2021 Georgia WR Jayden Thomas names M to top 5
Atlanta (GA) Pace Academy wide receiver Jayden Thomas named Michigan to his top five (LINK). He's a 4-star, the #39 wide receiver, and #218 overall. There are no crystal balls for him right now, but there seems to be some buzz and interest there, and Michigan could wrap up their WR recruiting for 2021 if he were to pick the Wolverines.
What do you think of the 2022 WR class? Seems like we have a real good shot at Kaleb Brown and Tyler Morris and seem to be in okay shape with Kaden Saunders out of Ohio. But Michigan seems to have a strong class of WRs (Tayshawn Trent, Tyrell Henry, Antonio Gates, and Jaden Mangham). Are there a couple out of these groups who we should truly prioritize? And should taking a high number of WRs in 2021 impact the amount we take in 2022?
I’d think at minimum you want 2-3 each class just due to transfers and attrition and so on. My guess is you want to make room for 3, but can afford to settle for 2 once in a while. Otherwise, if you’re in need due to attrition or whatever, 4 seems likely
I think those out-of-state guys should be prioritized for their talent (Brown, Morris, Saunders). I'm not as sold on the in-state guys having high upside, but Trent would probably be my #1 in-state WR target.
I think we're full.
If Worthy doesn't go to Oregon, in part, because of their class...Thomas would give us the same number, right?
I like Thomas better than Dixon and a little more than Allen...but that ship has sailed, IMO.
I think we would've got Thomas if we pushed hard for him over Dixon. But they're all close and I'm not a D1 FB coach...so this is absolutely one where you just trust the coaches (Allen vs. Dixon vs. Thomas) and see how it all plays out.
That said, we need Edwards, Spindler/Kendall, Benny, Rooks, Grimes/a true CB and I think David...ALL before we need another WR similar to two we already have.
If we can take a 27th guy, Fidone, a blocking TE or a power RB all make sense before another WR.
Why would Oregon's numbers impact ours? It wasn't like Worthy didn't want a big WR class. Oregon was just full based on their projected roster composition.
Gattis has said that we're light on scholarship WR's. We have 9 now, plus a few potential non-guaranteed. With the current class we have 9 in '21. I think if Thomas or Styles wants to come we'll make room. It's highly likely we'll see some decommits this cycle. Every school will see more than usual if officials are allowed or the signing days are pushed back.
IMO Fidone is a bonafide flex TE and not a blocking TE.
There's a coma there. It looks like he's saying Fidone, or a blocking TE, or a power RB
Fwiw - I believe the Worthy issue with Oregon wasn’t that he didn’t want to be in a large WR class.
Oregon is planning to take 4, had 2 committed, and is saving the final spot for a top-50 kid out of MD. They were pushing for Worthy to commit early to take the last “open” spot and took another 4-star when he balked.
Any other football gurus care to share how the young man In the OP compares to the ND commit that M also seems to be chasing at WR?
Lorenzo Styles is more of a speedster, not quite in Worthy's territory. Thomas is a bigger target, but he still has pretty good running ability. I like both of them.
Have been paying some attention to this kid since I saw him mentioned a month or so ago when Worthy was still trending Oregon’s way. Looks like a big, physical kid. Not slow but not fast. His analysis on (I believe) 247 is rather interesting to read. I think there was a lot of “good not great” type smoke. Have not watched him play, but he plays in a great league, so he’s been at least decently tested against other programs.
He kind of reminds me of Tarik Black, but I honestly think that’s more about the hair style and his actual physical appearance than anything else. IIRC Black was faster, slightly larger, and probably a slightly better overall prospect, weighed down by being from Connecticut.