leading position earlier this week that didn't hold up for whatever reason. I'm not part of the Sam Webb was wrong brigade that pops up whenever he fails to accurately predict the decisions of teenagers.

I don't have a real judgment otherwise because I always thought it was a longshot to flip a player who's been committed to Bama for nearly a year. This was before you factored in his apparent closeness with Tua, who like Harris, appears to be set to not see much action for the next year or two.

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LSA91

January 6th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^

I feel bad summarizing it, but . . .

 

1) Sam hasn't been able to confirm the flight story;  :-)

2) But given 247's relationship with the Army All American Bowl and their staff, you have to take their story that Najee changed his flight to Alabama pretty seriously; :-(

3) But Najee can basically change his flight as many times as he wants to, and is playing things close to the vest; ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

4) The word from Alabama is that the insiders are confident, and Sam hasn't found anyone from Michigan who will say they're confident at this point.   :-P

 

 All in all, it's not a lock, but basically (IMHO), assuming that someone on the game staff isn't intentionally trolling 247, it would take a last minute change of mind at this point.  (Double-IMHO) - it sounds to me like it was bad luck for Michigan that Najee really clicks with Tua Tagovailoa, and that thanks to the game and the dead period, they basically spent the last week hanging out.  

But best of luck to him whereever he ends up, and like they say, pessimists have only pleasant suprises. (And unpleasant not-suprises, I guess).

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