Alabama true freshman 5 star DT enters portal. He’s from NJ. Is there a chance?
We have had a lot of success in NJ in the past and we have some needs at DT.
October 17th, 2019 at 7:34 AM ^
No, but it does look like we have a decent shot at landing grad transfer UCLA WR Theo Howard for next year.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:17 AM ^
Oh wow, he's a good player. Would have to imagine that he would only come if Nico, DPJ, or both leave for the NFL.
As of right now though, I would say that DPJ if he left this year would be a late 2nd early 3rd round player and Nico probably a solid 3rd rounder. Upside is definitely there but as far as production it doesn't match up to some of the other receivers in this draft. DPJ has at least shown some more versatility with his route running skills and ability to play in the slot, outside, and return punts. Nico is a freak, but aside from that long catch and run vs Rutgers he's been basically a chuck it up and go get guy.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:31 AM ^
Or, he might also want a graduate degree from Michigan
October 18th, 2019 at 3:04 AM ^
That would be the best recruiting strategy at the moment....
October 17th, 2019 at 8:41 AM ^
McShay just had DPJ as the 26th ish best player on his big board earlier this week. I was so sad when I saw it. I hope at least two of the receivers come back next year.
October 17th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
DPJ should definitely leave. He is someone that is going to test really well at the combine and increase his stock even more. I do wonder how "big" he is going to get. Hopefully he doesn't become David Boston in the NFL when he's exposed to better "health and nutrition"
October 17th, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
It's funny, if he leaves, we never saw his real potential here.
But hope maybe we still will see the promise of who he could be in the last half of the season.
October 17th, 2019 at 6:25 PM ^
Nico was a too 20-ish on some boards I saw not too long ago as well. I hope like hell they have some hardware to show for it before they leave.
October 17th, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
Neither should go pro. Nico can improve his stock a lot with one more year.
October 17th, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
If they can get drafted in the top 3 rounds, they should go. We obviously won't give them the ball enough to improve their stock here.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:37 AM ^
Decent shot according to who exactly? In Steve Lorenz’s post announcing that we made contact he literally said
“I do not believe he will have high interest, at least as things stand now. I would bet on him staying somewhere out west.”
October 17th, 2019 at 9:26 AM ^
Because he looks forward to getting the ball twice a game?
Must be due to academics.
October 17th, 2019 at 3:43 PM ^
Twice. That sounds about right.
October 17th, 2019 at 10:06 AM ^
No WR in his right mind would want to come to Michigan after watching this year's offense play out.
October 17th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Not yet, at least.
I’m still optimistic in regards to the system and the QBs that will be slinging it in the near future.
October 17th, 2019 at 3:44 PM ^
Man I don't know if Josh Gattis is the one to bring that about.
October 17th, 2019 at 6:23 PM ^
Lol. Must have been one helluva snake oil sales pitch. Has he seen our “speed in space” offense?
October 17th, 2019 at 7:35 AM ^
Nope.
and on that note I’m going to quit drinking and go to bed.
October 17th, 2019 at 11:38 PM ^
Wait....No nightcap?
October 17th, 2019 at 7:36 AM ^
This was covered a while back when he announced he would be transferring. Gattis was his lead recruiter at Alabama but not sure that has much oomph considering his current standing at Michigan. Despite the NJ connections on the staff I wouldn’t expect this one to drop. I could see Maryland being a thing.
October 17th, 2019 at 7:38 AM ^
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/1-prospect-2019-sde-bama-signee-enters-transfer-portal
Not the greatest thread from last month. Steve Lorenz said Michigan is not an option for multiple reasons. He wouldn't say that if there was any chance.
October 17th, 2019 at 7:51 AM ^
Interesting that in this post he is a DT. In your link he is an SDE.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:21 AM ^
The position change appears to be the OP's doing. Asking him to change positions isn't the usual way to entice a transfer.
Saban's comment that Alfano has quit going to class is interesting. He can't transfer to another 4 year school if he isn't in good academic standing. He may have to go to a JuCo first.
Maybe a candidate for the XFL? If they're still around for a second season, I think they'll be looking at signing underclassmen.
October 17th, 2019 at 7:55 AM ^
lol why would any five star dt come here of all places. Don Brown plays two stars and lets five stars rot on the bench.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:47 AM ^
uh.
what?
October 17th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
Looks like a Harbaugh presser.
October 17th, 2019 at 9:25 AM ^
Daxton Hill and Can McGrone both definitely agree with you....................oh wait.
October 17th, 2019 at 10:02 AM ^
Because, obviously, Brown wants to lose, so he plays the worst guys on defense.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:03 AM ^
Recruiting and the addition of the transfer portal has turned the whole business into a kind of fantasy football for college fans, as we mix & match team needs with our hopes and speculation.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:08 AM ^
He'll go to OSU and live in our backfield for 3 years and be a first round pick.
BPONE
October 17th, 2019 at 8:12 AM ^
Looks like he’s not big on playing school, so yeah.
October 17th, 2019 at 1:44 PM ^
.....but wait, 'bama has an Engineering School!!!!!
October 17th, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^
That is for learning to drive a train.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
Seems like a headache to avoid. Talent is talent, but something not right.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:45 AM ^
Yeah, wanting to be near his sick grandmother is a bad thing.
October 17th, 2019 at 9:29 AM ^
Is that what's going on?
Someone suggested that a month ago but: "What was bizarre about the situation is that, while missing from class and practice, Alfano was not actually in the transfer portal yet. One month later, his name can now be found there."
Also, his father's statement gives no indication that's the issue. You're making a big assumption.
October 17th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Did you read the article? It also goes on state they tried putting him into counseling for it.
“This comes approximately one month after Alfano went missing from the program. It was reported at the time that he was entering the transfer portal to be closer to his sick grandmother, but his name never surfaced and coach Nick Saban's only answer for his disappearance was that Alfano "basically quit" the team.”
October 17th, 2019 at 1:20 PM ^
I did read it. It says it was "reported" but doesn't identify a source or give any indication that there is any validity to the earlier report. The part of the article you quote says nothing about counseling. That is here:
"Well, I don't really know much about that. I just know that the guy basically quit," Saban said at the time, per 247Sports. "He quit going to class, he quit coming here. We tried to encourage him, we tried to help him. We had tried to set up counseling sessions with him to help him every way we could. And all those things are still available to him if he wants them, but he didn't respond to any of the things, so until he responds, you just have to assume the guy quit."
This doesn't reference anything about his grandmother. The counseling is to get him back to participating in classes and with the team.
It's amusing that you see an unsourced reference to his grandmother and assume it's true. If his big concern is about his grandmother, why didn't he enter the transfer portal a month ago? Why didn't his father reference it and why is there nothing else about it in the article? My guess is the only reason it is mentioned at all is let us know that this has been talked about for more than a month.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:25 AM ^
I saw a tweet saying that none of the top rated defensive player from each of Alabama’s last four recruiting classes have had any meaningful snaps in their respective careers, and three of the four have transferred out.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:47 AM ^
Maizen now (t)Rolls Tide
October 17th, 2019 at 8:34 AM ^
Michigan needs players with his abilities. Giving up on a 19 year old is usually more foolish than being 19 years old. I am assuming that Gattis has a very good idea whether or not he is a take for Michigan.
October 17th, 2019 at 9:35 AM ^
That's a bad assumption. If he is a true freshman, Gattis has no idea how he has adjusted to college. Dann O'Neill and Austin White are examples of Michigan recruits who didn't take to the demands of football at Mchigan.
October 17th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
You may be correct that my assumption is bad. But then, you seem to be making a set of assumptions that are, at least, equally as bad...like equating Alabama and Michigan-among other things.
October 17th, 2019 at 1:35 PM ^
I didn't equate Michigan and Alabama beyond the fact that they are both universities with football programs. I hope you don't have a quarrel with that. The transition from high school to college is significant for most youths. I simply referenced some individuals who committed to Michigan and didn't adjust well to the change to illustrate that it isn't always easy to predict how students will adapt. Mr. Miggle says there were warning signs for White. If I were interested in pursuing it I would come up with examples of kids who had a troubled childhood and then took advantage of the opportunity presented by an athletic scholarship. In any case, your contention that Gattis recruited the student so he must know how well he has adjusted to college, is without merit.
October 17th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
I see you assuming about my assumption to assume all things as an assumption
October 17th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
There may have been red flags for Alfano that were ignored because he was rated so highly.
RR was probably the only Michigan coach who would have taken Austin White. The behavioral red flags were known. White was charged with multiple felonies not long after leaving Ann Arbor so I would not want to compare any of these other recruits to him.
October 17th, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
Lloyd Carr took Kelly Baraka. Were there more red flags for White than there were for Baraka?
October 17th, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
5* vs a borderline 4*
It was a peculiarity of RR that he took chances, usually regarding academics, on recruits that were often ranked much lower than White. Lots of coaches will take a chance on 5* recruits.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:59 AM ^
Kick the tires...