UPDATE: MI 3* WR Taj Mustapha

Submitted by FauxMo on

Not much going on, so I thought this topic might be fun (or better than cigars, Mt. Dew and wine, anyway). Last night, West Bloomfield, MI., 3* WR Taj Mustapha committed to Wisconsin. No Michigan interest, so it doesn't really impact us directly. However, he was apparently an MSU "lock" as recently as a few days ago. Word around town - by which I mean a few comments from random message board posters I read - is that while this may be driven mostly by the turmoil in East Lansing, it also may be the start of a "Blackwell Effect." Apparently Blackwell was key in recruiting Mustapha, and there is some speculation that Blackwell may be poisoning MSU with Detroit-area recruits since his firing. If true, Blackwell could really, really end up being a double or triple curse for MSU in terms of recruiting and more. If they get damaged badly with the higher-rated Michigan kids that are their recruiting lifeblood, what with so little national recruiting cache, they could be in for a prolonged period of disappointment... 

EDIT: MSU lost another recruit tonight to Wisconsin, putting the total at 5 in this class, and 2 in the last 24 hours. This time it was 2* WR AJ Abbott, another West Bloomfield kid, who is ranked #2122 overall and as the 301st best WR in the class... 

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Squash34

June 23rd, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^

Go to the red cedar message board on 247 sports... You will see alot of optimistic outlooks. No one is predicting a big ten contender this year. But many are pretty optimistic considering everything. Many think a 8-4 type year is a reasonable prediction for MSU on that message board. which is crazy town. They will be very luck to reach 5 wins and slid into a doormat bowl game verse the 3rd best Sunbelt team.

Joined: 09/13/2016

MGoPoints: 3062

bacon1431

June 23rd, 2017 at 3:57 PM ^

To be fair, it's not like our conference is a juggernaut. I wouldn't be all that surprised to see them go 8-4. Not because they're anything special, but because our conference consists of two teams that look to be in the hunt year in and year out (OSU and Michigan), a couple teams capable of putting together good seasons (PSU and Wisconsin) and a bunch of other programs that run hot and cold all the time.

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25294

Everyone Murders

June 23rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^

You've got to feel kind of bad for Dantonio.

Wait ... .  No you don't.  Dantonio created the culture of MSU's program, and he should not be deceived.  MSU football will reap what it has sown.

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

1VaBlue1

June 23rd, 2017 at 3:14 PM ^

Anyone who thinks Mick Dorktony will be fired before Mark Hollis is fired will be happy to purchase this Pacific Ocean view property I have in Isabella County...  It has a great vista of the Verrazano Bridge!

Those two are joined at the hip.  If Hollis purges Mick, more heat will come from the gymnastics fiasco to also purge Hollis.  If Hollis goes, Dicktini goes with him because optics.  Either way, those two are leaving MSU at the same time.  Unless, of course, Dontonia 'retires'.  Only to come back next year at some G5 school.

Joined: 01/31/2016

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Ezeh-E

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

Lying in the weeds 2012: "We're stalking our prey"

Lying in the weeds 2017: "Someone dumped our lifeless corpse here, in the weeds"

Joined: 07/22/2009

MGoPoints: 6234

Steves_Wolverines

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^

I think another thing that could hurt MSU recruiting is PJ Fleck at Minnesota.

Minnesota 2018 Recruits breakdown:

Minnesota: 5
Ohio: 4
Illinois: 3
Michigan: 1

This group is all within the B1G footprint, and where MSU generally gets their recruits. If Fleck can have a good season, you might see an increase in numbers from OH and MI of the kids that usually go to MSU, Pitt, Cincy, MAC schools, etc. 

Georgia: 3
Florida: 2

MSU has also survived by getting 3*'s from these two power states. I don't know how much that'll change going forward, but word is Georgia is jumping off the MSU wagon, so....not good bob. 

Joined: 01/17/2013

MGoPoints: 4673

Steves_Wolverines

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^

Interesting. I just thought with Fleck coming from a Michigan school that he might have some pull to get kids to Minnesota over MSU. 

I just looked up that RB. Very interesting offers list:

MSU
Minnesota
App State
Louisville
Marshall
Army
Colorado St
BC
Cal
Howard
FAU
Kansas
Illinois

Joined: 01/17/2013

MGoPoints: 4673

Kewaga.

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^

Considering he's now at Minnesota, just came from being sucessful in Michigan (with recruitng ties still) and recruiting IL hard while at Western and before that Northern Illnois and prior to that played at Northern Illinois and grew up outside Chicago.  A little sucess this year and indeed they might be fighting them off too.  They have a managable schedule this year and some momentum from thier last 2 coaches. 

Joined: 02/06/2015

MGoPoints: 6947

Ty Butterfield

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^

Lots of optimistic people over at RCMB. Kind of hard to get a handle on how this season might shake out for Staee. They may have gotten rid of some bad apples and the locker room can't be any worse. They are one or two injuries away from some true freshman or walk-ons playing major minutes. I could see them going 3-9 again or maybe getting to 6-6. Neither would surprise me.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: -81685

Steves_Wolverines

June 23rd, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^

They have a ton of confidence in their OL. Mainly due to some spot/crunch time from freshman last season. 

I'm not sold on them being a great group yet, and I think ND will (should) expose them. But knowing MSU, they'll be OK by years end. I just don't think the OL+QB optimism from MSU fans warrants a 6+ win total prediction. 

Joined: 01/17/2013

MGoPoints: 4673