decommits
emil ekiyor

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[Isaiah Hole/247]

After an official visit to Tuscaloosa turned the tide, it seemed likely. After he cancelled this weekend's visit, it seemed inevitable. Now it's official: four-star IN OG Emil Ekiyor decommitted from Michigan and flipped to Alabama this afternoon.

As Sam Webb stated in the post linked aboved, Michigan wanted to keep Ekiyor in the fold, and they've pursued other interior linemen since it became clear the interest between Ekiyor and Alabama was serious.

At #105 on the composite, Ekiyor was the top-ranked player among Michigan's 2018 commits. While Mustapha Muhammad, at #109, isn't far off, Ekiyor was the only interior offensive lineman in the class, though it isn't a pressing need. (Four-star linemen Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes both project to tackle or, in Hayes's case, tight end.) If the class calculator hasn't failed me, Michigan holds steady as the #14 class in the country and #3 in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Penn State at first and fourth, respectively.

Comments

Clarence Boddicker

October 29th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^

Remember how terrible it was when Hand turned us down for Alabama? Of course you don't, because Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich (a borderline 4* recruit) have made you forget all about him. One recruit in one class doesn't make or break your team. There's nothing more pathetic than the handwringing doomsaying we get here over a single recruiting decision. People just looking for reasons to be miserable...

Joined: 05/27/2011

MGoPoints: 71403

Navy Wolverine

October 29th, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

With our very large and very talented 2016 and 2017 classes, it seems our strategy is to take some developmental prospects who have significant upside in 2018. If you look at Milton, Mayfield, Hayes, McGrone, Faustin, etc. a lot of these kids seem to fit that mold.Many of these kids probably won't see the field right away so develop them into big time players when they are juniors and seniors. Will probably see more red shirts from this class than 16 and 17.

Joined: 09/26/2016

MGoPoints: 19370

Wolfman

October 29th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^

and the head man has said as much. He said he was looking at the team last season, knowing he was going to lose a significant amount -which he did to the NFL - and so he pulled as many shirts as he could off the freshmen. Did so again this year and the wr unit was a must due to no one other than Perry panning out. Now though he should have significant depth and I would think skill players, sans qbs and superior DLmen will be the only ones playing as true frosh going forward. 

Joined: 07/23/2008

MGoPoints: 8259

DHughes5218

October 29th, 2017 at 7:58 PM ^

If that is the strategy, it's extremely flawed. Why would you purposefully ignore top level players who can compete and contribute from day 1 to go after guys who you are hoping will be able to contribute in 3 or 4 years? I think Harbaugh and staff are going after the best players that show an interest in coming to AA. I don't think they are specifically targeting projects because they already have enough top flight talent on the roster.

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 7283

The Oracle

October 29th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^

Next year will be incredibly important, both on the field and for recruiting purposes. It'll be time for some results.

Joined: 12/31/2014

MGoPoints: 4730

SalvatoreQuattro

October 29th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^

UM has another three months to fill out this class. The shrieking on here is utterly ridiculous. Michigan has a solid class that adds to what they already have recruited the past two cycles.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79238

MichiganStan

October 29th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^

I find the over the top homer confidence in a team that has won little in the past decade to be more annoying than any "shrieking". And by shrieking Im pretty sure you are referring to the people upset that ...........we just lost the top player in our 2018 class that was already a relatively weak class

Yeah no reason to be upset at all. Just lost our best recruit  position we need to fix the most. No biggie

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 7991

SalvatoreQuattro

October 29th, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^

That would be OT. Guards can be found and developed into to players. The truth is that you are a hysterical Negative Nancy. A football program is much more than a single recruit a fact you seem to be unaware of. Neither of us know if this kid will even become anything. He could be a 1st rounder or never see the field. Getting worked up over a single recruit is more than a bit ridiculous.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79238

clarkiefromcanada

October 29th, 2017 at 6:33 PM ^

Stan, what does the last ten years have to do with Harbaugh outside recently of the last two, exceptional, recruiting classes. It's not homer to think this class will end up top ten by the start of February. Harbaugh's track record bears this out as a recruiter at M. But yeah, continue on if you must. /smh

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 49257

Blue Ballin'

October 29th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^

Always hate to see top-level recruits back out of their commitments to us, but good luck to him. He would've looked good opposite Onwenu.

Saban turns 66 on Halloween. Does anyone see him coaching into his 70's, or will his ego keep driving him till he dies with his gold-plated whistle in his mouth?

I'm sure, just like with recruiting, Alabama will get first shot at the biggest names in coaching when that day comes. Go for it Urban.  /s

Joined: 03/08/2016

MGoPoints: 956

MichiganStan

October 29th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^

Fingers crossed he pulls a Bob Stoops and retires out of no where. Honestly I see him coaching for another 10 years. He likes winning too much

But Im not so sure Saban leaving will have too much of an impact. Alabama will make sure Sabans network of bagmen stay in tact

Sabans recruiting is literally the only reason he wins. Without his #1 recruiting classes every year he would be the coach we saw him be at MSU which was pretty average. If another coach takes over and continues getting the top recruiting classes every year then theyll win just as much as Saban

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 7991

Cali Citrus Man

October 29th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^

Good luck brother.  I do wish Alabama however the same defeat against Michigan that they suffered on Little Round Top.

And, Nick Saban was a huge flop in the pros.  Jimmy is a better NFL mind than him.

Good luck to EE.

Joined: 09/23/2017

MGoPoints: 2852

BoFlex

October 29th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^

It is hard to say Nick Saban was a huge flop in the NFL based on 2 seasons...

In 2 seasons, Saban went 15-17, and supposedly urged the front office to pick up the recently wavied Drew Brees... instead the front office overruled him, and signed Dante Culpepper instead. Heck, if Saban actually got Brees like he wanted, there's a good chance he would have never come back to college.

Joined: 05/30/2011

MGoPoints: 5284

MichiganStan

October 29th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^

Just read something interesting.A Roll Tide recruiting twitter states "Emil is Alabamas #1 Center Target"

Well this decommit would make sense if Emil is looking to play Center and not Guard like im sure UM was recruiting him for. We seem to already have our center of the future in Ruiz so if Emil was wanting to play Center then it makes sense hed look somewhere else

Joined: 01/03/2017

MGoPoints: 7991

LabattsBleu

October 29th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^

don't wish him ill, but he's playing for the Bama Football Factory now, so i could not care any less about what happens for him...I don't follow non-Michigan recruits or players

he's dead to me.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

Albatross

October 29th, 2017 at 5:14 PM ^

The kid spent a better part of a year saying Michigan hardly contacted him after his commitment. This isn’t a case of Bama winning a recruit, it is Michigan losing one strictly out of lazy recruiting.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 1957

Albatross

October 29th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^

That would have really been something. Or maybe Harbaugh or some one on the staff could have actually picked up the phone and talked to him. Same thing is happening with Dobbs. While we are taking the “well get to you when we get to you approach” other schools are building a lead we won’t be able to overcome.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 1957

Albatross

October 29th, 2017 at 6:29 PM ^

Why would we want a top 100 OL man that is being recruited by everyone, including the best program in the country. Makes a lot more sense to try flipping UConn offensive lineman recruits. That is a recipe for success.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 1957

Abram

October 31st, 2017 at 12:04 AM ^

But before spilling your guts on the internet everytime Michigan misses on a recruit, why don't you spend a week inside the program talking to people who actually do these jobs to find out if "lazy recruiting" in any sense matches reality, and spare us another know-it-all dis of the program.

Joined: 01/16/2011

MGoPoints: 100

Wolfman

October 29th, 2017 at 6:56 PM ^

then my guess he was no longer considered a 'must get' for M and there could be a number of reasons for this. 

I don't follow the "and here's the latest" type of news on cruits. Been a fan for roughly half a century so I'm more bottom line. I do know, however, if MI, or any top D1 program for that matter "backs off a kid" while others are still in pursuit that school has lost a significan amount of interest and, in fact, wants and expect the flip that eventually happens. You won't find MI exercising the 'lazy recruiting" you talk about. Harbaugh is very serious when he says that he and his staff will outwork any other in all aspects of improving the program and it all starts with player acquisition. 

That is not to say the young man won't do well at Bama; UM will make the same amount of mistakes, percentage wise as any other program. Major difference as of right now though is UM does not have the two-three deep depth that the truly "elite' programs have and we're not there yet. One way to assure we don't get there is take someone we are not sure of whereas this hurst Bama very little when a young man does not pan out. 

Joined: 07/23/2008

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