Updated Top-20 Michigan recruits in modern rankings era
I'm about done with my SuperGuide post-NSD chaos updates after 6 hours of editing and inputting data on our 29 (+1 this weekend) new friends.
I shared with the board two years ago our Top-20 rated recruits in the modern rankings era since 2002, so I figure I would post an updated one since things have changed quite a bit since.
Back in that thread, Peppers was our highest rated guy ever.
Top-20:
Class | Player | Pos. | Rank | Caliber | Rating |
2016 | Rashan Gary | DT | #1 | 5 star | 1.0000 |
2014 | Jabrill Peppers | ATH | #3 | 5 star | 0.9992 |
2007 | Ryan Mallett | QB | #5 | 5 star | 0.9976 |
2003 | LaMarr Woodley | LB | #4 | 5 star | 0.9972 |
2003 | Prescott Burgess | S | #5 | 5 star | 0.9970 |
2006 | Brandon Graham | LB | #14 | 5 star | 0.9924 |
2004 | Chad Henne | QB | #18 | 5 star | 0.9924 |
2017 | Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | #12 | 5 star | 0.9922 |
2005 | Kevin Grady | RB | #21 | 5 star | 0.9914 |
2017 | Aubrey Solomon | DT | #25 | 5 star | 0.9869 |
2013 | Derrick Green | RB | #27 | 5 star | 0.9867 |
2005 | Marues Slocum | OG | #34 | 5 star | 0.9853 |
2002 | Gabe Watson | DT | #36 | 5 star | 0.9839 |
2007 | Donovan Warren | CB | #27 | 4 star | 0.9826 |
2004 | Tim Jamison | DE | #42 | 4 star | 0.9799 |
2016 | Ben Bredeson | OT | #39 | 4 star | 0.9790 |
2005 | Mario Manningham | WR | #51 | 4 star | 0.9785 |
2017 | Cesar Ruiz | C | #44 | 4 star | 0.9781 |
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2005 | Antonio Bass | WR | #56 | 4 star | 0.9767 |
- DPJ is our highest rated WR ever
- DPJ had an elite offer list and could've went anywhere he wanted, unlike other skill position players on this list.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:01 AM ^
... but i don't get your second bullet. Pretty sure most of the people on that list could have gone to almost any school.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:16 AM ^
Yeah. I mean that Jabrill Peppers guy was a real diamond in the rough. Good thing Michigan offered otherwise he would've been stuck in the MAC.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:28 AM ^
The unraveling of circumstances that unfoled, affecting both the No.1 ranked player and Jabrill, ranked No. 2 included an injury, obviously, in J.P' s first season, earning a RS, but his play was so "next level" as we all witnessed, starting basically with the first game he played. I thought, when he bear hugged that QB, picked him up and tossed him aside as if the 230 lber weighed nothing, that before he wa done, we were going to see some major injuries just by the intensity with which he unloaded. And I absolutely loved when the announcers would laugh at opposing teams attempting to throw a screen, "this guy is just unblockable," a truer statement never made.
However, he came in with Leanord, of course, recognized then, and still now, as the generational player he was. Not since Herschel, in my opinion, have I seen a college RB capable of simply using that combination of speed and power to absolutely destroy those poor dbs or lbers, one on one with him in the open field and no place to hide. As wel all know, he simply ran over them in just another display of the amount of unnatural ability contained in one body. And the "generational talent" was a fitting label. If not for Alabama, as wel all know, he probably would have picked up one of those Heisman's, maybe two.
During that same period, however, we watched who, second to Sir Charles, in most opinions, was the second greatest defender most of us have watched since we've been following the wolverines. He probably - no he did - impacted the game in so many different ways and at different positions that we might never see a close copy. I think - and odd considering Harbaugh's imagination - that he was not somehow featured in the offense as more than most a wolverine qb package that was merely a sweep in one of two directions.
I really don't know by how much they were separated, but with Rashan getting a perfect score, I imagine the same is true of Leonard. I don't think we will debate at all that Woodson, likewise, was a generation talent, a combination of his overall greatness and certain plays like the MSU pick that displayed talent that surprised even himself. Jabrill, for two years, gave our offense such great field position either through great returns or, in his inimitable manner, would make a fair catch that required perfect timing and about a 15 yard dash at full speed, after signaling the fair catch and somehow make the grab.
I'm asking fellow wolverine fans, and it's probably not as easy given that we signed Gary two years later, does Jabrill deserve that same classification as Leonard? Obviously, there were players that played one of his many positions better throughout the season, but damn, he was more than good no matter where he played. What say you?
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
What....the fuck did I just try and read?
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^
A. I'm aligned with "I Like Burgers" on this one
B. Are you on a first name basis with Fournette?
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^
99% of your posts contain reasoned, well articulated thoughts, and often poignant insights.
Unfortunately, 100% of your posts hide these elements inside 5-78 paragraphs of verbal diarrhea.
Edit yo self!
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^
Bro, it's not even a full moon.
February 3rd, 2017 at 6:19 AM ^
But could they have went anywhere
February 3rd, 2017 at 7:47 AM ^
WalMart.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
Question mark.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
What he's trying to say is, they could of went anywhere.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:04 AM ^
Its late and I'm tired, but 2017 only year with 3 players in top 20? Ever evolving top 20, but still.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:09 AM ^
That's not entirely true...
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:19 AM ^
2005 as well.
Now that I'm looking at it... Holy hell did Lloyd Carr waste a shit ton of talent with his dinosaur antics. 2003-2006 recruiting was loaded with top 20 talent.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:38 AM ^
2003 - Last Outright Big Ten title, I would take 10-3 win with over every rival and a Big Ten title over having the #1 defense and finishing 4 in the Big Ten like in 2016
2004 - Big Ten title, loss to Ohio State was bad, had a chance to wipe out the ugly 2001 and 2002 losses
2005 -close losses throughout the year, botched lead against Ohio State
2006 -playing for Big Ten title on final day
2007- (yes it was a debacle, senior 5* QB should be destroying a D2 team), but again Big Ten title final day
2008-2010 - baffling to say the least
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:46 AM ^
This reads like Stockholm Syndrome.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
Yeah, except our ceiling was 2 losses while OSU was playing for national titles. That is wasted talent.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:09 AM ^
I think it's a little harsh to say Carr "wasted a shit ton of talent" I mean yeah, there were some frustrating losses.. But still 2003-2006 produced 3 rose bowl appearances, 2 Big10 titles, and we were 1 win away from playing for a national title in 06.
February 3rd, 2017 at 7:48 AM ^
from first.
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
2005:
Bass = devastating injury before he had a chance to really contribute
Grady = Had a few moments, but mostly a bust with off the field issues
Slocum = Gone after 7 games with off the field issues
Manningham = great career
1/4
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:21 AM ^
I remember Kevin Grady - yeesh......and poor Derrick Green too... why does it seem like we have a way high rate of whiffing on RBs?
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:35 AM ^
Wasn't Will Campbell a 5 star?
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:31 AM ^
He was 35th overall on Scout and 26th overall on Rivals...http://mgoblog.com/content/2009-recruiting-will-campbell
I can see why Jordan Anthony (5 star and #26 overall on Rivals https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/1960) wouldnt be included since Rivals was the only one that ranked him that high... Big miss not including Big Will
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:00 AM ^
I'm sure WD uses the 247 Composite, so as to not favor one recruiting site over another (which will cause endless debates). And also because his ranking number used is the same used by 247. Big Will was the #96 player in his class. Had a grade of .9525
So he wasnt a miss by WD, he's just not ranked highly enough to appear on the top 20.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:49 AM ^
He might have been among the highest ranked. Can't recall. What I most remember about Big Will is watching his h.s. tape and seeing nothing that indicated he was among the top players in the nation. He merely stood up at the snap and plowing straight ahead, the defenders did the wise thing and got out of the way of this behemoth. I had an argument with Helmholdt from rivals, at the time of his recruitment, it which I stated these views. I had hopes but based on the tape, saw nothing indicating other than massive strength that allowed him to get away from anything close to even acceptable technique.
Now with all the problems RR and staff had, unlike Hoke, even though they recruited him, was their stated opinion, basically echoing mine. Said the young man was among the most powerful players they had even seen at that age, but needed so much work, they could not make a predicition as to when or if he would become a dominant player. I thought they were exaggeratig when they said, "for every snap he has taken and executed in an incorrect manner, it will take 1,000 snaps to correct it, "such was the level that it had been ingrained.
And we saw what unfolded, three years of switching back and forth from O to D, and all hoping the light would come on soon. i do remember what could have been his collegiate highlight. I think it was a fourth and short for the opposition. Big Will shot off the line at the snap, and keeping his pad level low and in perfect form, simply overpowered two members of the offensive line and met the ball carriet two to three yards deep in the backfield and, of course, ended their chances. It was such an example of "Oh what could have been."
I'm not trying to paint him in a bad light, just stating the obvious, as borned out by his play in AA. However, up until that point, and still true to a large extent, Cass Tech was known as a db backfield factory for collegiate programs, mostly Michigan. After Bill Wlll graduated, and I'm not certain of the year, but MLK became the first Public School Team to win a state championship. Soon CT and MLK were routinely battling it out for recognition as the state's top team. After inquirining as to the reason for the dramatic change, I was informed by east siders that Wilcher had hired a significant number of assistants, in the form of position coaches and the improvement was evident. Have to believe if he had played under like circumstances and grasped the correct techniques as second nature, he would have probably been among the greats.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
Wolfman, the Texas Tower Sniper had astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer, that drives some patients to extensive, uncontrollable writings. You should see a doctor.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:19 AM ^
No Sam McDuffie?! /s
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:37 AM ^
just below Nick Sheridan
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
Probably a more successful college career than the two backs listed on here unfortunately..
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:39 AM ^
I just learned Donovan Peoples-Jones was the fastest player in the entire 2017 class with a 4.4 40 yard dash. And it wasnt hand timed it was legit
This kid is going to be a monster. Speight wont even be able to overthrow that speed
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:46 AM ^
Yep between DPJ's speed and Nico "Tacopants" Collins' height at 6'5" Speight should be in good shape.
February 3rd, 2017 at 6:48 AM ^
"Nicopants"?
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
Addicted to Nicotine.
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:57 AM ^
Just taking a quick look, since 2002, we have had 13 5 stars. This year alone OSU pulled 5.
In one year, that is nearly 40% of what we pulled in 15 years.
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^
You wait over a year for your first post and this is what you post?
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:59 AM ^
Justin Boren is pig vomit.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
+1 underrated
February 3rd, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
So he just cut and pasted this link? Tsk tsk.
He should acknowledge his source, IMO.
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:13 AM ^
I did not. It came from the SuperGuide document that I've had since 2013 on this. I also have all-time rankings by position and state in one document, something 247 doesn't have.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^
Looking through that list, 26 of the top 100 players Michigan has recruited since 2001 will be on the 2017 roster.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:49 AM ^
if you wipe the names/dates away. that's okay, though. we're coming. 2017 will be a good season. 2018 will be payday.
good job WD.
February 3rd, 2017 at 6:57 AM ^
I realize that your first bullet really means "DPJ is our highest ranked WR since 2002" based on your data. But Terrell in 2001 was probably higher than DPJ.
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:21 AM ^
Wasn't he like a 1998 recruit? He went pro after the 2000 season.
February 3rd, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^
It's pretty amazing that the top two recruits we've ever had in the modern era played on the same high school team, not to mention Drew Singleton. I think it's safe to say Coach Partridge was a good hire!
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^
They are both from PC but didn't play together. RG transferred there in 2014.
February 3rd, 2017 at 7:58 AM ^
Great list, but one minor quibble. You misspelled Marques Slocum's name, leaving out the "Q".
Here's a mnemonic device to help you remember - "Marques Slocum's given name has a hard "Q", as in "fuQue Lion".
February 3rd, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
Antonio Bass....oh what could have been
February 3rd, 2017 at 8:56 AM ^
So of these highly rated (247 composite I'm assuming) recruits, who do you think were misses? Most were very good or better college players, but in my opinion these guys weren't close to reaching their expectations:
2007 | Ryan Mallett | QB | #5 | 5 star | 0.9976 | Didn't do much at UM, very good at ARK |
2005 | Kevin Grady | RB | #21 | 5 star | 0.9914 | Contributor, had injury issues, legal issues, and sent to back burner when RR's spread came to town. |
2013 | Derrick Green | RB | #27 | 5 star | 0.9867 | Ughhh. Over-rated. |
2005 | Marques Slocum | OG | #34 | 5 star | 0.9853 | Couldn't stay eligible, non contributor |
2005 | Antonio Bass | WR | #56 | 4 star | 0.9767 | Injured, only played as freshman but looked promising |
4 "misses" out of 20, plus Mallet who transferred. Bass looked very promising as a frosh but had a career ending injury. 16/20 = 80%, even accounting for injuries. Among highly rated guys, ratings definitely do tend to matter. If 80% of our recruits, top to bottom, lived up to their ratings we'd be in excellent shape.
February 3rd, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
4 Misses? I didn't realize Derrick Green, Kevin Grady and Tim Jamison had become such legends around here. What is your criteria for grading a "miss"?