2017 DE Corey Malone-Hatcher announcing on Thursday

Submitted by Magnus on

St. Joseph (MI) St. Joseph DE Corey Malone-Hatcher is announcing his commitment on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. I expect this to be good news for Michigan.

He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #17 WDE, #247 overall, and #6 in-state.

Magnus

May 30th, 2016 at 8:33 PM ^

Coincidentally, I'm doing a rundown of the top in-state prospects for 2017. I posted my top five last week, and the next group (which includes Malone-Hatcher) will be posted tomorrow.

Malone-Hatcher is a solid prospect. He's pretty raw, which is expected for someone from a small school in southwestern Michigan. He's very strong, but not quick off the edge like a Josh Uche. He's kind of a SDE/WDE tweener.

GhostofJermain…

May 31st, 2016 at 8:00 AM ^

Any idea why we have not gone hard for KJ?  I get that he is small, but he has dominated at each camp (including out-playing DPJ in cbus) and we have a great relationship over the years with Saint Marys Prep (except not recruiting Kalin Lucas, Allen Robinson, and Dion Sims - the latter 2 being Mr. Hoke's fault).  He will most likely be state dream team, Biggs Jr. is his best friend, and if he red shirts he would be the perfect replacement for Perry in 2018.  We have taken a lot of WR's in the past 2 cycles and no one knows what we will get out of Johnson, McDoom, or Keko; but to allow him to go to OSU, Oregon, or MSU could come back to haunt us.  OLSM has great coaching and has been pumping prospects into Ann Arbor since the days of Dave Bowens, I think if nothing else you get coach Wheatley over to OLake and attempt to bring him in for the sake of not getting hurt in years to come...  

 

Excited to hear everyones opinion on this.  Go Blue!

Magnus

May 31st, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^

I think Hamler is very small, and we don't really need a/many slot receivers. We got three guys who can play the slot in the 2016 class.

I don't put a lot of stock in one-on-one stuff at these summer camps. Those things are just for show, IMO. It's easy-ish to get separation from a CB when you have the whole field to work with and no underneath defenders, no safety over the top, no pass rush to speed up the throw, etc. In fact, those little guys often perform extremely well in those camps, and then when award time or the NFL Draft comes along, they're nowhere to be found.

Dion Sims was a 2009 recruit (Rich Rodriguez was our coach) and Allen Robinson was a 2011 recruit (Hoke was on the job for less than a full month). Not exactly Hoke's fault.

Magnus

May 31st, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^

I don't think that has been a major factor. This coaching staff will go after anyone they really want, even if they're committed to high-profile programs. For example, we're recruiting Stephen Carr (USC). Last year we kept recruiting Eddie McDoom, even when he was committed to Oregon, and it paid off.

Also, Hamler wasn't even offered by Oregon until last week, so that wouldn't have been a big factor up until then.

Lanknows

May 31st, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^

  • 3 of the top 5 draft picks were 6' or under in 2016.
  • The top WR taken was 5'11.
  • Two WRs were taken that were 5'9 or less last year, including Demarcus Ayers who is 5'6.

While the relative lack of 5'9 and under WR tells you something, it has been show that height does not correlate with success for WRs.   https://www.profootballfocus.com/wide-receivers-and-height/

It is 2016 and the NFL got over the 90s paradigm of big WR a while ago. The WR height fetish-myth should stop.

 

 

Magnus

May 31st, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^

Yes, there were two receivers 5'9" and shorter last year who got drafted - one in the 6th round, and one in the 7th round. I guess that disproves the theory that 5'9" and shorter wide receivers are not highly sought after.

I think it's a bit simplistic to say that the NFL is over the short WR paradigm. The NFL Draft suggests otherwise. Furthermore, if we're talking about the entire population (and, presumably, high school players), the average height for an American male is 5'9". The further you move away from that height, the smaller number of people/players there are. There are more 5'9" receivers playing high school football than 6'2" receivers playing high school football, but they don't make it to the NFL at as high of a rate. 

Colleges, NFL teams, etc. like taller receivers more than they like small receivers. That doesn't mean small receivers can't succeed. It means they have to be significantly better than the 500 other 5'9" guys vying for those spots, while a good 6'4" wideout might only have to beat out 25 other guys at his height/position. The same goes for basketball. Height didn't prevent Muggsy Bogues, Spud Webb, and Nate Robinson from being successful, but it was an impediment. Meanwhile, there are lots of guys their height tearing it up at the local YMCA. On the other hand, the 6'3" point guards with significant talent? They're not playing at the YMCA, because they're on scholarship or playing in the NBA somewhere.

carolina blue

May 30th, 2016 at 8:41 PM ^

Don't really feel the need to start a thread to discuss the Stanley cup final, but I'm watching it and it occurred to me that each of the three Pittsburgh teams (pirates, penguins, and steelers) have the same black and yellow colors. Is that by happenstance?



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SNSD

May 30th, 2016 at 8:52 PM ^

What!?!? No Rutgers in his final list? Can't be good considering Rutgers people see themselves in equal footing with Michigan in recruiting now. Do not want!

LSAClassOf2000

May 30th, 2016 at 10:15 PM ^

To be fair to Rutgers, I think it is more that they see themselves as the little engine that could, if you will. What they don't seem to realize that, or what they choose to consciously overlook, is that this engine is a small two-stroke engine currently inside a weed whacker in Perth Amboy. I am sure they'll figure it out at some point. 

Mr. Yost

May 30th, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^

Would you agree that DPJ, Ambry Thomas, JayRamond Hall, Josh Ross, JKP and CMH are the top 6 in the state as 247 says?

Could Michigan really lock up the top 6 in the state? 

What's the scoop on Deron Irvin-Bey?

How are there so many hypenated last names for the top players in Michigan?!

Magnus

May 30th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^

Nope. Here are my top five:

http://touch-the-banner.com/preview-2017-state-recruiting-1-5/

The next group will be posted tomorrow morning.

Michigan certainly *could* lock up the top six, if you're talking about the six guys you mentioned above.

I haven't heard much specific on Deron Irving-Bey's situation. However, from what I've seen develop, I think Michigan might be slow-playing him a little bit while the rest of their DE board shakes out. He was a relatively late offer, and I think there's a reason for that. 

The question about the hyphenated last names might be best answered by a sociologist.

Magnus

May 30th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^

In a way, I think it might be a kid grabbing a spot before it's gone. He didn't have a specific date set for his commitment, but he is an early enrollee, so he wasn't going to carry it out to National Signing Day.

FWIW, some people expected him to have already announced.

Bo Lytle

May 30th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^

Lorenz just crystal ball'd James Hudson to MICHIGAN.  Hudson's recruitment is blowing up and would be a steal out of Ohio.  Looks like we are almost set at both Ends.  Weakside you got Wario Luigi, CMH and then on Strongside it's Hudson and Deron Irving-Bey (local-hyphen-stud).  This is incredible competetion and a mixed bag of skills.  Now we can focus on picking up a NT.  Jay Tufele would wrap this thing up beautifully.  

BlueWolverine02

May 30th, 2016 at 10:06 PM ^

Maybe Magnus can chime in with a more expert opinion but i'm not impressed with Hudson at all.  He is so slow.  Half his HUDL is him jumping on the pile because he is the last one on his team to get to the ball.  Reminds me of that Florida DE that decommitted at the end of the last cycle.  Seems like a plan B type of guy.

Magnus

May 31st, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^

I would have said the same thing regarding Rashad Weaver prior to his senior year, but I thought he really improved from his junior year. He was more athletic as a senior than Hudson is as a junior. We'll see if Hudson matures at all by his senior year.

I'm not in love with Hudson at DE. He's a one-trick pony with his bull rush, but he can bend pretty well, which is significant for someone who's 6'5", 280 lbs. I actually really like the way Hudson moves for an OT, so I would be interested to see if he's open to playing on offense at the next level. Otherwise, I think there's a good chance he turns into a 3-tech DT.