Diamond/Grant/Muller/Henry aside, who else is a realistic recruit target?
I woke up and realized that we have 28 slots for 2012, with 23 verbal commits and 4 target left (Diamond/Grant/Muller/Henry). Assign each target a possibility factor:
- Diamond: 0.6
- Grant: 0.6
- Muller: 0.5
- Henry: 0.75
That gives us 2.45 commits. From what I learned on "Super Sunday", I will take 2 out of the 4.
Are we going to bank 3 schollies, or we just rub more snake oil to commits of Purdues? Who else is a realistic target?
January 30th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
So far? It never paid off, not even when Tom first said it (nothing ended up happening that day/week).
January 30th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
The way I see it, "Buckle Up" is simply a way for MGoBlog users to pay homage to TomVH, since he was beloved so much while he was here and is still a great source for Michigan recruiting (albeit not free aside from his Twitter).
January 30th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
Stellar top five class right now. Diamond and Grant are probable. There's just no way to not be happy with it.
We thought it might be spectacular but we may have to settle for outstanding.
January 30th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
Yes.
I thought I'd get it on with Hope Solo at the Olympic Qualifying after-party, but I wound up hooking up with Alex Morgan.
OK.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
January 30th, 2012 at 9:13 AM ^
I'm not nearly as panicky as the board median seems to be, and I'd love to see the coaches use this as an excuse to make a last-minute push for a QB. It'd be much easier to convince a QB prospect to come in with a one-year head start on Morris than to come in at the same time, and I think we need two of them over the next two years. Otherwise, it seems like we're accepting way too much risk (w.r.t injury, transfer, poor development, etc.) at what's obviously the most important position on the field.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^
I mean, OSU was peanalized with 3 scholarships, and we would voluntairly give up 3? That seems strange. Also, if everyone is complaining that the LSU and Bama sign 30+/ year, why would we leave players on the table?
Moreover, with attrition, not renewing 5th years, injuries... I would think you want a full 85 every year. You never know who will step up and who will flame out.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
I cannot tell you how silly the notion is that we should bank scholarships, especially MULTIPLE scholarships. That line of thought is just asinine. We banked at least one scholarship last year. Now we have a few open scholarships (which may or may not be filled this week).
Banking scholarships means you're playing from behind the eight ball. It does not make sense, and the coaches DO NOT WANT to bank all these scholarships. They want bodies to fill these spots. The "banking scholarships" comes from people trying to sugarcoat Michigan's situation.
Personally, I'm not upset about this recruiting class. There are a couple shortcomings, but what recruiting class is 100% perfect? (Hint: none.) So I'm not going to be upset come Wednesday (or Friday), but let's be realistic about what banking scholarships means - it means giving scholarships to walk-ons.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:41 AM ^
Its all about TIMING... now imagine if all the top guys we got, like Kalis and Ross and Pipkins, etc, starting committing now.......instead of early....... the same people including me, who feel disappointed right now, would be jumping for joy. That fact needs to be put in perspective.
But I digress.... where are the shortcomings? One CB and maybe one QB... but I think we're fine at QB with Bellomy and Gardner and Morris, so I think only one CB and that is it. Enlighten me here Magnus.
Here is something bizarre... ESPN has Gant as our WR.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
Well, we don't have any strong options at center. We also don't have a QB in the fold, and I think Michigan should take one each year. We also didn't get an elite RB, and I'm not completely confident in our backups right now (Rawls, Hayes, etc.). Cornerback is actually less of a concern for me than those other spots.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:41 AM ^
Center: I'm trying to stay confident regarding Jack Miller. He's going to be a redshirt freshman next year. After seeing him around campus, I can tell he needs to put on a little more weight, but he could come in and be great next year. Khoury could do well if he and Denard get their chemistry right.
QB: I'm not too worried. We only will have 3 on the roster the next two years. But how often do two starting quarterbacks go down, and you have to play the 3rd stringer? (Besides the colts?)
Running Back: After Fitz I'm not super confident about the backs as well. But then I guess it's a good thing we have Fitz back next year. Running back is a position a freshman can come in and make an impact right away, so hopefully we pick one up in 2013.
Cornerback is a bigger concern for me than it is for you I feel. We have, what I feel is an elite corner in Countess. After him, I feel Avery is our number 2, and Floyd is 3rd, just my opinion. I haven't seen Richardson play a down in college yet, so the verdict is out on him. But again, that's another position I feel a freshman can come in and make an impact, so hopefully we snag an elite one in 2013, or Richardson lights it up.
January 30th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
I'm not worried about center for 2012. Khoury/Miller will probably be fine, and Barnum/Mealer could potentially play there, too. The problem is that Khoury/Barnum are seniors, so therefore the only guy scheduled to be on the roster in 2013 is a redshirt sophomore Jack Miller. Even if we get a center in the class of 2013, that leaves Miller and a true freshman on the depth chart.
Toussaint was injured for most of his freshman and sophomore years. Last year was the first out of his three college seasons that he was healthy. So while I'm glad Toussaint is back, we also probably will need a capable backup in the future. Smith is a decent third down back, but he's a senior, too.
Playing the third stringer is necessary more often than you think, I believe. But the concern with QB isn't about injury so much as depth due to attrition and such. Let's say Bellomy transfers after next season. That leaves us with Gardner, a freshman Morris, and . . . walk-ons, unless we get another QB in the 2013 class. I know that's a lot of hypotheticals, but it's a realistic possibility based on history. Quarterbacks tend not to stick around if they're going to be career backups.
I like Countess, Avery, and Richardson, and freshman cornerbacks can often contribute or even be very good. That's why cornerback doesn't concern me much. We need a couple in 2013, but getting one in 2012 just isn't as big of a need, IMO. I can see why the coaches would want another one in this class; it's just not the priority that QB and C should be, in my opinion.
January 30th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^
On the surface, I agree with this Magnus.... I wasn't thinking about the RB and center. But I cannot imagine that Hoke doesn't properly prepare, rather, doesn't leave himself so exposed like RR somewhat did at OL.... ie... I would expect that they know something we don't, and that Kalis or Bars will be playing center, the best five will play. And that a guy like Houma may be playing tailback more than RB, and a guy like Henry maybe will play FB a little his first year (did you see that dude run?)
January 30th, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^
January 30th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
...you can end up with a bunch of Kovacs that way!!
January 30th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
It's very, very, very, very rare that you find a 4-year starter in the walk-on pool.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
is heartwarming and all, but should never be a goal. Its not in the best interest of the program.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:36 AM ^
I follow recruiting pretty closely, but I really don't get what the huge knock is on Dan Gibbs. 6'7, 305 lbs, and supposedly a bright kid. I would not have a problem if they offered him at this point, as I don't think we will use all of our available schollies anyway. I was not confident in landing any of the final five, and I'm less confident now. Class is great now. I say we take a chance on Gibbs.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
He's a huge reach. He's a big body and that's it. We've already got a guy like him on the roster who's not getting any PT. His name is Erik Gunderson.
January 30th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
or Glasgow and Yerden ?
January 30th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
Yerden is no longer on the team.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^
We'll land one or two more stars, and I think we can all trust the coaching staff to do what is best in terms of banking schollies or using them on guys who might not have as many stars, but who might nevertheless be good adds to the class. No need to recite all of the unsung recruits who have played large for Michigan over the years.
January 30th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
Do our coaches have the experience and intelligence and history that demonstrates they are good at evaluating talent? Answer looks sure like a yes to me. They took a defense totally clueless and looked at what they had and turned it into a top 20 defense overall in 1 year by coaching and by identifying who to play where and how and why. Given that, I'm willing to believe that they know what they are doing in recruiting on both sides of the ball, and that they are offering the right kind of kids with both talent and heart and desire that they believe will work into the team concept at Michigan.
Have a little patience and faith, all of ye (me too) who were thinking 9-4 or so would be a great season in 2011!
January 30th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
I think Houma is gonna be more of our tailback than our FB.
January 30th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
What about Demar Dorsey?
I understand not getting Dorsey since we had possibly two top DB's coming in. But now that those guys have not worked out, would the current coaches be open to giving the scholarship to a juco transfer?