OLB Target Micah Pollard announcing tomorrow
3 recent crystal balls from Webb, Lorenz, and Marich all have him going to Michigan. Over at Rivals, Holland and an Auburn insider have also flipped him from Auburn to Michigan. So buckle up
Whoo! Go Blue!
Not to thread jack but I didn't see it posted anywhere: Perkins-McAllister and Adedire both committed to the horned frogs this weekend. As the crootin turns/days of our croots lives.
Apparently Perkins-McCallister May reclassify as a 2021 for TCU?
It seemed to be stated that was the reason he was going TCU and if he couldn't reclassify Michigan would have been the choice but I don't know how accurate that is.
With a name like Perkins-McCallister he should reclassify as an accounting firm.
Recruiting*
Lootin and crootin, baby
Michigan looks good for:
Pollard - OLB
Deone Walker - NT
Ja’Kobi Albert - ATH(Secondary)
Deuce Spurlock - ATH(Secondary/WR)
Dillon Tatum - ATH(RB/S)
Dillon Bell - RB/WR
Michigan is currently at 15 commits. This would put them at 21. They have room for around 25 most likely. They still need at least 2 more offensive lineman. So that would leave 2 spots.
Walter Nolen - DT (There is a chance)
Keon Sabb - Safety (Waiting to see how Michigan’s season plays out)
Sebastian Cheeks - LB (Notre Dame/Michigan)
Jahlil Florence - Secondary (Michigan)
Joshua Josephs - LB (Tennessee)
Jeremy Patton - ATH (Texas)
Michigan probably gets 1-3 of these guys listed just above. I listed where I think they’ll go. They could probably fit all 3 that are most likely and if somehow they could get 4 of them they’ll make room. Not sure about offensive lineman. Like I said probably 2 more commits there but I don’t know who they would be.
I put Tatum at under 10% from reading the tea leaves. If he was coming, this would be over. Feels like he is taking himself a little too seriously. Agree with other likely ones. Might even put Jacob’s up there based on latest wtka insider cast.
I think Jim needs to step in based on Tatum's comments in the recent interview above.
He seemed more excited when talking about being a lifelong MSU fan. Odd that Tucker talks to him a lot and Harbaugh not so much. I think he'd already be a Spartan if Bellamy wasn't at Michigan. It's probably a heart (MSU) vs head (U-M) struggle.
Actually, Jim needs to rush in.
Any more OL besides the Seattle guys? (Nabou and Conerly)
No one else right now. The board will probably expand with the upcoming senior season and new names popping up.
I'm curious how often a high 3-star/low 4-star turns into a Jake Ryan, Devin Bush, or Josh Uche who were highly productive players as opposed to a Devin Gill or Kaleb Ringer who never contribute very much. I mean I can think of quite a few top 250 LBs who still never quite lived up, never mind lower ranked guys who overachieved. Bolden, RJS, Ross, Anthony, Singleton, Solomon, etc. I'm all for the 'trust the coaches', but we have an awful lot of guys in of similar recruiting profiles who are not anywhere near top 200 recruits in this cycle. Out of our 15 commits only two are in the top 200 and 8 are not even in the top 500. This makes me a bit nervous. UM has never been a developmental program.
I think in this cycle you have to take those rankings with a grain of salt. There's going to be massive fluctuations in rankings because scouts haven't had a chance to see many of these players play in person.
As for developing players, it's hard to say whether UM is a developmental program or not since half the coaches have been replaced. If you take their histories, Clinkscale, Hart, and Macdonald all have histories of developing players, and Bellamy did a great job with his players in high school. Hopefully they can keep that up at Michigan as well. Even Jay Harbaugh has proven that he's pretty good at elevating his TEs and RBs when he coached them. However, Helow, Moore, Weiss, and Nua are question marks at their respective positions.
well said. 2 star or 5 star, the staff must develop the player to maximize his talent on Saturday’s. ‘A rising tide raises all ships’.
This is pretty much what I was going to say. I’m ok with numerous 3 stars and low 4 stars this year. I’m hoping they are criminally under ranked. I’m really hoping that Harbaugh has that edge back again and is bringing in kids with that same chip and edge to them. We need the staff to identify the kids that were not scouted properly but are really talented and bring them in here with that prove everyone wrong mentality. Obviously if you want to throw Nolen in the pile too I won’t complain any. Nua is the one who I feel is lowering the bar here both recruiting and developmentally.
This is pretty much what I was going to say. I’m ok with numerous 3 stars and low 4 stars this year. I’m hoping they are criminally under ranked. I’m really hoping that Harbaugh has that edge back again and is bringing in kids with that same chip and edge to them.
So if JH et. al is around in 2022 and we have another class outside the top 10 then what I'm saying is valid and it's not just a blip?
We need the staff to identify the kids that were not scouted properly but are really talented and bring them in here with that prove everyone wrong mentality.
Why are we accepting that UM is not a great recruiting destination? There is no reason for UM to ever have consecutive recruiting classes outside the top 10 unless it's a numbers issue. Carr never did. Carr routinely had classes in the top 6. He had a #1 class. He had a #3 class. And, he had several #5-#8 classes despite lots of 7, 8, and 9 win seasons. Yet we act like an 8 win season is a death sentence. We should never have an average per recruit ranking under 90. UM has all the resources in the world, particularly with NIL. Lots of people and businesses with money would happily support these players and this program, yet we aren't doing squat with NIL. I just don't think JH and his staff take full advantage of UM's name and all the resources they have. FSU is out recruiting UM!
I think in this cycle you have to take those rankings with a grain of salt. There's going to be massive fluctuations in rankings because scouts haven't had a chance to see many of these players play in person.
I hope you're right. All things being equal I'd prefer to have more guys in the top 200. I don't see OSU taking a bunch of 3 stars. They've already got four 5-stars and eleven 4-stars. I doubt those guys are going to take massive rankings dips. See my point? Sure, there's more variance this year, but not so much that it would turn what is not an average JH class into a top 5-8 class, which is likely needed. No one is expecting a top 3 class, but with UM's resources there's no reason to e consistently be outside the top 8 IMO.
As for developing players, it's hard to say whether UM is a developmental program or not since half the coaches have been replaced.
While true, you're saying what our development could be with new staff members. I'm saying what it's been under JH's tenure. Maybe new staff will change things and maybe they won't.
If you take their histories, Clinkscale, Hart, and Macdonald all have histories of developing players, and Bellamy did a great job with his players in high school. Hopefully they can keep that up at Michigan as well
But, if you look at JH's track record at UM you see a history of guys transferring out. I personally think the lack of development and retention is a systematic problem that comes from the top. I think it has more to do with how JH handles players than it does actual skill development or lack thereof. It's a player personnel problem IMO not a coaching technique problem. JH is too busy playing favorites or letting Nico pick the QB to keep guys around. I have no idea if any of this is true and it doesn't really matter. But, it highlights the fact that JH doesn't know how to manage players in today's game.
Hey now, you dropped a good one in there. Please elaborate on ‘Nico picking the QB’?
also, Michigan does not have a recruiting problem. They are consistently among the top 15 and usually closer to the top 10. The recruiting problem is that fans think Michigan should finish in the top 2 every recruiting cycle. Be completely honest, if you had a son that was a skill position player that could pick any school, where would you slot Michigan?? I’m guessing it would be about 10-15. Assuming you can separate being a fan from what the reality of NFL draft picks. Michigan hasn’t produced many elite WR, RB, QB, TE in the past 15-20 years.
so yeah, OSU, Bama, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Clemson, ND, USC Should all be ranked above Michigan (at least the first 7 listed).
Hey now, you dropped a good one in there. Please elaborate on ‘Nico picking the QB’?
That's a rumor that was floated around the blog last week. The theory is Nico wanted Milton to be the QB and that's what lead to McCaffrey leaving. I don't know if it's accurate or not. But, this isn't the first time we've heard about JH playing favorites.
also, Michigan does not have a recruiting problem.
I think there are bigger problems and I also think UM recruits well enough to win more games than they do. But, they also don't recruit as well as they did under Carr. Carr's average class was #8.7, he signed twelve 5-stars, and he had four top 5 classes including the #1 overall class in 1999 (247 only goes back to 1999, but didn't track individual player rankings so he probably had even more 5-stars in that as I'm sure there were at least a few in 1999 that didn't get calculated). JH averages the #11.6 class. He signed half the amount of 5-star players in one less year (6). So, while I don't think that's a massive gap, there is a gap there. I'd guess JH's biggest problem is he can't recruit OH whereas Carr did quite well.
Be completely honest, if you had a son that was a skill position player that could pick any school, where would you slot Michigan?? I’m guessing it would be about 10-15. Assuming you can separate being a fan from what the reality of NFL draft picks. Michigan hasn’t produced many elite WR, RB, QB, TE in the past 15-20 years.
so yeah, OSU, Bama, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Clemson, ND, USC Should all be ranked above Michigan (at least the first 7 listed).
I disagree that you have to produce NFL talent at the desired position to get HS kids to go there. If that were true Haskins would have never went to OSU. Watson would have never went to Clemson. DPJ would have never gone to UM. That's the whole point of NIL. PAY KIDS TO GO THERE LIKE BAMA DOES!!!! Do you the #5 RB in a class goes to Bama when they already have the #1 RB in his class? Hell no. That kid isn't going to be the starter. He goes there because he's getting paid to go there and he HOPES he can beat out the guy ahead of him. But, without that payment (or with an equal incentive to another good program) he'd go somewhere where he's the top ranked player in his class at his position. But, the problem is OSU & Bama are stockpiling more kids than they can play. If you think that's happening purely because of NFL development you are naive.
Without additional information, I'd give more weight to the explanation GhostOfJermaine wrote about -- Dylan said he wasn't feeling well at practice, Harbaugh took issue with it (which makes sense to me given what Jim clearly wants to see in practice), and DMac's parents got wind of it. This resulted it sitting out / transferring.
The idea that a player (even a star player) could dictate who should start at QB, especially on a Harbaugh-coached team, is extremely unlikely.
I'm not sure the staff is utilizing the seven sons well enough while recruiting.
They need to go back into Ohio and elsewhere and go after all the same OSU recruits and generate jealousy, vanity, greed in them. Keep telling them they won't play behind so and so at OSU and that so and so is coming in the following year at and we are the other half of rivalry etc (and change the fucking font Jim). They need to be all over OSU and know what they're doing, what players they're going after the next cycle etc. And plant the seeds, and not let up ....
OSU's 5 and 4 star players are closer to 3 stars because covid jacked up the ranking abilities in the recruiting industry. At least that's the excuse we use to reverse engineer our current class.
This is also what I am hoping for most from the new staff -- more consistency and focus on recruiting (most importantly, balance across classes so as not to leave glaring holes at important positions) and better player development to maximize the talent we bring on board.
Here are the guys between 3.67 and 3.90 from 1990 to 2019 in my database. I bolded the guys who ended up being impact players for Michigan or elsewhere against similar or better competition.
Name | Pos | Class | Starts | NFL | STARs | Career Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilton Speight | QB | 2014 | 16 | UDFA | 3.84 | Degree and a Transfer |
Jake Rudock | QB | 2015 | 13 | 6th | 3.69 | Played out eligibility |
Steven Threet | QB | 2007 | 8 | - | 3.88 | Transfer: playing time |
Justin Feagin | QB | 2008 | 0 | - | 3.70 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Jason Forcier | QB | 2005 | 0 | - | 3.90 | Transfer: playing time |
Tom Brady | QB | 1995 | 25 | 6th | 3.84 | Played out eligibility |
Scott Dreisbach | QB | 1994 | 15 | - | 3.82 | Played out eligibility |
Christian Turner | RB | 2018 | 0 | n/a | 3.74 | Transfer: playing time |
Chris Evans | RB | 2016 | 6 | 2022 | 3.90 | (Played out eligibility-COVID) |
Fitzgerald Toussaint | RB | 2009 | 31 | UDFA+ | 3.90 | Played out eligibility |
Mike Cox | RB | 2008 | 0 | 7th | 3.76 | Degree and a Transfer |
Teric Jones | RB | 2009 | 0 | - | 3.70 | Degree/Medical |
Mister Simpson | RB | 2005 | 0 | - | 3.80 | Transfer: playing time |
Walter Cross | RB | 1998 | 0 | - | 3.88 | Played out eligibility |
Ryan Beard | RB | 1999 | 0 | - | 3.72 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Ed Davis | RB | 1991 | 4 | - | 3.71 | Played out eligibility |
Wyatt Shallman | FB | 2013 | 0 | - | 3.90 | Degree and a Handshake |
Quintin Patilla | FB | 2006 | 0 | - | 3.87 | Transfer: playing time |
Ray Jackson | FB | 1997 | 1 | UDFA | 3.79 | Behavioral: dismissed |
John Anes | FB | 1996 | 0 | - | 3.81 | Transfer: Personal |
Mike Sainristil | SL | 2019 | 4 | n/a | 3.78 | On Team |
Eddie McDoom | SL | 2016 | 2 | n/a | 3.86 | Transfer: playing time |
Roy Roundtree | SL | 2008 | 42 | - | 3.77 | Played out eligibility |
Martavious Odoms | SL | 2008 | 28 | - | 3.81 | Played out eligibility |
Maurice Ways | WR | 2014 | 2 | - | 3.80 | Degree and a Transfer |
Jehu Chesson | WR | 2012 | 25 | 4th | 3.67 | Played out eligibility |
Freddy Canteen | WR | 2014 | 4 | - | 3.85 | Degree and a Transfer |
Jaron Dukes | WR | 2013 | 0 | - | 3.87 | Degree and a Handshake |
Csont'e York | WR | 2013 | 0 | - | 3.70 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Jerald Robinson | WR | 2010 | 0 | - | 3.82 | Transfer: playing time |
Zion Babb | WR | 2007 | 1 | - | 3.86 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Braylon Edwards | WR | 2001 | 35 | 1st | 3.79 | Played out eligibility |
Jermaine Gonzales | WR | 2000 | 1 | - | 3.85 | Played out eligibility |
James Taylor | WR | 2000 | 0 | - | 3.82 | Behaviorial: DNQ |
Joel Honigford | TE | 2017 | 0 | n/a | 3.78 | On Team |
A.J. Williams | TE | 2012 | 15 | - | 3.77 | Played out eligibility |
Chris Barnett | TE | 2011 | 0 | - | 3.88 | Transfer: Personal |
Martell Webb | TE | 2007 | 4 | - | 3.85 | Played out eligibility |
Kevin Murphy | TE | 2002 | 0 | - | 3.76 | Degree/Gave up football |
Jim Fisher | TE | 2000 | 0 | - | 3.85 | Played out eligibility |
Andy Mignery | TE | 1999 | 9 | - | 3.80 | Played out eligibility |
Kyle Ealey | TE | 2001 | 0 | - | 3.89 | Gave up football |
Bill Seymour | TE | 1997 | 23 | - | 3.77 | Played out eligibility |
John Jaeckin | TE | 1990 | 0 | - | 3.82 | Played out eligibility |
Zach Carpenter | C | 2019 | 2 | - | 3.78 | Transfer: Personal |
David Molk | C | 2007 | 41 | 7th | 3.86 | Played out eligibility |
Christian Pace | C | 2010 | 0 | - | 3.79 | Degree/Medical |
Andrew Stueber | OG | 2017 | 8 | n/a | 3.74 | On Team |
Ben Braden | OG | 2012 | 36 | UDFA+ | 3.80 | Played out eligibility |
Blake Bars | OG | 2012 | 0 | - | 3.71 | Degree and a Handshake |
Dan Samuelson | OG | 2013 | 0 | - | 3.73 | Transfer: playing time |
Chris Bryant | OG | 2011 | 2 | - | 3.90 | Degree/Medical |
Kurt Wermers | OG | 2008 | 0 | - | 3.83 | Transfer: Coach |
John Partchenko | OG | 1993 | 0 | - | 3.81 | Degree and a Handshake |
Joe Marinaro | OG | 1991 | 34 | - | 3.87 | Played out eligibility |
Ante Skorput | OG | 1991 | 0 | - | 3.82 | Degree and a Handshake |
Ja'Raymond Hall | OT | 2017 | 0 | n/a | 3.89 | Transfer: playing time |
Jon Jansen | OT | 1994 | 50 | 2nd | 3.87 | Played out eligibility |
Jeff Potts | OT | 1995 | 0 | - | 3.86 | Degree and a Handshake |
Jon Runyan | OT | 1992 | 34 | 4th | 3.71 | Early NFL |
Mike Sullivan | OT | 1991 | 12 | - | 3.74 | Played out eligibility |
Ron Acheson | OT | 1995 | 0 | - | 3.83 | Transfer: playing time |
Eric Moltane | OT | 1995 | 0 | - | 3.74 | Degree/Medical |
Jack Stewart | NT | 2019 | 0 | n/a | 3.69 | On Team |
Phillip Paea | NT | 2017 | 0 | n/a | 3.84 | Degree and a Transfer |
Richard Ash | NT | 2010 | 0 | UDFA+ | 3.81 | Degree and a Transfer |
Larry Harrison | NT | 2002 | 7 | - | 3.68 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Alex Ofili | NT | 2001 | 1 | - | 3.83 | Early NFL |
Rob Renes | NT | 1995 | 37 | 7th | 3.83 | Played out eligibility |
Matthew Godin | DT | 2012 | 16 | - | 3.86 | Played out eligibility |
Jibreel Black | DT | 2010 | 16 | - | 3.88 | Played out eligibility |
Ben Huff | DT | 1993 | 13 | - | 3.71 | Degree/Medical |
Kerwin Waldroup | DT | 1992 | 5 | 5th | 3.76 | Transfer: Personal |
Taylor Upshaw | SDE | 2018 | 2 | n/a | 3.70 | On Team |
Michael Morris | SDE | 2019 | 0 | n/a | 3.87 | On Team |
Shelton Johnson | SDE | 2015 | 0 | - | 3.86 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Ken Wilkins | SDE | 2010 | 0 | - | 3.82 | Degree/Gave up football |
Glen Steele | SDE | 1993 | 38 | 4th | 3.80 | Played out eligibility |
Chase Winovich | WDE | 2014 | 28 | 3rd | 3.89 | Played out eligibility |
Shantee Orr | WDE | 1999 | 22 | UDFA+ | 3.72 | Early NFL |
Stephen Evans | WDE | 1992 | 1 | - | 3.89 | Degree and a Handshake |
Noah Furbush | SAM | 2014 | 5 | - | 3.71 | Played out eligibility |
Evan Coleman | SAM | 1998 | 6 | - | 3.86 | Played out eligibility |
Charlie Stumb | SAM | 1990 | 0 | - | 3.70 | Degree/Medical |
Charles Thomas | MLB | 2019 | 0 | n/a | 3.82 | Transfer: playing time |
Elysee Mbem-Bosse | MLB | 2016 | 0 | - | 3.75 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Kenny Demens | MLB | 2008 | 33 | UDFA+ | 3.84 | Played out eligibility |
Mike Jones | MLB | 2009 | 0 | - | 3.70 | Degree and a Handshake |
Kaleb Ringer | MLB | 2012 | 0 | - | 3.73 | Transfer: playing time |
Kellen Jones | MLB | 2011 | 0 | - | 3.86 | Transfer: playing time |
Lawrence Reid | MLB | 2001 | 25 | - | 3.68 | Degree/Medical |
Kolby Wells | MLB | 2000 | 0 | - | 3.83 | Degree/Medical |
Jarrett Irons | MLB | 1992 | 46 | - | 3.90 | Played out eligibility |
Jason Kendrick | MLB | 1990 | 0 | - | 3.74 | Degree/Gave up football |
Brandin Hawthorne | WLB | 2009 | 5 | - | 3.72 | Played out eligibility |
Brandon Herron | WLB | 2007 | 1 | - | 3.85 | Played out eligibility |
Davion Rogers | WLB | 2010 | 0 | - | 3.74 | Behaviorial: DNQ |
Taylor Hill | WLB | 2008 | 0 | - | 3.75 | Transfer: Personal |
Joey Sarantos | WLB | 2001 | 1 | - | 3.79 | Degree and a Handshake |
John Spytek | WLB | 1999 | 0 | - | 3.79 | Degree and a Handshake |
Jeff Holtry | WLB | 1994 | 0 | - | 3.86 | Transfer: Personal |
Steve Morrison | WLB | 1990 | 35 | - | 3.90 | Played out eligibility |
Carvin Johnson | Spur | 2010 | 3 | - | 3.67 | Transfer: playing time |
Cameron Gordon | HSP | 2009 | 15 | - | 3.87 | Played out eligibility |
Khaleke Hudson | VIP | 2016 | 36 | 5th | 3.85 | Played out eligibility |
Artis Chambers | SS | 2007 | 0 | - | 3.83 | Transfer: playing time |
Jacob Stewart | SS | 2001 | 2 | - | 3.71 | Played out eligibility |
Keston Cheathem | SS | 2004 | 0 | - | 3.77 | Transfer: Personal |
Marcus Ray | SS | 1994 | 33 | UDFA | 3.90 | Played out eligibility |
J'Marick Woods | FS | 2017 | 1 | n/a | 3.80 | Degree and a Transfer |
Vladimir Emilien | FS | 2009 | 0 | - | 3.89 | Transfer: playing time |
Jon Shaw | FS | 1999 | 3 | - | 3.78 | Played out eligibility |
DJ Turner | CB | 2019 | 0 | n/a | 3.83 | On Team |
Channing Stribling | CB | 2013 | 18 | - | 3.69 | Played out eligibility |
Ross Taylor-Douglas | CB | 2013 | 0 | - | 3.90 | Degree and a Transfer |
Raymon Taylor | CB | 2011 | 31 | - | 3.80 | Played out eligibility |
Delonte Hollowell | CB | 2011 | 1 | - | 3.79 | Played out eligibility |
Johnny Sears | CB | 2005 | 1 | - | 3.70 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Darnell Hood | CB | 2002 | 1 | - | 3.80 | Played out eligibility |
William Peterson | CB | 1997 | 2 | 3rd | 3.77 | Behavioral: dismissed |
Tyrone Noble | CB | 1992 | 3 | - | 3.78 | Degree and a Transfer |
Seems to be plenty of not drafted.
do you have a similar list for all of the 4-5 star players? That would be interesting to see if that list is similar.
I do. The difference between a 3.75* and 4.25* is only really noticeable at cornerback and DT. Also NFL potential doesn't matter as much as college performance. Jarrett Irons is a "Not Drafted" on that list, QED.
In that case, I imagine that list shows a lot of very average production or transferring out. I’m not being negative. I feel I am being honest about Michigan’s current clout on ‘the trail’
I also do believe NFL draft picks does matter. Again, if you are a 17 year old WR and can choose OSU, Bama, Clemson, LSU, and Michigan. I’d assume Michigan wouldn’t fair too well in that battle.
That's amazing, thanks for throwing that together Seth! I don't like the odds of these guys turning into Braylon Edwards. J'marick Woods is a lot more likely. And, that won't do UM any good.
We need a lot more Dax Hill, Cesar Ruiz, Rashon Gary, Chris Hinton, Will Johnson, and JJ McCarthy and a lot less high 3/low 4 stars. It's just a numbers game.
At the risk of people argueing over what this defense will look like, how many more LB/EDGE shaped guys are we taking? It seems Joshua Josephs is a take no matter what. We are still going hard after Jeremy Patton, Sebastian Cheeks, and Lander Barton. That doesn't include some of the other guys who are popping up like Deuce Spurlock.
I think Cheeks is also a take no matter what since he's their top target at ILB. Patton and Spurlock are likely whoever commits first. That would make 2-3 ILB. Add Eugenio, Henry, Pollard, and Josephs/Barton. That would be 3-4 OLBs. With how important LBs are in this system, it's really important to restock the LB room.
Cheeks, Patton and Barton are ILBs.
How is it that schools like IU and Rutgers are recruiting at the same level as us?