Monday 16 May 2011

Two Quick Updates

Ok firstly, Terry Richardson's announcement will take place this Thursday at 11:45 in the Cass Tech weight room. The finalists for Terry are Michigan, USC, Alabama, Notre Dame and LSU - that's a strong top five, which could make it all the sweeter if Michigan gets him.

I can't say I know for certain where he's going, but I'd be very surprised if he decided to spurn the opportunity to play with all his friends at Michigan. This will be a great pickup for the Wolverines, as at the start of the year I thought it was very unlikely that UM landed the Detroit trio. But here we are, in Mid May with possibly 12 high quality commits by Thursday.


In other news, I believe QB Gunner Kiel has announced a final four of Missouri, Michigan, Oklahoma and Alabama (Source: @DGdestroys - you can follow him on Twitter here). There's also a rumor that he might be visiting Michigan this week, so look out for that if it happens. So it does seem like Michigan has a pretty good shot here, although I'm doubtful that we lead right now.


EDIT: Sorry, I originally put ND in Kiel's final four by accident, whereas it should have been Alabama. Now changed.

57 comments:

  1. To be very clear, would love to get Kiel, but let's be honest, Oklahoma seems to be in the lead here. Bama is 2 deep with AJ Mccaron & Sims. Landry Jones will bolt for the Nfl after this year at OU.

    With Gabbert leaving Mizzou, there is a great opening for Kiel. Mich. has a shot, but don't think we lead. My opionion is OU is the leader with Mizzou / UM both in 2nd.

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  2. I feel like people are failing to look at Oklahoma's recruiting, they land a good QB every other class. Blake Bell was a 5 star QB and redshirted, so he is going to be there 3 years with Kiel if Kiel goes there. I think OU and Alabama have more talent at QB than we will when Kiel gets on campus. I like our chances.

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  3. Hey Benji,hows those studies coming buddy?? lol Good luck hitting the books if TR commits and Gunner visits this weekend!

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  4. @ Brian,you can same the same thing with Michigan if GArdner gets his redshirt. Gunner comes here and he has a 5* qb only one or max 2 years ahead of him.

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  5. I am not sure why kids want to go to OU? I know its a college QB factory but if you want to play in the NFL I would not go there. Bradford is the only one to make it past 1 year.

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  6. Michigan is going more towards a passing style offense with power run game though, and D-Rob and DG were both recruited for the spread offense. I'm not saying they stink, they are both good at what they do, but I'm going to say gunner and morris definitely fit the new offense sceheme much better than DG will. I would think he has to like his chances of beating out DG more than Blake Bell. If he cares about playing right away so much, his best bet may be missouri though. I don't see anyone on there roster that he can't play over.

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  7. Woah, all of the Notre Dame fans in America have been calling Kiel a south bend lock for a while now even though Kelly likes the spread. They're gonna be bummed. Wouldn't it be strange if both Alabama schools had midwest qb's starting for them instead of Jameis Winston from their own backyard? That aside I'd guess it's more of a Oklahoma-Michigan race for Kiel at this point. Playing qb for Mizzou is like playing qb for RR.

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  8. Hey Benji, do you have any word on Stephon Diggs? I know we were in the mix for him a while ago, esp having Countess from his h.s. coming in this fall, but I haven't heard much since. He would be a great wide-out to get with Morris coming in in 2013 and maybe even Kiel this class.

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  9. I was thinking wouldn't have last weekend been the best recruiting weekend EVER with all those former players back!?!?


    thismiclaughs.blogspot.com

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  10. Can everyone help me with this question? I am looking at opions for QB if Kiel commits.
    1 Kiel commits and redshirts. If he does would Morris decommit because he may only start one season?
    2 Kiel does not redshirt. That mines Gardner would be a redshirt soph. and Kiel starts 2 seasons and Morris still decommits because he will only get one season.
    3 Kiel picks another school and we have Bellomy for one season util Morris is ready.
    I hope I covered it let me know what you think? Or am I out of my mind and thinking about this to hard?

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  11. I think they both stay because if Kiel is really good he could come in and take the start from DG. This would allow more playing time later for Morris. Both of these guys are competitors and I don't see competition being a huge problem. I think Missouri leads here because DGB is supposedly looking at them very hard due to his family problems. Gunner knows this and that would be the number one quarterback and number one receiver both on the same team. That would be a huge coup for Missouri.

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  12. Shane Morris is a w.i.p. but his whole family is Blue. He's said that Tom Brady is his idol and tries to model himself after him and when the offer came from Michigan his parents cried. I'm not seeing him bailing on 2A if Kiel commits, or under any circumstances for that matter. We've had plenty of qb races under Coach Carr where qb's started 2 only years.

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  13. Bighouseblog is saying a Richardson press conference tomorrow on Tuesday rather than on Thursday. Anyone know which is correct?

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  14. Terry said on Facebook that it is Thursday. So I got to go with the man himself on this one.

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  15. Hoke told Morris that they are taking a top tier QB in this class. Morris said he is OK with that and would not decommit because of it. Go Blue

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  16. Ron Thompson said he was leaning one way, now he's thinking "otherwise sooooo o well" apparently he's not going blue after all?

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  17. Allen Gant got offered today by UM. So it has gotten, REAL INTERSTING now as to was TR will do. Could see a combo of things go down. TR, Armani Reeves, Wayne Morgan & Gant now in the mix.

    Stay tuned...

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  18. I always liked Allen Gant, maybe because he's a legacy player, but still, he's good enough for an offer.

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  19. T.Rich has to go blue, because all the other schools he listed, he doesn't have to commit to them fast, like he does with MI, He know's MI is loading up, and spots are going by fast, I truly believe he is gonna commit to MI, as for Kiel, I would still take him any day, There are atleast 2 to 3 great qbs at everyschool, It doesn't matter where you go, you still have to compete and be the best, I like our chances with kiel, but Oklahoma looks good because of what bradford is doing, but I'm sure he wants to stick to a pro style offense, so much goes into the prostyle system when it comes draft day. anybody who comes to MI will be able to take a snap from center. Lets go Blue!

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  20. If Morris decommits because Kiel commits then I dont want morris, I don't want a player who is afraid to battle for the QB spot. You want to be the best....then EARN IT!!!

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  21. whats the word on Evan Boehm? he had high interest last i knew? Visit soon?

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  22. I would love to get Kiel because I am not sure D Rob will be the QB in 2013. Then that would give Devin 2 seasons to start if he gets his redshirt. And I am not sure OC Borges likes Devin just a feeling. So in the end Kiel may see early playing time. And where does that leave Bellomy I have a feeling Borges loves him. All this talk may be for nothing if Kiel goes somewhere else but I do think we have a real chnce with him also just a feeling.

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  23. Guys, Morris won't de commit. My brother in law is a senior at his high school and says he is as blue as blue gets. Also, he was informed by Hoke that they wanted to take a QB this year, Kiel commit would not change anything. You think Tom Brady shied away from competition? Nope, and this kid is the next Tom Brady, I'm telling you, he has "it".

    But of course, we want to develop him, taking Kiel and forgoing redshirt for Kiel while redshirting Morris would still put him in line for a good 2-3 seasons of starting play.

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  24. Paul, I think you nailed it. If you can get someone like Kiel, you do it. As you say, if Kiel plays some as a frosh and Morris were to redshirt (increased depth at QB) that gives him 2 years in any event. That is the ideal situation for UM.

    Of course, Kiel could redshirt then start as a junior and leave early for the NFL. There are also injuries and other potential factors. You never know but Morris is a good talent and I believe will find a way to start for UM for at least a year or two and frankly that is all you need for a legit shot at the NFL.

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  25. College football has changed in recent years where players expect to play early and often. It was just in 2004 that a freshman starting at QB for Michigan was a big deal. If Kiel commits or if he doesn't, Morris will still most likely only start 1-2 years depending on the development of Bellomy. Either way, Brady went through a similar situation with a highly touted recruit by the name of Drew Henson. Anything can happen and honestly if Hoke can pull in top QB recruits every year, we will be loaded.

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  26. @Jer89,your right D Rob wont be the QB in 2013,he graduates in 2012 lol

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  27. It does not matter what year he gradutes he won't be the starter.

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  28. D Rob will def graduate playing QB at U of M. He is to good not too! His numbers may be down a couple hundred yards on the ground but he will be a top 10 heisman candidate yet again this year and in 2012

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  29. As long as Denard works hard and shows progress, Brady hoke will start him. Denard is an amazing athlete and would start at pretty much every skill position if he wanted to. Brady Hoke is going to honor the promise RR made to Denard, weather or not he fits the "system". IMO Denard will win a heisman before leaving Michigan. Harmon, Howard, Woodson, Robinson...yeah, that sounds about right...

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  30. Yeah I keep hearing that Shoelace wont start next year and he should move to another postions.People said the same thing last year. Denard will be fine,he will struggle some this as the whole team will. 2012 will be the year you start to see improvement from him and the whole team.

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  31. Jer89, not cool, and not even close. Any other coach would've redshirted D'rob and last year would've been his freshman season. Even still he's the best 20 year old qb in America, by far he'd be the best rs sophomore, he's also the absolute leader in the locker room. The only way he could lose his spot is if he catastrophically fails and a guaranteed Superman is on the roster waiting to take over. I hope you aren't praying for D'rob to crash and burn, bro. Besides, Hoke keeps saying the team belongs to the seniors.

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  32. Lets not forget, Hoke isnt a idiot. He saw how good the offense was last year and isnt gonna make all that dissapear. He is gonna use some of last year and some of the traditional offense too meaning Denard will probably only have 1000 yards on the ground and not 1600! lol but at the Michigan Spring Game we still ran the option and Denard broke a 60 some yard run so I said all that to say there is NO way he doesnt start all 2011 and 2012. DG is gonna be good but he's not D-Rob. We will still run a little QB run plays until Robinson has left campus.

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  33. Look people I know D Rod may be the best athlete on the team but when I watch the end of last, spring practice and in the spring game he looks like Tate Forcier did last year he has a bad case of HAPPY FEET.So until he fixes that there will be doubt in the coaches minds. And he is always hurt. If he finishes this year as a starter I will be amazed.

    Mike I am not praying for him to get hurt. I would not pray for anybody to get hurt not even OSU player because in the end it is still just a game and not life or death.

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  34. How could you ever compare DRob to Tate Forcier? I mean Tate was a tough kid but he was no where close in talen as DRob. And he is always hurt because he carried the ball 30 times a game. He will only get 13-15 carries a game this year. But if he is hurt of course he wont start but it is not gonna be because he isnt able to play qb. He looked fine to me at the Spring Game. If anyone looked bad it was DG who threw a couple bad picks. DRob is still gonna have a lot of one on one coverage because teams are gonna be concerned about his running ability and our running backs in general!

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  35. The only thing I conpared on the the two is the happy feet. D Rob over throws alot on short passes and long passes.

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  36. I miss Benji too. I just meant D'Rob crashing performance-wise. I wouldn't take away anything we saw from the spring game on offense, though. Not only were they doubling up on shortening practice times this spring per probation, but the spring game was also a giant audition for all the secondary players. 5 different backs ran the ball, 9 different kids got reps catching, and all 4 qb's played behind a constantly rotating o-line. The game was more of an audition than an exhibition and D'Rob admits he had a crappy game. In a game with the usual suspects it'll look way different. Plus I'd bet on Mattisons defense in practice being one of the toughest they face this year.

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  37. I want to make myself clear I love D Rob. And I want him to be the best he can be. I just don't like his happy feet because we all know your feet need to be set to throw the ball right.

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  38. Feel the need to print this whole column of posts & send it to D-Rob for his feedback...

    Would be interesting.

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  39. I would love to have his feed back.

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  40. Lol D-rob will definitely start for the next two years, he's the face of the program and one of the most recognizable players in college football. They will play him from the shotgun a LOT more than people think. 2012 is when you'll see more under center plays. Hoke is here to win games, and if that means having denard in the shotgun for 65% of plays, then so be it.

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  41. Benji glad your back and like the feed back keep it coming any other news today? Like Kiel commited today LOL

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  42. No offense but if Hoke benches Drob then HE should be fired. 99.9% of all college teams would love(and some like OSU would pay) to have DRob as their starting QB.

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  43. Bengi I forgot to ask hows the studing going?

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  44. Denard Robinson will start as along as he can learn the offense and can win. I dont care what the hype is if he cant win then he wont be starting. I feel Denard has the ability to do so but its up to him. I hope he keeps the starting job because that means we are winning. He will still have to earn all of his starts. At least he knows his number one problem and its a coachable one. He wants to rush things way to much and he forces things instead of letting them develope. I expect he will be better with that this year.

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  45. Had first exam on tuesday, went ok. Got one in about 7 hrs time

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  46. Ive also become fully nocturnal, which is why i havent been posting much.

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  47. Guy well said.

    Benji good luck on your exam and get some sleep.I am hoping for a busy week in recruiting.

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  48. Terry Richardson cancelled his press confernce for Thrusday. Boooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

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  49. Any correlation between Benjis exams, TRichs postponements, and Tigers rain delays? I think so. We're all waiting on Benji.

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  50. I know t rich is just a kid, but he seems to be enjoying this attention a little too much. He'll probably be one of these kids who commits 3 times to 3 different schools. I think I remember a Miami kicker who did something like that.

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  51. I agree with Richard trich is enjoying the attention to much and you have to wonder if he's caught up with his own celebrity now, how's that going to translate once he commits (regardless of where it is) I see him potentially having disciplinary problems in the future.

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  52. The presser is still on, quit rambling. If he does not go blue, then ramble on & some !

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  53. Terry says that the presser is still on pending his family's ability to attend. If it changes it has nothing to do with his indecision. I still think he's going Blue......and if not, good luck to him and we move on. Still some great prospects out there.

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  54. It's fun to think what the future may hold for Shane and Terry...

    http://michigan.rivals.com/photofeature.asp?SID=883&fid=36745

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  55. Well let's hope it does still happen, I'm anxious to see if UM can have a dozen commits by the end of the week. With all the talk about Gunner Kiel, what happens with Russell Bellomy, I've been watching his film and that kid has skills.

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