2009 Recruit with the Biggest Impact on Offense and Defense
I pose this question, if it has already been posed, I apologize.
Of the 2009 recruits, which one do you think will have the greatest long term impact on the field for Michigan? Pick one on offense and one on defense.
I have no scientific or spiritual evidence, but I am going to have to go with my gut and say....
Fitzgerald Toussaint
and
Isaiah Bell
and it is just a coincidence they are both from Ohio.
Discuss....
February 1st, 2009 at 6:02 PM ^
spiritually, i say justin turner.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:07 PM ^
J. Gallon Offense
JT. Turner Defense
W. Campbell Honorable Mention Defense
February 1st, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^
Long term impact? Forcier b/c he will be a multi-year starter, and Turner and Campbell b/c of the same reason.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:21 PM ^
I believe Fitz will start next year once Minor and Brown are gone, and Bell will crack the line-up early as either a LB or S.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:42 PM ^
bell is gonna have to get bigger if hes playing LB early. i would have to agree with forcier on offense and for defense im gonna say campbell because i think he will get the most early playing time.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:45 PM ^
Yeah, Bell and Hawthorne will both redshirt. Mike Jones, and LaLota probably will. And, I think Emilien might, depending on his knee. Other than that, of the current defensive commitments, they all should see playing time. Turner and Campbell will see a lot of snaps, and Roh and Gordon will rotate in, imo.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:55 PM ^
Redshirting Bell will give him a year to find his true position, and possible start in the place of Mouton when he graduates or safety depending on how that shakes out. I am not defending my pick, I am just saying Bell possibly could be a four year starter, giving him enough time to become the second defensive Heisman winner during Michigan's 2011 and 2012 championship seasons.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
why are you so confident of Bell? i mean, i hope he is great but what reasons make you think that? just seems like an outsider pick considering the options.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
In the videos I have seen of Bell he looks like a natural big play maker. I am not saying the rest of the recruits will not be, but for some reason I have a feeling about this kid. If he ends up as a LB, he could be great in pass coverage and I feel he could be used in a variety of turnover causing ways (he could be a S to LB morph a la a Urlacher type but just speculation), and if he stays as a DB I feel, again watching a few films of him, that he has the potential of taking anything back once he gets his hands on the ball. He seems not to be the fastest guy, but he is big and a tough tackle for any RB or WR on the return, and he seems to have those natural instincts to turn defense into offense. He returned punts and kicks and played BB too so he sounds like a interesting athletic prospect. I know it is high school, so you can never tell for sure and I, of course, am just joking about the Heisman (not the championships though), but based on the film (and while at work I watch as much as I can find on all the recruits because wasting corporate money is fun) Bell is the defensive player I am most excited about.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
Even if Bell does move to WILL, he won't be a four-year starter unless something crazy happens. Mouton will be a redshirt junior in 2009 and a fifth-year senior in 2010, meaning Bell would be a redshirt sophomore by the time that position opened up.
(Obviously, this projection is based on the assumption that Mouton doesn't get injured and doesn't enter the draft early, which I don't think will happen.)
February 1st, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
Bell is rated as our second best prospect on ESPN... It's kinda interesting that he isn't even a 4 star on rivals. Looks to be a playmaker with size though.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:24 PM ^
on defense. On offense, I guess Forcier.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
I'm going with Forcier on O, and Roh on defense.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
I'll say it again, Gallon & Turner.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:19 PM ^
I don't know how anyone could look at this class and NOT say Forcier.
On defense, I'll say Turner. I haven't been too impressed with the way Michigan has developed DT's over the past, I don't know, EVER, so I can't go with Campbell.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
But I really thing Justin Turner on defense as he seems to have that "it" factor in the secondary and on offense I'll go with Forcier for now but put him in a tie with Je'Ron Stokes if he goes blue. I think he can be a good outside receiver for years to come.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
Long term I say Forcier and Vlad. Next season I say Gallon and Turner. Gibbons was waaaaaaay to obvious, right? Campbell will be a solid contributor, but never amazing, IMO. I hope he proves me wrong.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:12 PM ^
Most people are protecting Bell to grow into a linebacker, but he played awfully well as a safety at the Under Armour All-American game. ESPN evaluated him as a safety, but they also evaluated Will Campbell as an offensive tackle and Kevin Koger as a DE.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 PM ^
I thought they said that Bell weighed in at around 220 at the UA AA game. Since our other WLB are all right around 230 (Mouton, Evans and Herron) I think it's certainly possible for Ike to be around there by his RFr year. That's 10lbs in a year and a half.