Sam Webb and Steve Wiltfong Crystal Ball 5* CB Will Johnson to Michigan
Throughout the darkness comes a confusing glimmer of light in the BPONE that is Michigan Football. Sam Webb and Steve Wiltfong just crystal ball'd 2022 CB Will Johnson to Michigan.
Johnson is a legacy recruit of 1990-1994 Michigan DB Deon Johnson, and is the highest ranked in-state HS recruit since Lamar Woodley. He may also be a package deal with another 5-star (see link).
I guess things are trending up?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
I mean, he really could start now. (I mean, can he? Please?)
November 17th, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^
Opportunity to project as a program saver is significant.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:16 PM ^
Hopefully the fan base doesn’t screw these opportunities up!
November 17th, 2020 at 4:02 PM ^
The 5* CB at UNC, Tony Grimes, did that this year - he was a Class of 2021 graduate who reclassified to 2020 and enrolled for the fall.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
Can we hire his dad to the coaching staff?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
Real hope is Helton not lasting past this year and Michigan picking up Donte Williams.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^
It would've helped had ASU and Arizona been able to play defense when it mattered most the past two weekends!
November 17th, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
As an Arizona alumni, I can confidently say that the talent disparity between USC and UofA is larger than the disparity between UM and MSU or Indiana. Atleast they usually can grab an occasional 4* recruit. Sumlin has Arizona scrapping the bottom of the west coast barrel for recruits.
Don't pick on Arizona please! Rail away against the Scum Devils!
November 17th, 2020 at 4:40 PM ^
You’re an Arizona alumnus or alumna and your basketball program is dirty. Go Devils.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:56 PM ^
I finally know what it feels like to be an OSU fan! Go Blue! Bear Down!
November 17th, 2020 at 1:13 PM ^
Yeah but usc or Texas will get urban!
November 18th, 2020 at 8:13 AM ^
Well, what was one of those numerous rules instituted solely because of Harbaugh? Was it only that you can't recruit from a high school for 2 years if you hire the coach of that school?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
So, by all means, let's blow up the coaching staff and put the program in turmoil again.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:11 PM ^
You can't be serious. Not sure how it's possible to watch the last 3 years and think everything is ok because we get a 5 star here and there. Maybe a new staff would pull in more of those recruits. Plus, being a legacy guy prob has more to do with it than the coaching staff. You're obviously still in the denial stage.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
Domani Jackson isn't a legacy guy.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:26 PM ^
But Will Johnson is
November 17th, 2020 at 3:08 PM ^
And we've never seen legacy recruits shun their "family" school because of coaching turmoil? It happens quite a bit.
November 17th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^
Isn't this thread about Will Johnson and landing a 5*? I don't think anyone is talking about Domani Jackson coming here.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:25 PM ^
From Jackson's interview post campus visit:
“I’m definitely connecting with Will (Johnson),” Jackson said. “That’s my guy. We will be a package deal wherever we go. Cristian (Dixon) always talks to me about Michigan. Darion (Green-Warren) is a great person to talk to and he keeps it real. A lot of the kids on this visit are all cool and laid back. I think we got a nice bond with this group.”
So yea... Jackson is one of those people talking about coming here. He seems to have bonded with Johnson and has referred th themselves as a package deal a few times.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:36 PM ^
Ahh, ok thanks. My bad.
November 18th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
I don't follow recruiting that closely but I feel like supposed package deals only end up happening like maaaybe 10 percent of the time. Am I wrong?
November 17th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
Yeah let's live in our fear of change, so Michigan goes 7-5 next year. Don't have marginal thinking. Sure, getting this guy on board would be great, he also wouldn't hit the field until 2022. Sticking with a Mediocre coaching staff because of the fear of losing some recruits is a bad game to play.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:46 PM ^
Changing coaching staff wholesale every 4-5 years is normally not conducive to stability and success.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
1. It isn't 4-5 years, it is 6 years. It is perfectly reasonable for a program who wants to be elite to fire a coach who is paid $9 million a year to go 8-5/10-3
2. Being stable and mediocre is not good. Michigan is not a "successful program", Michigan is likely going 2-6/3-5 this year, and has a ceiling of 8-4 next year. These 5* corners are also not coming until 2022, and if you think they will want to stay around a program that is going 6-6/7-5 next year, I don't know what to tell you.
Adapt or die.
November 17th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
1. It isn't 4-5 years, it is 6 years. It is perfectly reasonable for a program who wants to be elite to fire a coach who is paid $9 million a year to go 8-5/10-3
2. Being stable and mediocre is not good. Michigan is not a "successful program", Michigan is likely going 2-6/3-5 this year, and has a ceiling of 8-4 next year. These 5* corners are also not coming until 2022, and if you think they will want to stay around a program that is going 6-6/7-5 next year, I don't know what to tell you.
Adapt or die.
November 17th, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^
Seems like everyone post Jim Harbaugh salary increases.. lol
November 17th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
Keep Harbaugh, fire Brown and everyone on the defensive side
November 17th, 2020 at 2:04 PM ^
If a new coach can't get recruits like this, UM shouldn't hire said new coach.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:23 PM ^
One should never delay making a coaching change based on the whims of an 18ish year old. In basketball that could possibly make a difference, not so in football.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
Great, can they both enroll today and start on Saturday?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
The only positive can be that all these recruits would start as true freshmen
November 17th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
I really don’t understand football recruiting. How can this staff convince top flight players to come given what we are seeing on the field?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
Some recruits place a high priority on playing early. This particular recruit (and hopefully Jackson as well) saw the product on the field and said, "I will start as a true freshman."
November 17th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Uh, maybe our recent history of sending CB's to the league? Maybe. Y'all have the memory of squirrels.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Yeah, everyone is getting snaps on Sundays. Metellus recovered a fumble on MNF.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^
Why would a recruit think this staff is going to be here in 2022?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
The Big House is going to be there in 2022. The helmets, the academics, the history, the band, the Victors, the chance to play early, the alumni network are all going to be there, and quite possibly, that will all be complemented by a better coaching staff.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^
The recruits largely don't give a shit about it. The only thing they give a shit is their relationship with the coaching staff and can they get them to the NFL Everything else are low on their list.
November 18th, 2020 at 8:15 AM ^
You'd probably see more transfers when coaches are fired if that's the case. Plus, if we get a new coach, they should definitely be capable of hiring good assistants who can get guys to the NFL.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
"Sending recruits to the pros" is kind of BS. We have sent several high 4* players to the NFL. Good job!!! We have also had quite a few players underachieve and become studs in the NFL and had very highly rated players wash out. Coaching for 3 or 4 yrs is college only makes a small difference if a player is drafted.
.
November 17th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
Who underachieved at Michigan, and became a stud in the pro's. Don't say Brady, because your argument is current.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:43 PM ^
It is a Covid year and recruits know the down year won't last. Plus, he was brain-washed from youth. My father did the same thing to me. Once you bleed Blue, you are hooked.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^
Sometimes a team just has a bad year. I don't particularly think this year is representative of much based on opt outs, no early season game to break in young players, loads of injuries to best players, and just general COVID weirdness. It would be foolish to fire harbaugh after this season given how much he has won. One bad season does not make a coach. Look at Gary Patterson at TCU. Guy has won a LOT there but occasionally has a bad year for various factors. Recruits that are coming in also get to see far more of the program than we do as fans.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Exactly, I thought stuff like this only happened in the SEC.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
The dreaded double post.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
People double post in all conferences
November 17th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
Awesome - so grateful for JJ McCarthy’s influential leadership. Johnson and Jackson would give us the ultimate JJ on defense and offense. Maybe James Joseph Harbaugh will revive the legendary winner he was at Stanford and the 49ers - and all the JJs can dominate together.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Yes, it is not all doom and gloom out there. I like positive thinking, for a change.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
This is fantastic news, and there is no other way of framing it. Love it!!
November 17th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
But let's fire Harbaugh mid season and trash on the team.