Sparty Recruiting
Does it make anyone else nervous that MSU's recruiting class is very strong? Team ranking aside, check out how many rivals position top-10 rated players they have. I'm not one of those people that denies the rivalry between us and them; I have to admit, I don't like seeing them recruit this well.
http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=66483&Sport=1
Discussion?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:01 AM ^
im not worried
our little brother is getting the big kids to play with him, so we just get bigger ones
December 17th, 2008 at 1:02 AM ^
It makes me more nervous that we're taking the kids they don't want now!
I hope the exclamation point makes my sarcasm apparent enough! Here's another!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:04 AM ^
Well yeah. Have you seen their coach? Who could deny that charm and wit? I bet he was quite the ladykiller in his day.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:04 AM ^
I hope the Big Ten teams get better. We can't be scared that Michigan State is recruiting well, even though I hate them. If the Big Ten is strong it helps us as well when we beat them.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:13 AM ^
An important part, but not the only part of a successful program. You gotta coach em up too.
See: Weis, Charlnormous.
Recruits are kids who may or may not pan out. More worrying is the fact that Mark D'Antonio seems to be able to coach and recruit better than your average Sparty
December 17th, 2008 at 1:07 AM ^
I haven't done a search, but RichRod is going after system guys now, right? And if this is the case, that'd probably leave many more (pretty good) instate recruits with MSU. Can anyone foresee a future where Michigan AND Michigan State are both nationally powerful (much like OU and OSU were throughout this past season)?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:11 AM ^
Yeah, I could see that. Michigan is decent for instate talent, and if it all stayed in state and Sparty brought in a lot of the Ohioans that they do, we could see both schools hit 9 or 10 wins in the same season. It would make that game pretty nutso too.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:26 AM ^
I assume you're referring to Oklahoma and not Ohio University.
Go Bobcats!
December 17th, 2008 at 10:28 AM ^
The Green Weenies!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:13 AM ^
Tom is right. And I hope to god no outside fans our reading our threads where people are saying they are scared. All this talk of I am getting nervous that this team or that team is recruiting well makes it seem as if Michigan fans are pansies. We are the leaders and the best and the victory will be that much sweeter if all the games were competitive and all the teams were good. Also, look at how USC and PSU fell out of favor with the BCS just b/c they had one loss in a weak conference. If anything, the Big 10 gets stronger, and whoever is the champion (hopefully Michigan) will just get that much more respect nationally.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:15 AM ^
tom is always right
December 17th, 2008 at 1:18 AM ^
I meant to say are instead of our my bad.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:19 AM ^
you can edit the post
December 17th, 2008 at 1:23 AM ^
For some reason I am not seeing that option.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:24 AM ^
it doesnt have a dark blue box that says "edit" next to the "reply" box?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:25 AM ^
No, usually does but I am not seeing any. Just a lighter blue that says reply.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:29 AM ^
I don't think you can edit once someone replies to your comment.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:30 AM ^
shit i think ur right
December 17th, 2008 at 1:31 AM ^
Problem solved. Thank you young lad.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:52 AM ^
I was going to edit that comment!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:19 AM ^
Yeah, but when you chant "BIG TEN BIG TEN BIG TEN" it doesn't flow quite as well as "ESS EEE SEE ESS EEE ESS EEE SEE." See what I mean?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:21 AM ^
Yea dude totally. Now I know why they get so much love.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:24 AM ^
o so THATS y mountain west never gets any play.....
December 17th, 2008 at 1:17 AM ^
I'm not sure why anyone would think RR is getting "system guys". I mean, he's going after dual threat instead of pocket passers, but that's really the only big difference. That and no TEs because we have 6, now 4. He'll probably keep 3-4 on the roster at all times because he does use them.
When Sparty is in the running for 5* recruits I'll pay them some attention.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:29 AM ^
Wait what do you mean "I'm not sure why anyone would think RR is getting 'system guys'"? Obviously he's recruiting for his .. spread system, right? Otherwise he could have just run the option spread with the Carr era guys (he did, and it didn't work all that well).
And unless everybody is wrong, word is RichRod likes small and speedy guys who can make plays in space. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like he's going after different types of players.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:46 AM ^
Lloyd Carr signed Antonio Bass, Steven Breaston, Justin Fargas, JASON Forcier, Carlos Brown...etc.
RR just put an emphasis on slot guys like T-Rob, Odoms, and Gallon, and on dual threat QBs.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:08 AM ^
Then we're talking about the same thing, because by that categorization there's no such thing as a 'system guy' for anything. Regardless of what we want to call it, RR is emphasizing a different type of player: HIS type of player. As in, those who would fit his system. So it's not really that farfetched to call them 'system guys'.
Anyway, my point is that he's recruiting a lot more of those quick small guys, and maybe more significantly, he's trying to do it on a much more national scale, which leaves more quality instate kids who would otherwise come to Michigan go to MSU. At least, I'm wondering if that is what's happening.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:14 AM ^
I guess what I'm saying is, other than water buffalo QBs, what other types of top players are we ceding to MSU?
December 17th, 2008 at 10:22 AM ^
I don't really know; I was just thinking along the lines that if Dantonio is recruiting within the same geographical boundaries as MSU coaches always have, nothing other than a change in our preferred type of player could explain their surge in recruiting.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:41 AM ^
at the recruiting timelines. Coaches start really going after kids as they're entering their junior year. Dantonio was hired and started developing those relationships when the '09 class was coming into their junior year. Meanwhile RR was off in West Virginia recruiting zero players from Michigan. Then he gets hired, has to focus everything on locking up the '08 class that Carr recruited and getting some of what he needs. By the time he is finished with that the '09 class is already going into their senior year and he is way behind the ball on in-state recruits for '09. So MSU pulls a nice class this year.
If you look at how the '10 class is unfolding you can tell that the approach is completely different and much more "normal".
December 17th, 2008 at 2:15 AM ^
I think when the term system guy is thrown out there it is referred to as someone who does not play in a prostyle offense and they probably do not project well to play in the NFL. Prime examples, any qb who has stepped out of the Texas Tech and Hawaii programs.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:23 AM ^
I mean our recruiting class isn't exactly chopped liver. I think between our 09' & 10' classes most will be fairly pleased with what RR brings in with both talent and needs. I am definitely excited and think we are going to be a very fast team next year on offense.
December 17th, 2008 at 6:06 AM ^
Not worried. MSU only has 1 kid in this 2009 class so far not from Michigan or a state that doesn't touch Michigan (Ohio and Indiana). And that kid is from Iowa. This state had an above average year for talent and MSU has shown no ability to recruit nationally under Dantonio. As of right now, his recruiting is stuck in the mud in terms of getting outside of the region. I'd much rather recruit nationally like we do...that is how a national powerhouse is born.
P.S. Dantonio's 2008 recruiting class was horrible and had the same geography constraints. More years will be like 2008 unless Dantonio can expand MSU's interest.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:15 AM ^
commitments from a player we sought. Now that could change by signing day with the departure of Shafer (although I think impact will be minimal), but I still think that we hold an edge in both in-state and out of state recruiting.
Things could change over time, but once M starts winning again, I think these little tremors of worry will be a thing of the past.
Its natural to question things after "the demise of Michigan football," but our talent is not likely to be a thin as it was last year and the growing pains will subside.
I think next year we are a 7-5 team, getting back to a second tier bowl like Alamo or Insight. But, by 2010, with the age of our roster and up grades in depth and talent, we should be back to New Years Day bowl potential and if not competing for a big ten title, getting close.
December 18th, 2008 at 1:59 AM ^
How many Top 10 players at position Michigan has per Rivals? I'd say we're doing pretty damn good and this doesn't include if we land anyone like William Campbell, Tana Patrick, Jelani Jenkins, Barkevious Mingo, etc.
Dual Threat QB
#6 Tate Forcier
#8 Shavodrick Beaver
APB
#9 Fitzgerald Touissant
Strong DE
#6 Anthony Lalota
Rush DE
#8 Craig Roh
CB
#3 Justin Turner
K
#8 Brendan Gibbons
If we were to land say William Campbell and Tana Patrick:
DT
#3 William Cambpell
MLB
#7 Tana Patrick
So not sure what you'd be worried about and we have plenty who were in the top 50 at their given position such as Teric Jones, Jeremy Gallon, Taylor Lewan, Vlad Emilien, Pearlie Graves, Daquinta Jones, Michael Schofield, etc. We shall see how RR closes but I have a feeling there will be a surprise or two.