Najee Harris or Aubrey Solomon?
With today's recruiting review of my favorite commit in the 2017 class, O'Maury Samuels, I'm reminded of the Najee Harris Soap Opera back in January. Going on concurrently was the rival soap, As Aubrey Solomon Turns. Looking back, if you had to choose, would you prefer we got Harris or Solomon? (obviously both, but that's not the game)
For me it's a no-brainer. I think O'Maury Samuels is going to be an exceptional RB, and the team is already well-stocked at the position. Not only is DT a greater area of immediate need, I think Solomon is going to be a much better college player than Harris.
If you could choose, who would you rather have ended up in this class?
August 11th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
Najee who?
August 11th, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^
I had actually forgotten about him and this post made it all come screaming back.
August 11th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^
....but I thought he was still in a plane circling Tuscaloosa looking for an airport that doesn't exist there. I mean, I don't wish anyone an ill will for not picking Michigan, but you really need to sort out where you're going to land when you land a school. I am so terribly confused now.
August 11th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^
I love a big, fast do it all RB in college, but we have several good to very good backs. The situation at DT is not a rosy yet. If the DL from last year all had 2 years of eligibility left, then I might have gone the other way. For our roster, Soloman fit a much bigger need even if Harris actually had more potential. Wish we got both
August 11th, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
Did clemson win a title because of a sick-ass defensive line (yes) or a beastly running game (nope)
There's your answer
On offense it's x's and o's. On defense it's jimmys and joes.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
Fortunately for UM, Don Brown has mananged to field elite defenses even with average talent (e.g. Boston College).
I am eager to see what the defense (assuming Brown is still at UM) looks like in a year or two as the defense will have: an excellent DC, experience with said DC's system and a high level of talent.
Giggity!
August 11th, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
I'll always want a strong defensive lineman over a running back. Running backs are good when the offensive line allows them to be.
August 11th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
I'd go with Sammy Hagar, but only because he has homes in Mill Valley, Palm Desert, Cabo, and Maui. Dude knows location.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^
Aubrey Solomon.
David Lee Roth.
Next question!
August 11th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
Solomon easily. 5* DTs are so much more valuable than 5* RBs
August 11th, 2017 at 2:39 PM ^
Just saying.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^
Was hoping this was a "who wore it better?" thread. I'm disappointed, OP.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:06 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:12 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:13 PM ^
I think the last time I checked in here there were a lot of Najee Harris threads... ah, memories..
Let the football begin!
August 11th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
Not as bullish as you seem to be on Samuels, only because I haven't seen enough of him to really form an opinion. For that matter, nor have I seen enough of Solomon either.
So just going off the positions they play and the positional depth charts, I think it was more important to get a DT who might be able to contribute this year than a RB.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:15 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:17 PM ^
Difficult to say considering neither of them have played a single down in college ball, but I'll play along:
I go with Solomon. The game of football starts up front on both sides of the ball. Najee Harris is really stinking good, but he's only going to go as far as his OL takes him. If Harbaugh and Drevno coach up the OL to a very high level, and history seems to indicate that they will, then whoever we throw in the backfield is going to excel.
Having a great defensive line sets the tone for the rest of your defense, just as a great OL sets the tone for your offense. If you ask me to build a football team, first place I'm going to start is the line.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^
This board has PTSD from the number of 5* RBs that have washed out for the maize and blue. Najee is a special talent. I would trade any current player outside of Rashan for Najee.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:37 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
QB and DL are the most important positions in football.
So, Solomon.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
If you're going to pick Solomon because you're happy with who we signed in place of Harris, you should also consider who we would have signed in place of Solomon, had we not gotten him. Maybe, to land Harris, we would've gotten our 2nd choice in DT, who could be a Samuel-level stud... or maybe someone with experience against stiffer competition.
I agree, though, with picking Solomon. I always prefer a great defender - if the other team can't score, they can't win.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^
ITT everybody saying Solomon because that is how it played out. Y'all would be saying Harris if we had got him and lost Solomon.
August 11th, 2017 at 3:36 PM ^
Ain't nothing wrong with that.
August 11th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
I just think it's silly. Why even ask the question if all the answers are just going to be circlejerk?
August 11th, 2017 at 11:58 PM ^
September 1st, 2017 at 7:01 PM ^
Go fuck yourself.
August 11th, 2017 at 9:37 PM ^
Thanks for telling me what my opinions would be in a hypothetical. Clearly, you'd know better than me.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:47 PM ^
If we didn't have Evans and Higdon to start, O'Maury as a recruit, and JH as head coach, I'd probably take Najee just cuz I like him a lot. But, yeah, Aubrey is more essential at this point, and most RBs can be successful as long as they have a well functioning OL. I mean, either way, they're both 5-star players and definitely both worthy of that recognition, so it's hard to complain.
August 11th, 2017 at 1:38 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:55 PM ^
Russians always have the answers these days!
August 11th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
I might be totally off base or incorrect here, but between his tape and seeing him at the Army game, Harris did not look like the best RB in the nation to me nor a 5 star talent.
It may be a limited sample and we'll find out in the next few years, but I don't see it.
August 11th, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 1:55 PM ^
and will always have more of a passion on that side...so DT of course. Solomon is gonna be a DUDE
August 11th, 2017 at 2:38 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 6:03 PM ^
Im saying I have an affinity to defense and will always side there, prob went over your head though.
Have a great week
August 11th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^
Who is this Najee person you speak of?
August 11th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 2:25 PM ^
Solomon, because he wanted to be at Michigan. Najee didn't. Plain and simple.
Assuming both wanted to be at Michigan, then I would still take Solomon. On offense, QB and OL are by far the most important positions. On defense, as Lester Freamon said, "all the pieces matter"
August 11th, 2017 at 2:51 PM ^
August 11th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
Solomon.
In my unexpert opinion, RB performance is more dependent on other players (O-linemen) and there is a lot less variance in ability among good RBs than among D-Linemen.
A much closer question would be Solomon vs. Isaiah Wilson.
August 11th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
Najee would have been a nice get, but I would have preferred the 5* OT that went to Georgia instead of here - Isaiah Wilson. If Najee came here, he would be running behind a line that's not as highly touted as the Bama one.
Good luck to both Wilson and Harris.