Portal needs

Submitted by SalvatoreQuattro on January 12th, 2024 at 8:53 AM

Michigan is down to six scholarship WRs if we include incoming freshman. Corner is also a need. Quarterback may be a need. Tight end…No?

Any other areas of need that I missed?

There appear to be some good players left in the portal. Would like another corner(rumblings of Denver Warren to UM) and a receiver or two.

 

 

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crg

January 12th, 2024 at 9:35 AM ^

If we can keep the current staff mostly intact, then I'm not worried.  If Harbaugh and/or *more than one* coordinator leave then we might need to panic about next season.

Personally, I feel he stays.  He spent so much time, energy, blood & sweat to get Michigan fully out of the hole (Hoke did much to start that process and should get some credit, but just wasn't the guy to be able to go all the way)... just to risk having it all fall apart within 1-2 years by leaving?  Hard to believe.  As long as we make it known we will stand with him regardless of whatever ncaa/big ten foolishness they try (are you listening Warde & Santa?), then I think it will be fine.

Joined: 04/30/2015

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JHumich

January 12th, 2024 at 9:52 AM ^

I agree with this.

I think that part of his 2020–2021 renovation, with the help of people like Biff, was to establish a culture of love and togetherness that he feels has gotten him and the program back to what football is really all about. 

He has something at Michigan that a Lombardi trophy could never fully compensate for. And I think that when he sits down and thinks about that with his dad, and with the rest of his family, that's the conclusion he will come to.

I hope he stays.

Even more, I hope THAT (the approach/perspective/culture of the last few years) stays.

I think Sherrone would have it. I'm not sure how many others would. And I think that if he goes, he risks BOTH his never quite having it again in the NFL, and Michigan never quite having it again either. 

Joined: 02/18/2017

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S.G. Rice

January 12th, 2024 at 9:03 AM ^

Needs?  None, frankly.  Things would be fine even with zero additions.  There are guys waiting in the wings at every position.

Wants?  Different answer.  If Tuttle doesn't come back yeah, a veteran QB who's willing to be a backup if JJ comes back would be great.  WRs, especially a big tall huge one.  On D, maybe a rotational DL, corners.

I don't see this as a volume portal year, but if there are guys that fit the program they'll get recruited and probably get a handful.

Joined: 07/18/2008

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JMo

January 12th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^

Re: Davis Warren sticking around.

Davis Warren was in a QB Room in 21 that included JJ McCarthy, Cade Mcnamara, Alan Bowman and even Dan Villari starting games at QB for D1 schools this year. Technically he even had a spring overlap with Joe Milton too (I think).

All of that to say, hard not to assume he wouldn't think there's an opportunity out there for him as well. 

Joined: 12/14/2011

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True Blue Grit

January 12th, 2024 at 9:04 AM ^

Yeah, corner and WR are the biggest needs.  A proven pass-catching/blocking TE would be a good get given all the guys coming back not named  Loveland haven't got a lot of game experience.  (Bredeson was mainly a blocker and had few targets)

Assuming Stewart comes back, and with the young studs stepping up, we should be fine at the edge.  But if Stewart doesn't come back, I'd like to see us get an experienced, proven guy there.

I wouldn't turn down a really good tackle if one was available.  

Joined: 01/21/2011

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BleedinBlue

January 12th, 2024 at 9:07 AM ^

WR talent is not something that we have prioritized recruiting, developing, or utilizing for quite some time. This takes nothing away from guys like Roman Wilson or Ronnie Bell, they are great men and decent WRs...but we dont have a true WR1 that can stretch the field and create that seperation. With a talented QB, it would be nice to get him some weapons other than TE's. 

 

 

Joined: 11/27/2008

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jdemille9

January 12th, 2024 at 9:23 AM ^

Unless there's a major shift in the offensive philosophy it is going to be difficult to recruit elite WR's at a high level. There's just not much opportunity (and thus recruiting prioritization) for them in this offense in the same way elite RB's and TE's will thrive. 

Given that, we have had some high level WR talent here, but since we do not stockpile WR's like we do with RB or TE, we have to have a higher hit rate than normal. I have not been disappointed with the WR's we've had in Harbaugh's tenure at all though. 

But let's not act like our WR's have been garbage. 

Joined: 01/29/2011

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NeverPunt

January 12th, 2024 at 9:07 AM ^

A lot of coaching fallout yet to come, so there will be some very interesting portal movement this spring. 

I think we look for WRs & CBs with some urgency, QB if no JJ, and other than that they probably run back the same idea they played last year - if there is experienced talent at a position with a cultural fit, you take them regardless of need. Captains, grad students, smart experienced starters.

Joined: 03/26/2019

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MadGatter

January 12th, 2024 at 9:07 AM ^

Slight correction the rumblings is Denver Harris* to UM

Hes the former 5 star that was kicked off A&M and also kinda kicked off LSU? Not someone who fits the traditional archetype of the guy Harbaugh wants and has already transferred once in as an underclassmen (is he eligible to transfer a second time?). All to say idk how legit these rumblings are.

We really need a wide receiver lol

Joined: 03/29/2020

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Wallaby Court

January 12th, 2024 at 9:28 AM ^

No, but he does sound a lot like Eyabi Okie, who was able to thrive at Michigan for a season. Admittedly, Okie's success probably grew from his relationship to Biff Poggi. Denver Harris does not have that kind of relationship with Michigan's staff (and Poggi is no even on Michigan's staff at this point), but this kind of transfer is not unprecedented for Michigan in the portal era.

Joined: 11/08/2008

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Dunder

January 12th, 2024 at 9:11 AM ^

Feels like UM is behind on the Portal this season, though given the way tampering is going on, the most important thing may be getting the window shut before some of those sophomore stars get bought. 

Perhaps a true nose tackle to keep the DL rotation (though none of us would frown if Palepale turns out to be the next gift from....). 

Also, the depth from this season makes it harder to get a read on this than in years past. There could be a surprising amount of redshirt frosh and true frosh that make a splash next season. 

Joined: 09/04/2010

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outsidethebox

January 12th, 2024 at 9:14 AM ^

Michigan has an elite coaching staff. We know some things but, in general, what we the fans know from the outside looking in is very uninformed. This roster is sneakily deep and has been uniquely developed to step up when the opportunity/need arises. The dividends that are going to be realized for playing 70-80 kids per game in lieu of beating Northwest SE University by 73 points could be quite stunning-in every good way. I am anticipating being very pleasantly surprised by the quality that arises from the unknown masses. 

I/We do not know what the real roster needs are...LB has been addressed. I am unaware of the need for any other critical additions.

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Mercury Hayes

January 12th, 2024 at 9:14 AM ^

I was thinking about this as well.

QB - Depending on JJ, and maybe depending on who else transfers if any.

RB - No.

WR - Senior/grad transfer

TE - Yes unless Barner stays. I think he has eligibility. But he is going to the Senior Bowl.

OL - I think we should be good considering we passed over our bench guys last year.

Special Teams (K/P) - NO.

DL - Probably have enough here.

LB - We might still need one. We've got Barshawn, Hauserman and Rolder. That's a weak spot.

S- If Paige Goes, who plays next to Saab?

Nickel/CB - Johnson and Waller are No. 1 and No. 2. Who plays Nickel? Jyaire Hill? That's a young team. Could use someone else there.

 

Looks like 5-6 guys to me

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chalkeater

January 12th, 2024 at 9:15 AM ^

The portal era makes this hard - you need to develop players and let them grow and learn for them to hit A+ status, but that will never happen if you continually recruit over top of them with B+ players. Would a player like Trever Keegan have developed the way he did if we'd brought in experienced players above him each year - I don't know. But, at the same time, maybe you just bring in competition and let God sort it out. I think optimal strategy is still being developed. 

WR makes me scared because there aren't a lot of bullets. The other positions like TE and DB - you kind of see a path. I just don't think Semaj showed enough to be considered more than a Norfleet esque gadget guy, and none of the under-classmen looked can't miss. I guess I'd like the same approach as with OL portal recruiting last year where we give ourselves more bullets in spots without clearly developing or developed players where we might have whiffed for a cycle or two. 

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HateSparty

January 12th, 2024 at 9:22 AM ^

Your Morgan take is grossly poor.  He is a true freshman who played significant minutes in significant games.  Norfleet?  Come on man.  Terrible.  I hope you come back here at some point over the next couple of years and eat the crow that is being prepared for you and take it like a man.

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MJ14

January 12th, 2024 at 9:54 AM ^

Morgan, as a freshman, already has more production at Michigan than Norfleet. Morgan played on a national championship winning team in 2 of the biggest football games in modern football for Michigan and Norfleet got kicked off the team. They are not alike and if Morgan does nothing else for Michigan, he'll have done more for Michigan than Norfleet did. Morgan obviously made a few mistakes against Bama, but he still had 4 receptions for 24 yards as a freshman, against an elite secondary. He also has the record for punt return in the Big Ten championship game. Dude is a player and will have a solid sophomore and junior year at minimum. He'll likely top 500 yards receiving next year with 5+ touchdowns. Norfleet barely did half of that in his entire career. 

Joined: 01/09/2011

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chalkeater

January 12th, 2024 at 10:09 AM ^

I seem to have stepped in it here - I'll take the crow now in advance of later as it's clear how bad my take was.

Y'all are obviously right - honestly a combination of not quite realizing how much Semaj did this year and not fully remembering how Norfleet never came close to his potential. I was searching for someone who started out as a gadget receiver and eventually became something more, but didn't seem like a locked-in game-breaker early. Breaston seemed too lofty for how good he looked his freshman year, and I over-compensated.

I stand corrected and also with increased hope for next year's receiving corps. The whole idea of what the next team will look like is just entertainment at this point and a way of extending the glow of this season. Apologies for feather-rankling. 

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