Them Blue Balls™ be bouncing!
Three new balls since yesterday, two from Sam. Third ball in for Cole Sullivan, a true athlete who is listed as an LB but can also play DE or TE, apparently. Third ball also in for Jeremiah Beasley, an MSU legacy who had been thought to be a lock there, but all momentum has gone for Michigan recently. And first ball coming in for Dominic Nichols, a prototypical edge rusher who already had some predictions going for Michigan on On3.
BALLS BALLS BALLS!!!
sam's got big balls. steve's got big balls. but blue's got the biggest.. balls of them all!
INCREDIBLE THROWBACK
Haha so this is Dan Bern's other work? I only know him from the soundtrack of my three year old's favorite show "Stinky and Dirty"
Listen to the Tony Kornheiser show, they feature at least a song of his a week usually. Great podcast too, top 5 in my book. He has a couple albums named "Songs for Mr. Tony" that were all featured on the pod/radio show.
I enjoyed that way more than I probably should have.
The only thing better than watching the 2021 Game highlights is watching the 2021 and 2022 Game highlights back-to-back. It makes me deeply happy inside.
Allen Trieu just dropped his ball this morning on IL WR I'Marion Stewart who hovers around the outside of the Top 300. Michigan has 100% of the predictions for him.
It seems pretty certain Michigan has 20+ commits before the season even begins.
Cole Sullivan announces tomorrow, LBs Jeremiah Beasley and Aaron Chiles in June. Then I assume some of other top targets like Brian Robinson, I'Marion Stewart, Dominic Nichols and the 6th OL are sped up with their timelines during the summer and with Michigan's current momentum.
Maybe a handful of guys will be narrowed down and recruited during August-December and also gives the staff a huge jump start into 2025. Harbaugh and Co. have been absolute lights out on the trail.
I don't know shit about recruiting or roster management, but isn't 4 LBs a lot for one recruiting class?
I think it depends on how "linebackery" each recruit is. Seth's write-up about a recent 2023 linebacker recruit who's name has escaped me hinted at this, but Michigan seems to have shifted its linebacker recruiting to vacuum up a number of recruits labelled as linebackers but who could end up playing a range of positions in college. Some of them might move back as linebacker-safety types, others could stay as pure linebackers, while others could grow into linebacker-edge hybrids or pure linebackers. Having four James Ross, Junior Colson, Michael Barrett, or Jake Ryan clones would be too many, but having one of each would be just fine.
By 4, I assume you mean Curtis, Chiles, Beasley, and Sullivan? Chiles and Beasley are true LBs. Curtis is more of an Edge/LB tweener who I think the staff sees as a Jaylen Harrell type. Sullivan is apparently being recruited as athlete who could play LB, DE, or TE
It does seem like Mason Curtis and Cole Sullivan can be seen as tweener EDGE/LBs where Beasley and Chiles are more geared for the middle.
Nah, half this class will have transfered out in 3 years so take them all and it will sort itself put.
I could see a chunk of the 2023 class transferring when they're passed up by the 2024 guys. This class is one of those that will have a big impact on the program, at least it looks that way from here.
I think the others have it right about the broad definition being used for LB making a difference here.
I noticed what you have on the "LBs" but am struggling with the overall class numbers as well. Despite Brian's assertion that "scholarship" numbers matter less with NIL.... some sort of limit still exists.
Excluding Ben Herbert's nephew we stand at 15 scholarships at present. Based on what I have seen and read M plans to add:
- 2 CBs - Hopefully Scott from Ohio is one.
- 3 more "LBs" based on current CBs in the OP.....(they are NOT going to close the door on Chiles even if Beasley and Sullivan commit)
- 2 pure DE prospects - at least - Robinson, the brother of our DT commit, or the new guy are best shots
- 2 more WRs - plus Bair as a potential "2026"recruit - probably I'Marion Stewart, and then hopefully J Shipp or M. White
- 1 more OL - several options here - the 2 TX kids etc.
- 1 more RB - Taylor Tatum come on down!! (please)
- 1 specialist? (Some 5* kicker coming on a visit)
That is 27 already without considering the elite kids that they may not lead for but are at least "in the picture" and/or the usual late surprises or flips we see.
Some current examples - most of which I believe are expected to at least take an official at M ---- Ryan Wingo - WR(6ovr), Brandon Baker - OT (23Ovr), Stewart - DE (13ovr -- ADD Lightfoot OR Mayo that M is pursuing as if they were top 100 kids), Justin Scott - DT (35ovr), Z. Patterson - S (79Ovr).
Add to the fact that I do not see any clear potential "give the cold shoulder to clear space" names on the current commit list and I easily see a potential for 30+ in this class if the rules allow.
I don't claim to be an expert on the rules, but I would not expect a class larger than 28.
It seems increasingly clear that there are going to be more guys that want in than spaces. I suppose you could convince somebody to come in as a PWO with NIL to inflate the number of spots, but at some point they're going to say 'sorry, we're full'.
There are some places that they can save a scholly or two. From your list, K/P, RB if Tatum says no, maybe CB if they don't hit on the guys they're after.
This is such a good problem to have. This class is going to be LOADED with talent. Just gotta coach 'em, feed 'em and keep 'em.
It is a GREAT problem to have!! I still remember the frustration from last Spring/Summer.
I just don’t see how M will be able to turn away a true 5* - WR, DE, or DT in particular - late in the process regardless of the class count at the time.
I suppose you could convince somebody to come in as a PWO with NIL to inflate the number of spots, but at some point they're going to say 'sorry, we're full'.
I think this is how you make the numbers work. But the trick is that it does not affect new recruits. Instead, you have established players (even starters) move off scholarship and use a discrete NIL fund to make up the difference.
4 LBs is a lot for any class, but it would definitely be a lot for Michigan since We only use two linebackers at a time.
The flip side of that is, not all of the potential linebacker commits are strictly linebackers.
Ludwig is seen by some as a FB/H-Back, not necessarily a linebacker. In addition to some confusion as to whether he’s on scholarship or a PWO.
Rumblings that the coaching staff likes Mason Curtis in the Jaylen Harrell role. I haven’t seen any film on him so I couldn’t give my two cents on whether that makes sense or not, just something I’ve heard thrown around.
And then Sullivan is talked a lot about being able to play LB, TE, and DE.
Beasley and Chiles are the only ones I haven’t heard about playing another position
Sullivan looks like a pure LB to me.
Don't let his rating fool you.
His tape is excellent.
He isn't coming to play TE here.
His tape is excellent. I wouldn’t say he’s pure LB though. His athleticism certainly pops and there are a number of intriguing positions he could fill outside of linebacker. Reminds me quite a bit of Chase Winovich, who ironically played OLB and TE at Michigan before switching to DE.
On the Recruiting Roundup yesterday, Sam's confidence on Brian Robinson seems to have lowered. Not because there's no longer strong mutual interest, but he thinks there may not be a spot for him if he takes all of his officials like he intends to at the moment
Yeah and now the Nichols ball comes out... makes one think this is what he was referring to...and maybe they only take one more DE.
Vacuum them all up, see who’s got what it takes, and let the portal and/or bench sort the rest out. Seems kinda harsh, but that’s how the game is played at the elite level these days. Don’t feel bad for the players who have to bolt to get a better opportunity, they will have a great resume and showcase for themselves.
Hey Sam:
To quote Captain Harris: "Don't touch those! Don't you ever touch my balls without asking!"
I love getting those MSU legacies. So much winning going on in EL. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm glad we lost to Sparty in 2021, if that was the deciding factor in giving Mel that stupid contract. We still got the CFP and they got an unqualified mess at HC.
I imagine he still would have received that contract with a loss to only U of M and MSU.
I was listening to one of the Michigan youtube channels and someone said the day Michigan and msu started heading in different directions was the day msu pulled that rabbit out of their ass with Walker running over them. Made Mel look like a genius.
Right after that game purdue beat msu, then osu destroyed them. Michigan won the rest of their games until they met UGA.
They've been on the same path ever since.
We're playing 4D underwater chess. Make no mistake. This was our plan all along.
Hey Joe, just checking in to see if they've made it your way with this?
Chlamydia, Chlamydia, have you seen Chlamydia...
Not yet. Still have the clam. I don't take those though anyway. Not since the feaux cheese and big daddy tricked us into loving big farm eh? and put those my dog named spike is nice and protein shakes are great in us during the great plague that was released from the Labrador retrievers are my favorite dog, but make sure you neuter them. If you know what I mean.
Heard our NIL paid Walker to go to MSU. I can't confirm - this is just what I heard.
Heard our NIL paid Walker to go to MSU. I can't confirm - this is just what I heard.
Go for the hat trick and say it a third time!
Michigan has 14 recruits with grades of 88 or higher. MSU has 2.
Their top recruit Jamari Howard also committed in September before they completely melted down and has since visited the Florida trifecta multiple times without being up to EL. I'd put a dollar on him not being a part of their class once they inevitably miss another bowl game, fire a bunch of coaches and the ship sinks further to the ground.
Then it sounds like you should bet more... you made a good case for it.
I'd put a dollar on him not being a part of their class once they inevitably miss another bowl game, fire a bunch of coaches and the ship sinks further to the ground.
I'd bet a dollar on Howard being committed to a Florida school by the time the season starts
They will keep the coaches. MeLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL doesnt want to risk losing his bonus money in future years to fund new coaches.
Let's stop comparing ourselves to that low of a standard school.
Thats a new video right there. Saw it on VH1 yesterday.
Are we only taking one of the two, Dominic Nichols and Brian Robinson ?
how do you not take robinson? isnt he a super elite guy from ohio? we need that gravy train to continue.. we havent many gotten super elite guys from ohio, so we want to keep climbing that ladder. We have #2 and #9.. robinson looks like #5.. i think you gotta take him. if he doesnt come here, you know he's going "there"
Right, but yesterday Webb was talking that Robinson needs to know the class might fill up and that he decides in July and might be too late..... and then we see this crystal ball, and they play the same position, I think. So maybe the staff will take only one.