247 flipping Bilal's Crystal Ball to UM - Reason?

Submitted by BlueKoj on

Wiltfong and Tremendous both today...hmmmm. I wonder what happened. FWIW both have Thompson going to Sparty.

 Retweeted by Steve Lorenz

Cookie Monster

July 29th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^

I think Bilal would be a great addition and I prefer him over Thompson (although I prefer both significantly more than McMillon).  I also think Bilal is destined for OLB even before factoring in Kirkland.  

jmambro13

July 29th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^

Bilal surely eases the loss of Thompson the player, but any in state battle hurts when it goes the other way. Especially someone who is a legacy prospect. But hey, Michigan hopefully will get the 3 they absolutely need (Cole, Weber, Malzone).

I like McMillon though, as he brings some versatility. He's a huge dude so Michigan could always just put his hand on the ground as well. 

tim4landg

July 29th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^

I disagree with jmambro. If we have an in-state battle for a lesser player I'd prefer to lose that every time. Especially when we're working on a small class, every commitment represents an opportunity cost. Looks to me like there is consensus that Bilal is better than Thompson. To say we'd prefer someone just because a relative is an alum can only weaken the program.

Cookie Monster

July 29th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^

I do like Thompson and think he is worthy of an offer.  But I prefer Bilal.  So if "losing" out on Thompson nets Michigan Bilal, I'd call it an upgrade.

Taking legacy recruits and in-state guys always looks good, but to offer those guys, they should be worthy of said offer even if they were a random recruit from Arizona.  Taking guys who aren't as good because they have connections is a bad long term plan.  

Michigania

July 29th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^

Ease the loss? It's WHY Thompson is going msu. he has no choice, as Niall and McMillon have right of first refusal over Thompson. u think that a legacy would want to go to msu over us? My gosh, some of u just dont get it...after all, its not illegal to be stupid...but i expect this on RCMB not here.

jmambro13

July 29th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^

First off, I like Bilal over Thompson as he is flat out better, but I think if Thompson wanted to commit to Michigan, the coaches would take him. Neither Bilal and McMillon are "guarenteed" to go Michigan's way. It's looking very promising for Bilal right now based on the new knowledge by the people in the know but many others thought he was going to ND yesterday... Thompson obviously deserved the offer because the coaches offered him. He's choosing between UM and MSU, doesn't that mean that he could possibly choose Michigan? The odds are that he won't but why wait if UM doesn't have a chance? 

You said "u think that a legacy would want to go to msu over us?" I thought legacy does not matter? Do you think legacy is playing into Wheatley's recruitment? Wheatley is very talented, he deserves the attention, but why do you think people have been and are still very high on him going to Michigan since the beginning? You don't hear that he's going anywhere else. Thompson and Wheatley are on different levels based on skill/position but I think the coaches are very in tune with doing their due dilligence on the children of former players. 

Everyone talks about winning the in state battles and keeping the top players, well if I recall Thompson is rated #5 prospect in the state of Michigan by 24/7. 

Michigania

July 30th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^

Thompson grew up blue, with his dad as a player... so did Wheatley...but the difference is, Wheatley would go to an equal program like USC.. . whereas Thompson, growing up blue, goes to the lesser program...   jesus H, read btw the lines dude.    Thompson is third or fourth option, and only can commit if the other guys higher on the list, like Bilal, choose to go elsewhere...  this is WHY that out of the blue, people are predicting Bilal to us..  the dominoes are falling...  there is a pecking order...  Thompson's offer had conditions, one being that Bilal and others higher on our list, has to turn us down first. 

jmambro13

July 30th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^

Stop making excuses for someone picking MSU over Michigan. It hurts me to say this but to a lot of kids, Michigan St is the better program right now. Just to name a couple, Malik McDowell, Ricky DeBerry, and Jerome Baker.

You keep making the same point that doesn't answer the questions I asked at all. I asked you why has wheatley been a lock to Michigan by so many people since the beginning? Why would Thompson have Michigan in his top 2 if he can't commit? How do you know that Thompson's offer had conditions? I understand that happens but honestly this kid is not a bad player and if he committed people would be happy. I can guarentee people picking Bilal to Michigan has nothing to do with pecking order because like I said before why was he a ND lean just two days ago! Before you bash anyone you should have a little more base to back up your claims. 

You are right though, dominoes are falling but I think the Michigan coaches have been pretty clear in saying first come, first serve across the board. Yes, there are some prospects you wait it out for but why would the coaches not take a prospect if the other two guys in the "pecking order" are not guarenteed to go Blue? This is where you're losing me.

I like Bilal AND McMillon over Thompson! I just don't agree that all these people are CB'ing Bilal because of pecking order. My original point was saying Bilal "surely eases," which means that the player is more than a solid replacement for the loss of a solid in state player. There is more to the situation that nobody but the sources know.

The Baughz

July 29th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^

I also think Bilal is an upgrade over Thompson, but either one would be a nice addition. Thompson is all but Sparty bound, so hopefully these crystal ball picks come to fruition. 

BlueKoj

July 29th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^

Both are deciding soon, and both could choose UM. I know most are thinking Sparty for Thompson, but if Bilal is leaning towards UM, he may not want to risk it. He wanted to choose before his season, and I'm sure fall camp starts shortly...maybe its just time.

LSAClassOf2000

July 29th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^

Asmar Bilal has a rather long list of offers, now that I look at 247Sports.

Among his current Big Ten offers outside of Michigan, there is Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin and although no offer, there might have been some nominal interest from Purdue. Outside of the Big Ten, there is Duke, Kentucky, Lousiville, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Western Michigan (as an interesting outlier), plus a few others. 

TSimpson77

July 29th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^

Read a review of Bilal the other day saying he's in the mold of an SEC linebacker, so I'm guessing this is a good thing. And being from Indiana, I like seeing Indiana players on the Michigan roster.

Minus The Houma

July 29th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^

I was trying to not get my hopes up before because I didn't think the chances were very high he'd choose UM. He was one of my favorite highlights I've seen for linebacker this year for sure. Hope he joins.

Chaz_Smash

July 29th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^

I agree Bilal is better than Thompson. Legacies shouldn't even think about turning green, but whatever.

Isn't this class starting to fill up? Still have Bilal, Marcus Lewis, Weber, Roseboro, KLS, Wheatley Jr. out there as guys you'd never turn away.