Exit: Kai-Leon Herbert Comment Count

Ace



Herbert's commitment video lives on, at least.

Scout's Corey Bender reports that four-star FL OT Kai-Leon Herbert has decommitted from Michigan:

Since committing to Michigan in July, Herbert has taken multiple visits to both Miami (YTM) and Florida; he took an official to Miami this weekend and will OV to Florida next weekend. His recruitment should come down to one of those two in-state schools. Herbert's departure probably ends any (very outside) chance M had with teammate and four-star OG TJ Slaton.

Herbert's decommitment leaves Michigan with 26 commits in the 2017 class and five on the offensive line. Four of those linemen—Chuck Filiaga, JaRaymond Hall, Joel Honigford, and Andrew Stueber—could potentially play tackle, and M may need one of them to step into the lineup as soon as this upcoming season. Michigan continues to pursue three-star VA OT Mekhi Becton, whose Crystal Ball is trending in the direction of Virginia Tech. The rest of the linemen on the board are long-shots at best, so if the coaches aren't content with five OL in the class, some new names could emerge.

Comments

schreibee

January 22nd, 2017 at 5:46 PM ^

I think they should double down on Becton now. And any other even feasible OL recruits they've hosted. I think we need to take 7 OL this cycle - minimum!

I'm just glad this one isn't the unforeseen dong punch Hamilton was last year. I'd have been shocked if Herbert had signed with M after the way thiings had been trending. Just wonder if the staff had been feeling the same and kept lines of communication open with other OL?

schreibee

January 22nd, 2017 at 6:14 PM ^

Take an educated flier is what I'm saying - I can think of a half dozen OL that played signifcant snaps for M in this century that were late adds/oversights. I just can't think of their names!

Of course maybe that's a part of the problem.........??!!

Some were ok-ish to good though:

Huyge is first to come to mind, but on the '03-'06 years there were some long term starters that were fliers I believe - and those were good teams!

I'll have to head over to Bentley if no one can fill in my mental blanks who I'm thinking of?

EDIT: OK, In addition to Huyge there's Lentz, Pearson, Bihl, Kraus, Henige, McAvoy, Ortmann - can't recall maybe Ortmann was fairly highly recruited, but I'm sure the rest were class filler that started upwards of 10 games in their careers.

We've got schollies, we need bodies

I Like Burgers

January 22nd, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^

Yeah, that's why the 2016 OL class has me annoyed.  There is so little depth on the OL that they are 2 injuries away from total disaster.  Only grabbing 3 guys each of the last two years was bad.  You can pin some of the OL depth/talent issues on Hoke, but Harbaugh shares responsibility in that now too.  

The number of freshman and sophomores that are going to be populating the starting lineup on the OL the next few years is crazy.

I Like Burgers

January 22nd, 2017 at 10:28 PM ^

I'm far from an expert. Just a dude looking at a depth chart and previous recruiting classes and putting two and two together.  And I'm fairly certain if you asked Harbaugh if he wished he would have recruited more OL in 2015 or 2016, he'd say yes.

Doesn't take an expert to see that.

Mr Miggle

January 22nd, 2017 at 8:06 PM ^

a standardized test. You have to provide both a transcript and your test score.

Some schools won't let let you visit if they don't think you'll qualify, but that's up to them. If you have a really bad score on the SAT/ACT, it's probably better not to give it out. I'd guess that's what's happening when you hear recruits haven't taken the SAT yet late in the process.

Franz Schubert

January 22nd, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^

After watching that video I don't feel this was a loss at all. It's not sour grapes to acknowledge he is so physically inferior that it's questionable if he could ever contribute.

In reply to by Franz Schubert

San Diego Mick

January 22nd, 2017 at 8:09 PM ^

He looked like one of the worst if not worst OL in that video, consistently got beat and badly too.

Ruiz and Filiaga looked good, especially Ruiz. I could see an OL with Ruiz at C and move Cole over to OG where he will probably be in the NFL