August 24th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
enough of this shit already
August 24th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
I was just about to post this.
2015 DB Tyree Kinnel (Huber Heights, Ohio) has committed to Michigan.
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) August 24, 2013
August 24th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
So...I guess we can finally move on to 2016 DB recruiting now? About time.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
I think we already have a 2017 lock.
Lavert Hill. Brother of Delano Hill.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
Hill is a 2016 recruit. Jame Ross III has a little brother named Josh in the 2017 class though.
If you go to 247 though and go to the Michigan site, there are plenty of 2016 targets listed already. http://michigan.247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/Targets
August 24th, 2013 at 1:03 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
Tyree Kinnel: "I grew up a Michigan fan. It was unreal getting that offer and growing up a fan I was overwhelmed by it."
August 24th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
Good news. Welcome Tyree!
August 24th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
This made me smile.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
Good get with Tyree Kinnel. Lattimore, Smith, and Hand hopefully soon follow.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
Does anyone have an estimation of where this kid will end up ranking-wise?
August 24th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
He's probably a low 4-star type recruit. Whether he camps or not and how much will likely determine is he's comfortable at the bottom end of the "top #" lists, the bottom end of 4-star status, or a high 3 star.
August 24th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
It seems like he has the athleticism to be moved around in the backfield but where does he best project (where is the bigger need when he gets to campus)? I understand that it will be years until he gets to campus but, as of now, does he project more to free safety?
August 24th, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^
difficult to tell - these kids have not even played a down yet of junior season. I am sure the offer from Michigan will cause him to get 4 stars across the board, because thats just what these services do. On the rivals board he is currently #17 in the state of Ohio. (Crawford was 5) but I expect these to be very fluid and different in November. On that end it is interesting how aggressive these offers are in a small class. In 2 months there will be plenty more tape on these kids so waiting 8-9 weeks seems like a good reward for not much risk (someone else coming in and swooping away a recruit) but in Hoke we trust.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
Blackwell better get going.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
This is a bit ridiculous. Hoke pulls 4 and 5 star talent like Dicaprio pulls models. An embarrassment of riches. Not only has he completely dispelled the notion of OMG, Urban Meyer will totally out recruit him and OSU will be an SEC talent in the shitty Big Ten, but Hoke is actually pulling in more elite talent than the used car salesman down south. Has Urbz pulled in anyone as elite as Peppers or Campbell since starting at OSU? If we pull in Hand, that would be 3 prospects (4 if you argue for Damien Harris) better than anything Urbz has come up with yet. Add that to the string of other 4 and 5 star guys and grinding lineman....Call me a homer, but it really is starting to look like they will be the Florida to our Alabama. Cant wait till Hoke sends Urbz into another "health induced" retirement.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
Spence was a commit to OSU with Urban as HC...but he was considered a very strong lean to PSU until the whole Sandusky mess broke.
Urbz has shown a great aptitude for picking the carcasses of other teams' recruiting classes when something bad happens to those teams. He got 4 big time guys who were either committed to PSU or very strong leans to PSU (Spence, Tommy Schutt, Camren Williams and Armani Reeves) last year as well as the WR/RB every one is panting over (name escapes me) who was committed to Oregon but decommitted after Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL. As a consquence, I've taken to referring to Urbz as "The Vulture."
August 24th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
He has definitely shown an aptitude for developing relationships quickly and taking advantage of other teams' misfortune. My take is that Hoke doesn't do as well with that because the staff is big on building relationships with recruits and making sure they are fits for the program, but that may just be my homer's take. I could definitely see it causing some trouble down the road when you snag a kid late and don't know the off the field risks. Wilson the kid he got from Oregon has gotten a lot of hype for his ability but some are questioning his overly confident attitude.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
when looking at starters. But when it comes to that first rotation, the SEC is still ahead of Michigan and OSU. Our depth isnt quite there yet, especially on the defensive lines.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
Okay...you are a homer.
OSU is recruiting just as well as UM, if not better, in Urbz short time there.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
The Pattern
August 24th, 2013 at 6:08 PM ^
I really like how we have filled needs and pulled in well rounded recruiting classes. OSU has pulled in some sick DB and DL talent but there OL haul under Urbs, prior to the 2014 class, has been poor. That will be a weakness for them as a result imo. That is especially true when you put their OL against the DL we have been recruiting. I like our odds.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^
Never said they OSU wasnt recruiting well overall. Comparing a #4 class to a #6 ranked class is splitting hairs. My point was, when Hoke and subsequently Urbz were hired, the panic was OMG Urbz will pull in top 5 classes and the best we could expect from Hoke was mediocrity. We expected that we could probably lock down the state of Michigan again and make some in roads into Ohio. Nobody could forsee him pulling in all these top 50ish ranked players from out of state. And in terms of top 10 players overall (the HS freaks) Hoke has pulled in Peppers and Campbell from out of state...2 elite, elite talents. If they pull Hand as well, that would be 3 top 10 guys in 2 classes. Damien Harris may end up in the top 10 as well, perhaps the #1 running back in his class. That is potentially 4 top 10 guys in 2 classes. Urbz has not done that. I dont think that is a homer statement. The whole "Urbz will recruit nationally and Hoke will try to compete with lesser talent bigger heart midwest guys" meme has been nuked.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^
You wrote "Has Urbz pulled in anyone as elite as Peppers or Campbell since starting at OSU? If we pull in Hand, that would be 3 prospects (4 if you argue for Damien Harris) better than anything Urbz has come up with yet. "
Well just as you said the difference between a #4 and #6 overall class is splitting hairs, the difference between the 9th ranked player and 19th ranked player in the country is splitting hairs. There are plenty of busts everywhere and plenty of #14 overall in the country who turn into average players. And just as likely than #197 in the overall rankings becomes the best player on the team. Etc. Both teams are pulling in elite talent. Recruiting is the lifeblood but Texas and FSU regularly pull in top 5 classes and don't translate it on the field so I am clapping but let's see it on the field in a few years.
August 24th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^
That's not the disucssion here. From a recruiting standpoint... Peppers is a once every 3-4 year recruit. Physically he can play offense or defense explosively and the comparisons to Woodson and Reggie Bush based on tape, hype, clocked speed, and college ready physique are all out there. Hand is being touted as the next Clowney. Personally, I doubt there is another Clowney very soon...he seems a once a decade athlete. Both are listed as in the top 2 or 3 overall recruits by the majority of sites. Campbell is a 6-4 burner, running a sub 4-4 and will be a top 5 recruit as well. Urbz is indeed pulling in elite talent, but based on hype and expectation, Von Bell and Spence do not compare to Peppers and Hand. All are elite, but Peppers and Hand are considered special. Call me biased, but I havent read stuff like this on any of Urbz OSU commits. Peppers: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130726/michigan-commit-jabrill-peppers/ Hand: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/bruce-feldman/22343414/dashawn-hand-discusses-craziest-thing-to-happen-since-no-1-ranking
August 24th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^
Again I think you are a little deep in the Kool Aid. I have heard no one compare Hand to Clowney. Hand is #1 at rivals but #6 at 24/7. In fact he is not even the top player in VA at 24/7. Noah Spence was 9th overall at rivals and #12 at 24/7. ESPN has both players as #4 overall in their classes. Again these are not absolute rankings - I would caution taking gospel in them. Spence and Hand are effectively the same recruit from a ranking level. Peppers is a very unique recruit that you are giving all the credit to Hoke - he has loved Michigan since he was a kid. We were very fortunate and I believe if Carr, Moeller, or whomever was here (we can debate Rich Rod since he didnt like defense) when Peppers came of playing age - they would have snagged him too. Of course Hoke had to still seal the deal, and he did. We rejoice. The overall point is OSU has outrecruited Michigan to a degree and certainly "out programmed" us for a decade. We are now once more running neck and neck with them in recruiting. If you believe there are 2-3 recruits a year we are getting that OSU is not matching that is your opinion, but to me the #28 player in the country has just as much chance of being All American as #6.
August 24th, 2013 at 11:04 PM ^
If Peppers is "a unique recruit" (loved Michigan already, we were fortunate, would have snagged him with any solid coach), I can claim a similar type of "fortunate circumstance" for Noah Spence to OSU. IE, PSU's loss due to a roaming pedophile on campus became OSU's gain when Urbz poached him. I simply believe we have 2 or 3 play makers coming in (Peppers, Campbell, hopefully Hand) that are superior (on paper - hype) to anything Urbz has pulled. I dont really see that as a Kool Aid statement as it is supported by a most the rankings out there.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^
national championship teams weren't fundamentally sound, played soft in a soft conference, etc. C'mon people. He's unlikeable but there's a reason he's considered a elite among coaches.
August 24th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
Nobody's doubting that they'll be good but there's no reason that we won't be better than them especially when we're recruiting as good as they are.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^
Yes he has. OSU has plenty of talent coming in - don't worry. In 2013 they have 5 star Von Bell, DB and 5 star Mike Mitchel, LB. Jalin Marshall is right behind those 2 and will be a name to remember. Noah Spence from 2012 is also of similar ilk to a Hand. Both schools are getting big pulls and top classes. Neither has an excuse go forward for not excelling on the field. It will be 2 different philosphies on offense with similar ideas on defense, but the talent level for both is very high.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:29 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^
August 24th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
but we can't upvote or downvote replies anymore?