Michigan football moving in on elite Florida commitment

Submitted by StephenRKass on

In a Freep recruiting article this morning, Steven Lorenz writes about several high profile recruits Michigan is in on.

LINK:  Michigan football moving in on elite Florida commitment.

With the firing of McElwain at Florida, several of their commitments are reopening their recruitment. JaMarr Chase, a 5 star wide receiver from Louisianna currently ranked 25 overall in the country, is considering an official visit to Michigan. (4 of his 5 officials are already set.) EDIT:  Chase already holds a Michigan offer.

In addition, Lorenz writes that Butch Jones' days at Tennessee may be numbered. This would open things up for top 100 prospects Cade Mays on the OL and Greg Emerson on the DL. Lastly, if Mora is canned at UCLA, this could open things up for top 50 CB Olaijah Griffin. EDIT:  Neither Mays or Emerson are listed with an offer at 247, although Griffin holds one.  EDIT 2:  Trieu in a piece at the Detroit News adds OT Nicolas Petit-Frere, #42 4 star out of Florida, and Jalen Goss, 3 star, #826, out of Georgia, both with Michigan offers. Even though Petit-Frere is much higher in the rankings, both players hold an impressive list of elite offers. Sam Webb offers a great and encouraging quote:  "there are offensive line recruits committed to other schools that Michigan is pursuing but those names are not likely to surface until later in the process."

I would be cautious in assuming that Michigan's recruiting is tanking in this cycle. Both Michigan and Harbaugh are still rising, and behind the scenes, there are numerous recruits still in play for Michigan.

While it is unlikely, Michigan could still easily win out this year. (I expect they will win a minimum of two more games, more likely three, four unlikely.) Regardless, I would consider this performance a success, given all the new players. The amount of youth already on the field bodes well for the future, and is something potential recruits like to see.

I would echo others who feel that it is important to stay somewhere in the top 15 recruiting rankings. If you have a few key studs, along with top 15 recruiting year in and year out, it will pay off.

EDIT:  I choose not to take shots at anyone else who feels differently about Michigan's recruiting prospects. All I'll say is that I'm all in for Harbaugh and for Michigan, and that I fully expect the coaching staff to attack recruiting with an enthusiasum unknown to mankind.

MGoBoard
Football
2018 recruiting
JaMarr Chase
Cade Mays
Greg Emerson
Olaijah Griffin

StephenRKass

October 31st, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^

Ok, that's several points of information on hard work from Michigan coaches from folks who might know. If true, both Hamilton and Drevno need to get with the program and ramp it up. I am merely a fan, so I would have no way of knowing.

I would agree that thus far, I am disappointed in Michigan's 2018 recruiting class. I simply hope that Michigan does close strong. 

Personally, if Michigan adds a top 100 guy on the OL, and maybe one of either Chase or Griffin, along with filling out the rest of the class, I would consider that a very strong finish and plenty good enough. What would you consider a good class?

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The Fan in Fargo

October 31st, 2017 at 8:51 PM ^

With regards to Drevno, I have a sneaking suspicion that Jim told him to get his ass down on the field and coach the offensive lineman for once along with the rest of his offense as the offensive coordinator. There is no way in hell Drevno is a better play caller/coordinator than Jim is. Jim has so much experience and people around him since he was wearing diapers, it's not even funny.

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Mr Miggle

October 31st, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^

better recruiters than others. Some assistants are primarily recruiters, rather than coaches. We've had at least couple of those in the past. Others are the reverse. There's room for them if they're good enough at coaching. I'd add Don Brown to your list of serious recruiters on this staff and I think we'll see Greg Frey there too.

 

 

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BuckNekked

October 31st, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^

Maizen  I dont think Ive ever negged one of your posts. I certainly havent replied in the way alot of these people have. The problem I see with your posts though is you make sweeping judgements with partial information. We have 3 more months of recruiting and I think youd be wise to frame your posts with that in mind.

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Blue in SC

October 31st, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^

I agree with your points and realize that I may be in the minority here, but I'm not disappointed in Michigan's recruiting 2018 class as of 10/31.  As you mentioned, there is a long way to go but we're in the top 15 classes currently.  Top 15 on 10/31 is disappointing?  I get that OSU & PSU are top 5 but 15th isn't too shabby either.

Our commits are promising.  We have arguably the top rated TE and Harbaugh has shown how valuable a commodity TE can be.  We have some good looking CBs, OLBs, Ts (one may turn into TE), DE, two QBs with prototypical QB frames and some promising RBs (Harbaugh likes RBBC). 

I like what I see.  I'd be happier if it were a top 5 class but it's still 10/31... long way to go.

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Doc Mango Gibbs

October 31st, 2017 at 2:43 PM ^

Maizen has the right to be upset.  He does not have the right to make the blog less enjoyable for everyone by constantly creating 500-word threads that are nothing more than his negative opinions.

And stop saying stupid things like "underwhelming at best."  Recruiting rankings are measurable.  A class is either underwhelming or it's not. 

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bronxblue

October 31st, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^

It's weird you are saying a thread that links to a news articles simply pointing out that with changes to a major power in Florida, some previously-committed players may be open to switching, is "mostly opinion based" while defending a thread whose first line is literally "Feel free to agree or disagree, say I'm complaining or whining, but this years recruiting class has been extremely disappointing."  

Yes, these are all "opinion" threads, but one at least points to actual changing situations in the world of recruiting; the other is "why aren't we doing as well as OSU and PSU?"  And then pointing out that Michigan offered lower-rated recruits and then (I think) taking a shot at Haskins (though I don't know for sure, since he just put in now out-of-date numbers).  

People seem to defend Maizen and those types of threads as creating discourse, but they don't.  It's not that you can't have that discussion, but (a) it's been done to death already, and (b) you can't have threads that are just "this sucks, change it!" and expect people to feel it's worthwhile, especially from someone with a checkered history of being needlessly reactionary.

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Albatross

October 31st, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^

Getting a visit from a 5-star recruit is meet with the same enthusiasm as getting a commit from one used to draw.

A 10-win, third place divisional finish carries as much chest thumping as a Big Ten title used to.

A win over Rutgers is proof positive that our staff can get the team prepared for rivalry games.

 

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StephenRKass

November 1st, 2017 at 2:10 AM ^

You are over-simplifying the situation. Of course, almost none of us Michigan fans are happy with 3 loss seasons. But we are happy if there is progress, if Michigan is heading in the right direction. We (meaning I) are very happy with 3 loss seasons if they are heading in the direction of no loss or 1 loss seasons. If Harbaugh and Michigan end up 30 - 9 over his first 3 seasons, I will be delighted.

The issue is that success doesn't happen overnight.

  • OL - biggest problem, takes the longest time.
  • QB - have to have the right guy on the team, knowing playbook, using it all.
  • WR - have a boatload of freshmen. Need time to learn proper route running.
  • TE - need to learn to block, release for passes.
  • FB - need to block, clear a path.
  • DL - reloading.
  • CB/Safety - largely reloading.
  • LB - need to build a better, faster LB corps.

My point is that I believe it takes several years for Harbaugh and Michigan to get there. It doesn't happen overnight.

Let me use an embarassing yet true personal analogy. I am overweight. I am not happy with my weight. I need to do something about it. My 91 year old father is trim and fit. My wife is thin and trim and fit. My daughter in the Navy is ridiculously fit, squatting 315 pounds, and maxing out the PRT standards. My son is lifting weights, and trim and fit. They are all after me to lose weight. All of them. My weight is unacceptable. I even have a fellow mgoblogger who has helped out. But the reality is that I need to lose a pound a week, and keep it up, week after week, month after month, year after year. At that rate, it will take two years to get to where I need to be. And then I'll have to keep it off.

My point? I completely believe it will take time for Michigan to get to where it needs to be. The biggest problem is the OL. After that, QB. If JH is leading the team in the right direction, I am happy We are on a journey, and we haven't reached the destination yet. I am perfectly happy with the journey and the improvement, the getting better, every day. Does that mean I am happy with 10 - 3? NO! But I am happy if we stay that course this year, improve next year, and really be firing on all cylinders by 2019.

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