Poggi Deciding Soon

Submitted by Son of Lloyd Brady on
Per Steve Wiltfong at 247sports:

"Michigan has been recruiting him very hard for a long time, as has Alabama," Biff Poggi, Henry's father and coach, told Steve Wiltfong of Wolverine247.com. "Those are the two schools recruiting him the hardest. He really respects both of the coaching staffs."

Poggi also listed Tennessee and Texas A&M among his final four. And, he is ready to commit.

"I think he'll make a decision soon," his father said. "Within the next 30 days."

http://michigan.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-and-Michigan-recruiting-Henry-Poggi-the-hardest-75757

 

Very interesting considering Hurst visits tomorrow.

greenwood

June 1st, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^

Poggi, Treadwell, Green commitment on same day sometime this June, Ok recruiting deities?

Oh, and Hurst this weekend too please. It's been awhile since the last Hello post, I need a hit.

BoFan

June 1st, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^

We don't seem to do well in these close calls when they don't visit Michigan last.

But let's hope that:

- academics

- playing at DT

- and the Hoke family culture

....win the day over Bama.

 

mpbear14

June 1st, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^

There's another Michigan website out there, gbm,  that has a recent post, either yesterday or Wednesday saying Poggi looks to be headed to Alabama.  One of the mods on that site has direct connections with Alabama's coaching staff and attends their practices on occasion every year.

It's not looking good for Poggi.  I'll be pleasantly surprised if he picks us.  If not, thank God Hoke and company have a few back up plans that aren't too shabby to say the least.

One Inch Woody…

June 1st, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^

I have been hearing this too - Not a knock against Michigan or Hoke, but Saban goes around promising the best recruits that they will have a future in the NFL if they play for him, and who can compete against that? Maybe USC or Florida State. But in recent years, Michigan has not put out too many first rounders. 

I think Hurst picks Michigan this weekend and Poggi goes to Alabama. (Not that they influence each other since Hurst at 6' 2'' would be better slotted for the nose anyway).

MichiganMan14

June 1st, 2012 at 5:29 PM ^

...we are in trouble. Saban rarely loses kids that he really wants. We have a knack for finishing a close second for the big fish so to speak. Hopefully that trend won't continue. I think we should really go after Green as hard as possible. Green+Treadwell+ Hurst+ Poggi would be a great finish.

Carcajous

June 1st, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^

This is silly.  Bama doesn't get everyone they really want... by a long shot.  Come on.  This is classic... if they get a kid it is because they REALLY wanted him.  If they don't it must be because they didn't really want him because... you know... Bama always gets a kid if they really want him so they must not have really wanted him.

Bama has never finished a class with a 4.0 star average in Scout's database.  I'm pretty sure that if they were getting everyone they wanted they'd win the recruiting war every year, right?  They don't.  Michigan currently has a 4.0 star average with 18 commits.  Are we getting everyone we want... I meant the ones we REALLY want??

Please.

ChuckWood

June 1st, 2012 at 6:36 PM ^

I agree with you.  However, there are schools out there that have a better track record at landing top tier recruits year after year and usually get what they want (not always who they want).  If Bama misses on Poggi, they will surely get a top DL in his place.

Schools with a great track record?  Bama, osu, USC, ND (but they will leave soon after), and FSU.  I consider Michigan in the second tier, and will soon cross over and join these schools with a year or two more under Hoke.  Everyone is bitching about losing out on Ty Issaic, Lavenberry, ect..  We have a great class and will continue to have a top 10 class every year with a guy that knows how to sell Michigan.  Hoke and Mattison know what's up.

MichiganMan14

June 1st, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^

When Bama really wants a kid....strings get pulled. That's all I'm saying. Julio Jones committed to Fsu the night before signing day and low and behold an overnight phone call lol. Kuandjo is another example. Michigan does things right. Miss Mary and Singletary don't cut corners. I believe Bama will. All I'm saying.

lhglrkwg

June 1st, 2012 at 5:39 PM ^

Recruit X favors Michigan. Recruit X then visits 2nd school more recently. Recruit X sets commit date. Recruit X picks other school.

It's happened way too much for me to not think that he's going to Bama

RakeFight

June 1st, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^

Per Poggi's father, after his second and most recent visit to Alabama:

"Everyone wants him to play defensive line, but everyone has told him that he could play tight end for them. There are a few schools recruiting him solely as a tight end/H-back and as you know from looking at the NFL draft, the last two days that position has become incredibly valuable in the league. Tennessee has been recruiting him as a H-back/tight end, as is Oklahoma. Alabama has offered him at like three different positions, so we’ll see. He just wants to play- he doesn't care where."

Griff88

June 1st, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^

While a TE is valuable at the next level. A DT has even more value in the NFL. Especially if he has received good coaching... which Poggi would get at Michigan.

NFL teams, can always pick up a good TE after the 2nd day of the draft. However, if you have a chance at a good DT, you take him in the 1st round.

APBlue

June 2nd, 2012 at 8:31 AM ^

This reminds me of the Woody Hayes quote about passing:

"There are three things can happen when you pass the ball and two of them ain't good"

 

If Poggi chooses Alabama, there are three things that can happen and two of them ain't good.  

A. He will indeed make it to the NFL

B. He'll have his offer pulled before signing day, in lieu of another recruit (now referred to as "Pulling a Saban"): http://oversigning.com/testing/index.php/tag/alabama/

C. He'll get cut before his RS Freshman season to make room for a 2013 recruit (read that same link for information on how Saban cuts current players, post signing day, to make room for incoming recruits)

There probably isn't much chance of anything inbetween happening.  

Carcajous

June 2nd, 2012 at 8:43 AM ^

The funny thing about Woody's statement, of course, is there are three things that can happen when you run the ball, and two of them ain't good.  You can gain yards, lose yards, or fumble.

Rabbit21

June 1st, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^

He's going to the Tide. Probably why the kid from Texas was offered.



Oh, well. Although this does make me wonder a little about what it is with the current recruiting strategy that two headed battles may as well be conceded once they start.

Roachgoblue

June 1st, 2012 at 7:10 PM ^

Why in the hell are we missing these kids, our class is shit, we are failing. I am going to go jump off a bridge. #sarcasm I would be happy if we didn't sign one more kid. This class kicks ass so quit bitching. F!

Rabbit21

June 1st, 2012 at 9:17 PM ^

Contrary to weird and extremely biased readings of what I said, I wasn't suggesting Hoke can't recruit.  I am over the moon with how well the staff has done, but you can't deny there's a trend of losing 50/50 battles or even battles where a guy slightly favors Michigan.  I'm just wondering if it's just one of those things or something more systematic.  That's all, no bashing of the staff intended.  

I reiterate, I think Poggi's Bama bound.  Doubt there's any need to buckle up.

graybeaver

June 1st, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^

There's a decent possibility that Michigan misses out on all of their top remaining targets. That is the only downfall of having 18 verbals before June 1st. I bet Hoke lands at least 2 recruits in this class that nobody including Sam Webb is mentioning. Regardless this class will be top 5 nationally and that is awesome.

Rabbit21

June 1st, 2012 at 9:17 PM ^

Exactly even if the class misses out on Treadwell, Green, and Poggi(highly likely).  It's not the end of the world as the class is very highly rated and with great talent.  I just think that we need to get ready to welcome more Willie Henry Senior Year Breakout specials(which given the success of Jake Ryan I'nm a big fan of) than five star guys to fill out the rest of the class.

turd ferguson

June 2nd, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^

Thanks... definitely possible.

Still, though, if you think about the particular guys involved, this doesn't seem like a realistic explanation:

Isaac clearly wasn't worried about competition at his position, since he committed knowing that another 5-star RB was about to commit to USC.

Garnett joined an O-line class at Stanford that was completely loaded with talent - much more so than even our O-line class (though I think Peat committed after him).

Levenberry... well, this might actually be relevant for Levenberry.

And for Poggi, yes, Michigan has 18 commitments already, but exactly zero of them are DTs.  Even if Hurst commits, it's hard for me to believe that this would scare Poggi out of committing.

Ventilator

June 1st, 2012 at 8:12 PM ^

Just my opinion, but I think Poggi choosing not to decide at the end of April is an indicator. I know that academics were high on his list and he has a brother at Duke, so his family has probably pushed academics. Saban is definitely selling the NFL very hard and making him take more time to consider. Hoke hasn't been here long enough to establish what Saban has at Bama, obviously. Saban is probably spinning the offer at multiple positions as a positive and using that as a tool to guarantee playing time. I think it's likely that Saban has done enough to make academics an afterthought for Poggi. Have him going to Bama, merely my take on it.

Elmer

June 1st, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^

Guess we'll see if academics are part of the equation for Poggi. 

If anyone picks Bama over Michigan and then says academics were an important part of the decision, then they are either misinformed, delusional or just full of it.

Having a brother at Duke is a good sign.

 

Sione's Flow

June 1st, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^

We could wind up surprised, but I've got to go with the consensus that Poggi may commit to Bama.  But we'll see if he changes his mind after UM wins the kickoff classic in Dallas on Sept. 1.  (fingers crossed)

 

Belisarius

June 1st, 2012 at 10:22 PM ^

We missed out on Levenberry. We missed out on Isaac. Why in God's name is everybody ready to write off every recruit we come down to the final two, for, now? Lord. Bunch of gloomy folk. Let's wait and see.

Rabbit21

June 2nd, 2012 at 9:57 AM ^

I think what's happened is we've learned to read between the lines instead of applying hope and personal biases to the information received.  In all of these cases there's been what seems to be a tipping point where the battle has gone against UM and never was able to reverse course.  In the case of Poggi, it seems like we've gone past the tipping point and thus the negativity.