Sammy Watkins, and WR depth

Depth will never hurt us. I'll take good players on the team over the possibility of bringing in a solid prospect any day

doesn't seem to be hurting recruiting efforts for teams like Florida, Alabama, etc.. etc...

Success is contagious..

But if we start getting depth we have to change the way we sell the school. We still have great academics, tradition, facilities, college town and coaching. But now you emphasize that instead of getting early playing time, you get to spend a red-shirt year, when appropriate ( I mean there are some guys who are just so good they are going to leap past older, more experienced players, obviously), learning the offense, not getting hurt theoretically, and getting aclimated to college academics. Then the player can come out with a top notch qb and the best offense in the nation.

Some players are more concerned with early playing time than others. We just  need to sell what we have to offer and not worry too much about what we don't have.

If he's good enough to play from day 1 RR has proven he will see the field.   If not Hemingway and Stonum will be Seniors and he can battle everyone else for playing time the year after.

Playing time concerns at all positions should be reduced next year.   We will be recording a lot of blow outs and RR will have enough depth to cycle in guys so many more players will be seeing the field next year.   This should prevent guys from transferring due to pt as much.  If they do transfer it won't hurt as much as we will have built up the depth.

Look at Bama, USC, LSU, Fla...They have recruits committing at every position when there's 6 people ahead of them. They think they are the next big time person to play at this program, which is an attitude I like. If someone doesn't commit because they're scared of competition they most likely aren't going to be good anyways.

He is very legit.. considering the staff played Stokes last year, it wouldn't surprise me if the same thing happened with Watkins, even if we have a lot of kids coming back.

 Sammy would be running into an ideal situation at UM. He'd have the luxury of being able to redshirt and not be played before he is ready. After 2011, outside WR is wide open.

Sammy has mentioned that academics will play a huge part in his decision. Well, Michigan trumps Clemson and Miami in that aspect so I guess time will only tell. If he is that serious about his education, then UM is the place for him. I dont think he should worry about the depth chart at WR. There is nothing wrong with competition and if he has to redshirt a year,  so be it. But on the other hand, if he is good enough to play right away Im sure RR wont heistate to start him.

Watkins redshirts, and by the time his *Sophomore season rolls around Stokes, Roundtree, Robinson, Hemingway, Odoms, Stonum, and Grady will all be gone.  I'd say we need Watkins. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Watkins played.  I mean, Jeremy Jackson got some playing time this year.  Why couldn't Watkins get some PT in 2011?

But with Hemingway, Stonum, and Odoms all leaving after the 2011 season, that would leave things wide open for Watkins to play in 2012.

By the way, I sure am glad we burned Stokes' redshirt in 2009.  He'll be a junior in 2011 . . . and he hasn't had a chance to do anything.

Watkins is described as a superb 5 star WR prospect. He's supposed to have freak athletic ability (size and speed) and is an elite vertical threat (as opposed to a possession receiver). Think in terms of David Terrell coming out of high school or even better. If he's as good as advertised it's possible he's better than anybody on our current roster which would indicate to me he'll see the field very early in his career. Then again I think we have enough depth coming back  (Miller, Roundtree, Stokes, Stonum, Hemmingway and Odom) so it wouldn't hurt for him to redshirt...

I just don't think you redshirt a guy like Watkins, unless he shows up and he's far short of what's advertised.  He might not be a starter, but he'd be one of the most talented receivers at UM in the last decade, behind maybe Manningham and Braylon, but with the talent to pass both. 

Let him play, let him go out there and catch some balls.  Redshirt Conway.

Not worthy of a new thread, but I'm wondering whether Gardner will get a med redshirt this year. Also wonder if he realized that as good as he is, he just isn't on the same field as either Denard or Tate.

Roundtree, Hemingway, Stonum, Odoms, not to mention Ricardo Miller and Je'Ron Stokes, what are the odds that Sammy Watkins plays from day one? 

I don't know, but Hemingway, Stonum, Odoms and Grady will all graduate after Watkins's true freshman season, so there will be a ton of available playing time in 2012 and beyond.  He might have to sit and watch for one season.   That's pretty typical.