Two pretty interesting offers have gone out in the last two days, both to prospects from the state of Illinois. Firstly, defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson received his offer yesterday, and today the coaching staff extended an offer to cornerback Anthony Standifer.
I always thought it was only a matter of time until Johnson earned his offer, because after seeing his Army All American combine highlights, I was really impressed. He dominated O-Lineman in the 1vs1 drills, including owning Jordan Diamond on one matchup. However, Diamond was playing through a back injury.
The offer will probably put Michigan in Johnson's top group, and he's already said that he'll be visiting Ann Arbor over the summer, so that's a good sign. Michigan seems to be in on a lot of good Midwest DT's now, competition for places will really heat up after the first one commits.
As for Standifer, well he actually thought he had an offer a few weeks back, but there was some kind of miscommunication. Anyway, UM coaches watched his practice today and decided to give him an offer, and given his somewhat lacking offer list so far, I think Michigan probably leads for him now.
Again, this could really heat up cornerback recruiting, because I don't think Michigan wants to take many in this class. With the way scholarships are right now, I'd say they'd take a maximum of two cornerbacks, and you have at least four guys who are heavily interested: Standifer, Richardson, Armani Reeves and Wayne Morgan.
I know The Ideal Class has already been posted but it seems like the coaches are aiming for more than 18 recruits. I really start to wonder if they won't skip a few positions entirely. If we take 3 O Linemen, 3 TE's, 2 DE's, 2 DT's, and 4 LB's there are only 4 spots left. If Richardson and Wayne Morgan both sign up do we only take 1 RB? If Greg Garmon commits and Brionte Dunn pulls the switch do we not take a WR? If 4 DT's all want to pull do we say "no thank you?" Do we pass on a qb this year altogether with 3 on scholarship? TE's and RB's are the focus of the new offense but OL and DL need the most bodies. Who(which position) don't we take?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Elijah Shumate. Sam Webb stated this morning that Michigan sits very well with the NJ safety.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how they offer a new DB with higher rated DB prospects favoring M still on the board. Same with Jaleel Johnson. This by no means means the ship has sailed on O'Brien, S. Day, O. Pipkins (who in today's Webb column says he likes M and MSU) and a few others, so I'm intrigued as to why the staff is offering more DB and DL's.
Jaleel has great technique to match his size but with thousands of kids out there one can't rate them against each other to save one's life. His star rating will go WAAY up after the Army Combine.
ReplyDeleteMichael the class WILL expand beyond 18, to at the very least 20. I think it'll end up between 21-23
ReplyDeleteDon't take a RB we have a million even after next year. WR we have a million as well. QB not a necessity, 3 is good. But take one next year. DB's aren't needed as well, I'd like to take Terry Richardson only. Somebody tell me why we should take a RB or a WR or a QB
ReplyDeleteBecause we don't have a every down back. None of them to this point have shown they can rush for 1,000. We are not loaded at any one position if you ask me..with the exception of LB or maybe WR...QB not a dier need either..
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ReplyDeleteQuote from Brady Hoke on NSD earlier this year:
ReplyDelete"The one thing about taking running backs, most of the time they're the best athlete on their high school team, that's why they're back there. And if you recruit a RB, somewhere down the road he may not be your #1 back. But they make outstanding safeties or corners or slots or linebackers."
"So we will always take a couple RBs here at Michigan"
Benji-I was hoping so but I almost hope not. Michigan made a name for itself by taking Jewish castoffs the Ivy League wouldn't take in. I feel bad for the kids who were brought in on scholarship and don't have a role to play. I don't want to hope for kids to leave but we've got maybe 8 receivers who'll never get real playing time even after next year, plus maybe another nickel back or 2 who'll struggle just to dress for a game. Sad business picking kids who want to play here over kids already here but won't ever play. Cest la vie I guess.
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ReplyDeleteI don't really understand why everyone says we're in dire need of DEs, UM took Chris Rock, Brennan Beyer, Jibreel Black, Kenny Wilkins and Jordan Paskorz in the last 2 years, I'd take a couple, because they're really good (like Wormley, Washington, Maybe Godin, etc) but not that many. I feel M needs a couple DTs, and of course you want a QB every year, and I feel UM should swing for the fences, it doesn't matter which recruits are looming in 2013, you don't pass on a good QB because you're hoping to get another good one later, I feel that M needs just 1 RB, and just because it might create a hole in 4 years, but it shouldn't be a priority, UM really needs to get a least 2 WRs this class, we didn't take any last year, and the year after that we got Jerald Robinson and Jeremy Jackson, with Miller at TE and Williamson gone we will have a gaping hole after Roundtree and Stokes leave if we don't take at least a couple this year
ReplyDeletethe year before that* correction, I hate that i can't edit it ¬¬
ReplyDeleteChris Rock is a likely candidate to play DT at the next level. He played End in high school, but he's pretty big now, and would be best utilized in the middle.
ReplyDeleteJordan Paskorz is also now a LB, at least on the spring roster he is. So that cuts down the number of solid DE's that we have, especially with RVB leaving after this year. Who knows, maybe Craig Roh breaks out as a junior and bolts to the NFL - it could happen.
I'd say they need at least 2 DEs, and they'll probably take three given the talent level there.
At 290 or so pounds wouldn't Rock be a candidate for RBV's position as strong side defensive end? (btw, it's weird but I couldn't find Rock listed in the roster at mgoblue.com)
ReplyDeleteI had the perception that Paskorz was too stiff to play linebacker (kinda like Roh), that and the uber population of linebackers as of late.
I think UM needs one big time FS and why do you think that there haven't been a lot of talk about WRs except Burbridge (Who might not qualify, i mean even MSU was worried about that, and UM's bar is way higher than that) Benji?? even DJ Foster has been offered as a db, and I think he could be a very good WR
Oh, and I forgot to mention Heitzman
ReplyDeleteWell Rock isn't on campus yet, that's why he's not on the spring roster. I'm not sure Rock is athletic enough to play DE at 290lbs. That's just my opinion, and I heard he didn't have a great senior season.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really heard much about Paskorz, I just knew he was listed as a LB. Maybe he is better off at DE, that's up to the coaching staff to decide once all those LBs get on campus. Heiztman should be a DE, but still, thats not a huge list, and not the most talented list either. If we want to pride ourselves on a tough DL, lets take a gamble and go after 2-3 really top DEs this class, along with 2 DTs.
As for WRs, well it doesn't seem like a good year for WRs in the Midwest apart from a few guys. Maybe they will be looking to grab a WR after they see how some guys do during their senior seasons - i.e go for a sleeper, because it doesn't look like their going to sign a stud WR.