Firstly, this backs up what I mentioned yesterday about Michigan killing MSU in recruiting this year. The Spartans can take solace in the fact that they got 3 commits over the weekend, but they know the score really. Brady Hoke is here, and he means business in Midwest recruiting.
Secondly I've made a pretty big change to the Ideal Class page, which you can view again by clicking the link at the top of the page. Terry Richardson replaces Wayne Morgan as the one cornerback taken in the class. I think with RJS, Ross and a load of other Cass Tech guys on the UM roster, it will be very hard for TR to get away from Michigan. I wouldn't be surprised to see his decision date pushed forward either.
This doesn't mean that Michigan won't take Wayne Morgan. In fact I've now put him under the Safety position, in sort of a tie with Allen Gant. I think UM would definitely take Morgan just as a DB if they already had TR on board. Of course Morgan might commit first, we don't know yet. (Morgan can play either position btw).
Lastly, I mentioned this on my Twitter account earlier, I think Michigan roughly has the 8th best class in 2012 recruiting right now, possibly even 6th as I'm undecided on how good LSU and Miami's classes really are. The other schools are Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, FSU, Alabama. This is obviously a great start for Michigan, and it figures to get a lot better over the next few weeks! Go Blue!
Note: Class rankings were mainly based on scout.com ratings and the number of ESPN150 Watch List recruits.
I dont want Richardson ... He is short and slow ...Someone on a different post said we shouldnt take in state guys just because and this is 1 of those guys I dont think we need to take... We need bigger 6'0 6'1 4.4 or faster CB and S's...We have a roster filled with miniature CB's
ReplyDeleteBenji, I have three quetions for you. One do you think Hoke needs to tke a kicker in this class? Two how do things stand in the QB postion in this class? Three anymore commits this week for blue?
ReplyDeleteWe have a incoming Kicker thats good so NO
ReplyDeleteI'd happily take Richardson. For starts I wouldn't call him slow, he just doesn't possess elite straight line speed. However, he can cover and plays smart. Sixteen (16!) interceptions over his last two seasons is very impressive.
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason why 247 sports has Richardson ranked #31 overall, and there's a reason why he has offers from Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU and Michigan.
Size is an issue, but who knows, he might grow :P
Jer, no, they don't need a Kicker. I'm sure Matt Wile from the 2011 class can solve that problem.
ReplyDeleteQB recruiting is still somewhat unclear right now. Michigan has received visits from a load of QBs lately, included the #1 guy Gunner Kiel. But its hard to see where they stand on a lot of prospect's lists.
There might be another commit this week for Michigan, not sure yet.
Richardson is an absolute stud. He is undersized but plays much taller. The QB thing is completely up in the air right now. We are in the conversation for alot of talented QB's right now and we have Shane Morris who is a very real possibility next year. Recruiting is very exciting under the new staff already. Sparty has got to be in awe at the Hoke and Mattison effect already.
ReplyDeleteWow. All these positive comments at this stage of the 2012 UM recruiting class. You go back 4 months ago after RR & staff were let go, boy all that negativity on this blog & other blogs.
ReplyDeleteSome were Hoke haters no matter what , they wanted someone else as the coach. Got to give Hoke & Co. their props. It will eventually show on the football field.
ESPN has 22 players on the top150 watch list considering Michigan. Do you know where we stand with; Yuri Wright, Evan Boehm, Se'Von Pittman, Derrick Wood, Darius Hamilton, Jarrod Wilson, Tony Schutt, Chris Miller, Shane Callahan, Evan Baylis, Aaron Burbridge, Kenny Crawly, Mark Harrell, and I would say Deaysean Rippy BUT we have 4 lb's in the class!
ReplyDeleteWell if I were you I wouldn't take much notice of ESPN's considering page, it's rarely accurate. Out of those guys, Michigan doesn't have a chance with many. It's basically a list of prospects with UM offers, and even then it doesn't show all of them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm missing something... There could be another commit coming this week. Is that the same one who committed elsewhere and is now committing to Michigan or could we have two more commits coming this week? I don't like how Thompson is talking... 'There was a team that was looking good, but now there are others that have come aboard and I'm not sure if I'm ready.'
ReplyDeleteIs any1 worried about these guys decommitting? I know i shouldn't but i feel like a few of them felt the pressure to commit or not have a spot, i know its a long long way to signing day and it will happen to some players but idk i have a weird feeling ...
ReplyDeleteBolden and Ross might have been under a little pressure to commit but in end they did so because they want to guarantee themselves a place in the class, because they know Michigan is best for them.
ReplyDeleteNo I think these guys keep sounding like they are joining a family with Hoke and company not just a team. I think there is little chance of decommitment. Just the way I feel, no guarantees.
ReplyDeleteUnder the the leadership of Coach Carr, Michigan never had many decommitments so I don't see many under Coach Hoke. He and his staff are obviously up front with the recruits, can really relate to them, and I think these first 8 recruits really want to help turn Michigan back into a national power. I do not see many, rather any, decommits in the future! Also, things are looking great for TR! And, Bolden and Stacy have both said they are going to recruit so Ohio players to Michigan, possibly Dunn and Wormley!?
ReplyDeleteYeh I'm sure all the Midwest recruits are starting to notice what's happening in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are coming back!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he committed but I'm a little disappointed too. I kind of expected him to throw his name in and was thinking todays commitment would be more of a "surprise." Very glad, though. Glad we have Hoke again, and glad for this years classy class. I'm actually a little worried this class might be too loaded and in 4 years they'll all graduate. Boy what a problem to have, right? :o)
ReplyDeleteUMFAN- The NFL is full of DB's who're under 6' and under 200 lbs. Not all of them are track stars either. Darelle Revis is 5-11 and 198. Ed Reed is under 6'. Polamalu is 5'10 and has no speed, but great instincts. Bob Sanders is a midget and he has no real speed. I'm bigger than Asante Samuel but he's All Pro. Defenses need a variety of DB's to cover the variety of WRs and RBs they face. Richardson will be a good CB.
ReplyDeleteWay to drop the bomb Michael!
ReplyDeleteBenji, do you think with all of these top linebacker recruits committing to Michigan, do you think we will see a number of our current linebackers ask to transfer over the next couple seasons. I mean you got to assume that RJS, Ross, and Bolden are going to play early with how poor their defense has been in recent years.
ReplyDeleteBenji, When can we see some more OLine men and D end commiting?
ReplyDelete@Arden: I don't think so. I think some of the linebackers from the 2011 class might be asked to try new positions, but I think most will stay. The LB depth isn't great right now, and three seniors will be graduating after this season.
ReplyDeleteLB is also quite a hard position to start at as a freshman. You'd have to be very strong physically to compete at a Big ten level.
@Jer: Well I don't expect another OL commit for a while, but one could commit randomly/spontaneously. As for DL, I think we could have one by the end of spring, and probably 2-3 before the season starts.
I have question for everyone. If OSU fires Tressel who will replace him. I would like to make a suggestion Rich Rod. he would make a great replacement? Tell me what you think. I am afriad to say who it will be (Urban Meyer).
ReplyDeletePolamau Ran a 4.33 at USC pro day
ReplyDeleteRevis ran a 4.38 at his pro day
Ed Reed runs a 4.5
Bob Sanders ran a 4.41
Asante Samuel 4.49
You need to have some speed to make it in the NFL regardless of what you do in college if you are slow the odds are against you of making it to the NFL...Donovan Warren just proved that last year he was a decent- good CB at Michigan ran a 4.6 40 at the combine and dropped and isnt in the league..and a 5'8 CB who runs a reported 4.55-4.7 isnt something that should get a scholarship from Michigan.. Now if he runs a 4.3-4.4 then I may change my opinion
Jer89
ReplyDeleteI can tell you in Columbus not many people are high on Urban Meyer. I don't know if it was the spanking in the NC game or what, but not a popular choice.
If I can understand all the criptic messages, it sounds like there is the silent commit, and another one. The one that has committed elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIs that the general consensus?
UMFAN The last I check Michigan is not in the NFL. So who cares if he runs fast at that level. All we ask is if he can cover a Big Ten team.
ReplyDeleteI would say the top candidate for the OSU job IF Tressel is let go is Urban Meyer. One espn analyst even said when Urban Meyer left Florida that he may end up at OSU in a few years, depending on when Tressel was going to retire. And if RR ends up at OSU I would be shocked. After seeing how poorly he did at Michigan, I doubt many big time schools want to take that kind of a risk with their programs.
ReplyDeleteArden, i was joking about Rich Rod. There is no way they would hire him.
ReplyDeleteJennifer I think 2 NC trumps the pride OSU fans have. And there not two many coach out there to hire on short notice. I would love it to be John Cooper(LOL).
ReplyDeleteIf I get it right the things are like this...
ReplyDelete1 Silent commit, from MI, not a LB, will announce within 2 or 3 weeks...
1 "secret" commit, the guy Barnett is talking about, cryptic messages, seems to be Pike, who knows if this has legs...
2 Players are going to announce next week... Godin (maybe* the silent commit) and Thompson, if he decides that he wants... Am I right??
I have been wondering about a couple of prospects though, any news on Evan Bailys(sp?) the TE from Colorado? he's got offers from USC and some other good teams and was kinda interested in MI, if Thompson has a change of heart or waits too long is this kid a possibility??
What about Chris Wormley?? he's been a Michigan lean for so long that it worries me that he hasn't pulled the trigger, I understand that the Buckeyes really, really want him, Hoke needs to wrap him up, I hope his family is like Ross's family, I enjoyed that kind of attitude...
Jer89
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that is true. Their pride has kept them from letting go of Tre$$, so we'll see how far they'll take it.
UMFan,
ReplyDeleteThe combine the NFL puts on shows many players that run fast, stand tall, and jump high don't make the grade on Sunday.
TR is coveted by many that know more than we what makes a successful college CB.
RioTHaN you summed it all up pretty well.
ReplyDeleteAs for Baylis, I think it might be Thompson or nothing for our TE recruiting now. We already have two good ones in the fold, and taking a third would be a luxury.
With Wormley, I wouldn't say he's been a Michigan lean for that long, before it was more of a dead heat with OSU. However lately I think the Wolverines have gained the advantage.
Tom Brady ran the worst 40 they've ever had and I've seen him run around Urlacher in the open field more than once. If a 16 year old kid who'll put on 30+ pounds isn't as fast as a 6'6" wide receiver it doesn't automatically disqualify him as an unfit candidate. How fast was Polamalu when he was still getting his drivers license? I missed that part.
ReplyDeleteCan any of these commits kick field goals? How is it that we can't land a single decent place kicker?
ReplyDeleteHoly Mother Goose. Here we go on the kicker issue again. Give Wile a chance & then we can talk. Brookh & Gibbons were already there when Hoke got hired.
ReplyDeleteHe will get it figured out.
@ Benji,hey not to change things up or anything but what is the reaction in the UK about Bid Laden? You guys have been our only true allies and was wondering what was the mood in the UK?
ReplyDeleteP.S. To any on here that have served or have family that have(My cousin is in Afghanistan) thank you!
You said it Cesar.
ReplyDeleteAlso, comparing high school kids to PROFESSIONALS is ridiculous.
The reason big time programs have strength & conditioning coaches is to help them develop those players, it takes time. These recruits will grow bigger, get faster, and get much stronger.
So chill out, and enjoy the process...
Let me just point out this. During RR's tenure, we had the commitment of Anthony Fera, a kicker who was ranked in the top 5 for sure, he was ranked as high as # 2 on Rivals/Scout. He decommited & went to Penn State. That is how we got Gibbons.
ReplyDeleteLast year he was just the punter for Penn State. I was at the Penn State/Bama game last year. Kickers struggles happen at other big programs also.
Thanks to all of our troops. My brother in law (Canadian Army) lost two legs and an arm in Afghanistan. Wouldn't it be great if the next generation of these kids never had to face this shit. God bless and cheers to our serving men and women. And yes "Go Blue ".
ReplyDeleteWell Worm the mood is pretty good here in England. I actually found out whilst listening to WTKA radio listening to the James Ross announcement (I woke up and went straight on WTKA.com). Sam Webb kept talking about it, it was quite funny what he was saying actually.
ReplyDeleteI know when I found out I was obviously very happy, at least now there is some justice for those that have been affected by Bin Laden.
One thing I do like about Americans is the appreciation you guys show for your Armed Forces. Even something as simple as having some soldiers on the stage at the NFL draft, its good to see, and something I wish we saw more of in the UK.
man I just checked out a "live chat" over at BGMW,damn I'm glad this site and the people here doesn't just sit around and slam the old staff. They can't make a single point with out some kind of slam against RR. Who cares and get over it!!
ReplyDelete