TomVH: Quick Update On Where We're At
I'm having trouble posting, so I'm just going to put an update here with where we're at right now.
Tim posted the visitors list for me in the diaries, if you're too lazy to look up and over, it's right here.
Illinois OL Chris Bryant had a visit from Brady Hoke today. He's on his way home from school, so hopefully I will catch up with him later. Chris is announcing his decision tomorrow at 7:30pm (I believe Central time). It's down to Michigan, Pitt, Arizona, and Illinois. Arizona's OL coach recently took another job, and Chris hasn't visited Tucson in awhile. If I had to guess it's probably down to Michigan and Pitt, with Michigan getting the edge tomorrow. Hoke and co. have made it clear how bad they want him.
Hoke is now scheduled to meet with OL Jake Fisher to try to convince Jake to come back on board. Fisher recently took a visit out to Florida, which causes some concern. Jake is announcing his final decision quietly on signing day. Hoke will be there at 7pm tonight.
There was a post in another thread that said Glenville LB/TE Frank Clark was moving his decision from tomorrow to signing day. That is confirmed. He'll be announcing on signing day, because Ted Ginn Sr. thought it would be a good idea.
LB Leilon Willingham told me a few days ago that he still plans on visiting UCF this weekend, and announcing his decision on Signing day. This was always the plan, so nothing has caused him to change that. I was told that the UCF visit is more for fun. Michigan still looks good here, and would be a great addition if they can land him.
Michigan currently has 16 commits, with somewhere around 4-6 spots left. Likely/Possible names to pick Michigan Chris Bryant, Frank Clark, Leilon Willingham will leave them with roughly 2-3 spots left. Names to fill those spots could be Jake Fisher, Darian Cooper, or Thomas Rawls. Wildcard from this weekend's visit is Chris Barnett.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:11 PM ^
"He'll be announcing on signing day, because Ted Ginn Sr. thought it would be a good idea."
uh oh. i don't like anything ted ginn sr. thinks is a good idea. i hope he proves me wrong.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:29 PM ^
Clark - Hey coach, I'm announcing tomorrow
Ted Ginn Sr. - I heard, that's great, who's it down to?
Clark - Well a few schools, I really like Michigan
Ted Ginn Sr. - *grimaces* Oooh, maybe it'd be a good idea to wait a few days before you announce, you know take a few more visits, pick somewhere else, just to be sure
Clark - ok... wait what was that last part?
Ted Ginn Sr. - Um... nothing *cough*don't pick michigan*cough*
January 27th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
Is there a high school coach more selfish than Ginn Sr.? All these coaches manage to put their own feelings aside and look out for the kids best interests except for this guy.
I don't get upset at the players, but some of these high school coaches are unbelievable.
(I know the above was sarcastic - but not completely.)
January 27th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^
He's so selfish that he loads his kids up in his own car and drives them to universities in order to get them visits (see Evans, Lee. Wisconsin, among others).
He's so selfish that works as a security guard at Cleveland Glenville and has helped to change the learning environment in that school completely (I know - I teach a couple of Glenville grads who have come to the place where I teach to get an education first).
He's so selfish that he called Cleveland high school sports talk to defend a white announcer against a charge of racism levied by a bunch of callers b/c the host said that Glenville was afraid to throw the ball down the middle. Ginn Sr. confirmed that they were indeed not interested in throwing the down the middle b/c they were worried about the opponent's safety who seemed to have a bead on what their qb was doing.
Sorry - I know you were being sarcastic, and I know he doesn't like Michigan (from what I hear, that might change with Hoke), but the man has given a lot back to his community.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
I think it's more like this:
Clark - ok... wait what was that last part?
Ted Ginn Sr. - If you'd like to see your mother again, don't pick michigan.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^
Ted Ginn Sr. - Look son, maybe you pick Michigan, maybe Momma Clark has a little "accident". Who knows, these things happen. That reminds me, have you seen Cardale?
January 27th, 2011 at 4:12 PM ^
I'm just wondering who is most likely for those final 2-3 spots at this point and who Michigan would take if 4+ of those guys chose Michigan. Obviously that is a very good problem to have and may not be the most likely at this point, but would they take the first 2-3 guys to commit or tell some guys tough luck.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^
I've heard he's not visiting anymore. I think its academic related.
January 27th, 2011 at 7:27 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
I hope Ginn Sr is not trying to convince him to go elsewhere. If Ginn does, Hoke needs to give him the belly to belly suplex.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
Also an Atomic Leg Drop.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
Ken, you are almost in the black. Good job man. Can you give points on the current system?
January 27th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
Thanks Tom.
I know this is a little too soon, especially with signing day next week; so here goes:
With the way the new coaching administration has been able to really salvage this class, how do you see the 2012 class finishing out as far as big names and blue chip players. We keep hearing that the Midwest is loaded next year, and what do you think the Hoke/Mattison duo will be able to accomplish with a full year?
NOTE: Just assume for the sake of positive thinking, we win the BigTen(12?) next year.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
It helps that the Midwest is loaded because these coaches already have relationships and credibility in that area. Adding Mattison to the equation will still cause excitement in the 2012 class for defense, but it's probably going to be the last year he'll be able to use the, "You know Ray Lewis?" pitch.
Not having to deal with issues like weather being a factor, or distance always helps in recruiting. If Brady Hoke can keep this intensity going into the next class then I think they'll do just fine.
I've already spoken to a few 2012 kids that are excited to hear from the new Michigan coaches, but at the same time there are still kids who are asking who Brady Hoke is. He'll have uphill battles with certain kids, but he will have plenty of time to sell himself.
I'm expecting the 2012 class to be a pretty good one.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
Love your work, Tom, but I have to disagree re: Ray Lewis. The guy is something of an icon for every kid that has played LB for the last 10 years. I doubt he starts to lose serious luster in an LB's recruiting pitch for a few more years.
Ditto Ed Reed and DBs.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
Coaching future hall of famers probably doesn't "expire" - let alone in a year.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^
Ray Lewis is an icon, but Greg Mattison is a better recruiter than that to have to use the same pitch over and over. Besides, the recruits and competing coaches will pick up on that and eventually try to spin it against him.
With any kind of sales it's not a good idea to tell everyone the same thing over and over again. Hopefully his product on the field in Ann Arbor will be his selling point after the 2012 class.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
I'm of the same opinion, however, I think this is really the only year the "Ray Lewis" pitch is going to really have any impact. For one, Ray Lewis was awesome well before Mattison showed up. Also, what difference does it make if you coached Ray Lewis and yet your first year back in college your defense ranks 80th in the country? Sorry, but Ray Lewis loses significant power there my friends. How/if Mattison shows defensive improvement will be the biggest factor of next year's recruiting power. Fortunately for him, he can't but improve this defense...
January 27th, 2011 at 5:10 PM ^
The problem with the Ray Lewis/Ed Reed pitch is that like you said, they were stars long before Mattison arrived.
However, there does seem to be a recent Heisman winner/future HOF'er in Michigan history that Mattison spent a couple years coaching...
January 28th, 2011 at 7:43 AM ^
The most important thing for our defensive recruiting efforts is identity. We have not had one in 5 years (and just as many DC's so consistency is the underlying reason why we don't have an identity). Kids want to understand what type of defense we run and where they fit in. For the 2012 class I hope Coach Mattison can really use an improvement in our 2011 Defense as a benchmark of great things to come through a solid identity of scheme, the best coaching, and NFL prospecting with toughness being the overall mantra.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
I would love to get Bryant, Fisher, Clark and Willingham. Any others who want to commit would be icing on the cake.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
I am with you with those four. Especially Bryant, Fisher and Willingham. We still need a TE in this class, IMO, but it could be Clark depending on what the coaches want to do.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
I think the top 4 are (not in order of preference) Willingham, Fisher, Cooper, and Bryant. After that I'd almost rather get Rawls over Clark as I'm not too excited about the latter's size as a TE. Still, I realize we need a TE pretty badly. Maybe the Barnett kid is still a possibility too.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
Yeah that's true. I would go with Fisher, Bryant, Cooper and Willingham. I guess it depends on if the Miller to TE rumors are true or not.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
... on davon moreland? I thought he was interested in visiting, but I can't remember
January 27th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
I spoke with his coach the other day and Michigan didn't offer him. He's not going to visit this late without an offer. Looks like Michigan didn't want to go after him, plus there aren't very many spots left.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
Not surprising, we have a lot of DEs already.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
with a solid set of returning starters set for this year and the next. That gives a couple extra spots next year for a nice class with Hoke and Mattison getting a full year to spread their magic recruiting dust. If Corwin Brown gets added to the mix I will be real excited to see what happens....
January 27th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
Any idea why this can't be viewed on IE? My office shuns use of Firefox (I know, I know), and they are aware of when I download it. Though, I did download it just to read this post. Any idea if I can do anything on my end to make IE work?
January 27th, 2011 at 4:51 PM ^
QUIT YOUR JOB!
January 27th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
I read this --->Trayion Durham
As this ---->Tyler Durden
Which would be awsome.
January 27th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^
January 28th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
Oh well, we don't have room for a FB in this class IMO. Willingham,Cooper,Fisher and Bryant are the most important right now. 2 impact front 7 defenders and the 2 OL we really need.
After that I'd like Barnett and Rawls. I don't mind taking Clark, but with Poole and Willingham we don't need him. Kinda hoping Tedd Ginn Sr. really does talk him away from UM. However that would be bad for our chances at Glenville guys. We need a TE more though and Rawls is more of an impact guy most likely. If Barnett doesn't come maybe we take Clark as a TE. Either way he's going to spend a year in the weight room bulking up before that decision is made. A lot of the TE draft prospects are 6-3 this year, so its not a huge concern really. 6-5/6 is ideal, but more premium NFL size than necessary college size
January 27th, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
I feel like Thomas Rawls is being highly undersold as a prospect...all the video of this kid looks pretty legit. IMO, I'll take him over Durham...thats just me though.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
He just looks like a guy who will really make a difference going forward. I want everyone discussed but Rawls is my number 1. It would be nice to get back into Flint a little bit and the comparisons to Ingram are very solid. If we are going to go with a more traditional attack, we must have a guy who can make a difference at RB. All of our best teams pre-RR featured a highly competent every down back and Rawls looks to be that guy.
January 27th, 2011 at 6:36 PM ^
January 27th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
As much as all of those others guys are must gets, Rawls is going to be a stud and soon. It would be a damn shame to see him run for 1500 plus at CMU.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:29 PM ^
Thanks for everythign Tom. This has to be the busiest time of year for you especially since you are running URecruit now so just want to say that it is greatly appreciated.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
I don't like that Bryant will have Pitt as his last visitors. Hopefully he's not swayed in the last minute.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^
Who in their right mind would choose Pitt over Michigan?
While I am a homer - that just doesn't make sense,
January 27th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
I wouldn't worry about Pitt
January 27th, 2011 at 4:46 PM ^
You must not be counting his "unscheduled" appearance at UofM on the way home...
January 27th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
We really need a TE, and I noticed that Durham and Rawls don't yet have offers. I would sincerely hope that Heitzman/Clark would be a TE, especially with Willingham, Jones, Beyer, and Morgan. I also hope we get Barnett. Frankly, with Koger and Moore the only TE left, I'd think 2 of those guys would play TE. Or at least I'd hope...
January 27th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
Clark waiting until signing day sounds like sort of evil plan on Ginn Sr's part. Let's hope Clark goes Blue anyway.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^
Anything to suggest the delay is sinister or might the uncommitted Glenville kids all be doing one press conference? Rivals shows they have 6 uncommitted players with star ratings plus some others...
No other knowledge but I'd lean towards it being a group press conference on signing day as opposed to Ted Ginn Sr. Evil Destroy Michigan Plot.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:47 PM ^
Ginn Sr. likes Hoke a lot more than he liked RR, probably from his days at Ball State