UCLA Rivals podcast info on mutual recruits
I'm a lifelong UCLA fan(but a Michigan MBA grad, so Michigan takes priority) and have also been driving long distances for work lately. As a result, I have been listening to the UCLA Scout and Rivals sites weekly podcast to help pass the time. Today's Rivals podcast had a lot of interesting information on some mutual targets that I thought I would relay here(podcast is free so I'm not revealing any paywalled stuff link: https://ucla.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1723625 ):
Chris Clark - Apparently had great visit to UCLA and loved the area, parents came down and liked it as well. Reporters felt that most of the pressure to go to Michigan was coming from Clark's parents and the OV went along way to removing that roadblock for UCLA. We'll see what happens, but I'm thinking UCLA is probably going to win out here.
Ty Wheatley Jr. - Wants to play Tight End first and UCLA recruiting him as a Defensive End only. USC is coming on strong telling him he can play Tight End and he is being recruited by USC's Tight End coach(Marques Tuiasosopo) who was on the Raiders the same time Ty Wheatley Sr. was, so there's a long-standing relationship there. All of this makes a lot of sense and I think USC wins this race(which is just awful).
Roquan Smith - The analysts seemed to think that if he was going to commit to Georgia, he would have done it already. They think he's looking for a reason to go elsewhere. While UCLA is getting him to visit this weekend, there is that relationship with Durkin to consider and I think really helps Michigan out.
In Summary, I think of the three mutual targets I think Michigan's best shot is with Roquan Smith. Also, it would be nice for Michigan to start winning again, so other analysts would take the Michigan threat more seriously. It's also really funny to hear Californians talk about the cold as if it's some strange terrible threat they can't imagine exposing themselves to. Frankly, it makes them sound like wimps and I sometimes wonder if the weather argument made in recruiting comes across like that.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:02 PM ^
I don't get the weather angle either. These recruits know that they don't play in the Big House in December, January, or February...right? Mid November is definitely tolerable. Yes, the cold absolutely blows, but a lot of recruits from Florida and Texas have played and had success in the BIG and have enjoyed their time at schools such as Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, etc.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:02 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
You are absolutely right, whether it is Foxboro, Lambeau or in Pittsburgh, BUT nice weather makes everything look better to an 18 year old...
January 26th, 2015 at 11:35 PM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 6:38 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 1:51 AM ^
It does suck having to recruit against UCLA in January. For a 17 year old from Conneticut in winter, it's like seeing the Emerald City at the end of the road.
January 27th, 2015 at 1:52 AM ^
I would paint that stat on the wall of the locker room when recruits come to visit.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:02 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^
Point taken...which is worse though...Ann Arbor in the winter or Baton Rouge, Gainesville, or Bama in the dead of summer?
January 26th, 2015 at 11:15 PM ^
Well every other place at any time of the year is worse than Ann Arbor at any time of the year, so...
January 26th, 2015 at 11:16 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:59 PM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^
Completely agree.I went to my cousin's graduation a couple years ago at San Diego St. Holy Shit were there some insanely hot women at that school. I KNOW I chose the wrong school.
January 27th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
There are so many fans at this website who:
- Have been a fan since childhood.
- Have family who have gone to Michigan.
- Live within 2 - 3 hours of Ann Arbor.
- Could stretch to afford Michigan (but couldn't afford to go to Northwestern, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Harvard, Cornell, Yale, ND, Texas, etc.)
In the US News and World Report College rankings, the following schools are ranked higher than Michigan:
- Stanford (#4)
- Duke (#8)
- Northwestern (#13)
- ND (#16)
- UCal - Berkeley (#20)
- UCLA (#23)
- UVa (#24)
- USC (#25)
- Wake Forest (#27)
In the above list, there are 4 schools bolded who might possibly have a good football team. Of those four, three are in California. And two in Southern Cal.
If you are willing to leave home, want a good school academically, a good school in terms of football, and good weather, you'd be an absolute fool not to consider UCLA, USC, and Stanford.
Now, the pull of home is an important thing. Just ask Ty Isaac. This is part of why it is so critical for Michigan to recruit well in our footprint. If you look at a map, you can easily see the areas within a 4 hour drive. Chicago, Pittsburg, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, all of Michigan are in that area. For a recruit further away than that, you are getting far for mom and dad to get to your games.
You really have to look at the four factors:
- Football success
- Academic programs
- Distance from home
- Amenities (weather, beauty, culture, etc.)
Right now, Michigan can sell on academic programs, and on the POSSIBILITY and past history of football success. If we're trying to gain a recruit from out of our footprint, far from home, why wouldn't you rank schools in terms of football, academics, and amenities?
January 27th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
Are almost entirely subjective.
This from the mouths of those that perform the analysis.
For example, cost of education for in-state residents of CA DRASTICALLY colors the results of the ROI calculation. This has the effect of overrating all public California institutions.
I could go on, but many of you went to Michigan so I'm sure you see the point.
In short: university undergraduate rankings are an incredibly flawed, and broken thing.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:29 PM ^
WD can help him select some multiple layers of warm Michigan apparel to stay warm in during the winter. Summers in the south, well you can only take off so many clothes to keep cool before it becomes indecent exposure and against the law. So Ann Arbor is clearly an easy choice.
January 27th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 1:05 AM ^
Recruits actually have to do more than just play games. I mean, sure, some of them came to play football and not play school. Some do come to play school. But either way, you have to live in the place you play football/school. Ann Arbor and Michigan are great but tomorrow's forecast:
January 26th, 2015 at 11:01 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2015 at 11:05 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:12 PM ^
I see him getting one of those 3. I feel like he'll really push hard for Wheatley JR if Clark goes to UCLA. Either way, I believe we'll have a 4 star TE at the end of the class. I still feel like Smith will go to Georgia but there's the Durkin factor so you never know.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:12 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 27th, 2015 at 2:50 AM ^
Either app is glitching or thadmatta edited his post and the edit didn't show on the app.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:13 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:18 PM ^
Wheatley is 92 percent Michigan on the crystal ball so there's that.
January 27th, 2015 at 6:22 AM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:18 PM ^
I'm not sure I want Clark anyways. Guy seems like a loafer. He'd rather play for a "chill" coach in the warm weather than tough it out in the cold with a high intensity coach that will push him to be the best he can be.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:23 PM ^
Each their own.
January 27th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
UCLA has a fine program and great academics, but I think that if Clark chooses UCLA then football and academics won't be the biggest factorrs in that decision. Just how I see it.
January 27th, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^
that he might be the sort of guy that turns into locker room cancer if things don't go exactly his way.
I say pass. We've spent enough time, money, and energy stroking his ego.
January 26th, 2015 at 11:30 PM ^
His recruiting is a theatrical drama that goes from UNC to Michigan... Threatening to decommit if Hoke leaves (and does)... Then going live on NSD on his commitment...
I understand he is a HS kid and making a major life decision BUT the level of drama with Chris has been one that I can't recollect having in recent Michigan recruiting years (the closest I could think of is Pryor with RR)...
Wish he commits to Michigan but I think I am looking forward to 2016 more and more with each passing weeks... The whole recruiting with JH has been drama with prospects (not JH but people excited with offer and then saying no basically... Understandable but sometimes... I just want to say make up your mind already.. Samuel and McMillon being two examples)..
January 27th, 2015 at 12:50 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^
successful coach that had that laid back approach was Pete Carroll. It's tough to compete with that. Got to figure that the late start really handicaps recruiting efforts and its tough to compete with the glamour capital for excitement.
January 27th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 26th, 2015 at 11:44 PM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
Not saying your perspective as a Trojan fan is biased, but SoCal sports radio is as full of Trojan honks as Detroit's is full of Sparty slappies, can't imagine why I'd be skeptical about what LA sports radio has to say............
January 26th, 2015 at 11:34 PM ^
January 26th, 2015 at 11:42 PM ^
If you still want to believe Clark is coming and you also have a twitter, I suggest you avoid looking at Clark's tweets. Hes SoCal bound
Wheatley Sr and the whole coaching staff really need to get after Jr. Enough of this blaze your own path sh*t. We are gonna need him no matter what his last name is
January 27th, 2015 at 12:14 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 12:17 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 27th, 2015 at 10:19 AM ^
I agree about Clark ending up at UCLA. His situation seems very similar to when Butch McRae and Neon Boudeaux went on their campus visit to Western University and fell in love with the Cali "lifestyle".
January 27th, 2015 at 12:25 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 1:54 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 5:33 AM ^
January 27th, 2015 at 12:44 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
January 27th, 2015 at 1:48 AM ^
UCLA is not that into football. I've been in Westwood on fall Saturday's and it's not electric like Ann Arbor. They only get 70-80k at the games. Yeah, the weather is great but it's the same as any southern school without snow pretty much. If he actually walked around campus and then drove an hour to the Rose Bowl on a game day and compared that to walking around Ann Arbor and walking to the Big House he would realize the difference. It looks like he (Clark) might get fooled.