Monday Recruitin' Takes A Walk
Small Town, Big Vibe, Big Ten
Three-star AZ QB Tyler Shough visited campus over the weekend. As you'd expect, the outlook is still quite good after he got one-on-one time with Jim Harbaugh. From Scout's Blair Angulo:
"It was a great experience to continue building that relationship with the coaches," Shough told Scout.com. "Coach Harbaugh has a great track record, but he's an even cooler guy in person when you get to talk to him. The whole experience, the whole environment in Ann Arbor was amazing because it has a small-town [feel], but you get a big-town vibe to it as well. Walking around the streets with coach Harbaugh, he's like a celebrity. Eating lunch with him was a cool experience.
In that same interview, Shough detailed a discussion with Harbaugh about how Michigan would manage bringing in two quarterbacks in the same class with different skill sets:
"The coaches told me that whichever quarterback wins that starting job, they would build the offense around him," Shough said. "They love my skill set in their base style offense with what I could do. I asked them about the quarterback situation and about Joe [Milton] as well because he's a freak athlete.
Shough's planned upcoming visits don't sound too threatening; he'll head to Indiana soon, and he may visit Cal after that. With a summer decision planned, Michigan is in great shape. 247's Steve Lorenz posted that the staff "killed it" with this visit and Shough is "all Michigan" unless they change course on taking two quarterbacks.
Meanwhile, here's a fun quote about Joe Milton from his head coach:
The quarterback from Olympia High School in Orlando, Fla., is right-handed but, while moving to his left, he launches the ball about 50 yards in the air down the sideline and over a pair of defenders for a touchdown.
It's just one play - and the first one at that - in Milton's highlight video. But, it offers a glimpse of his talent and potential.
"There's no drill for that," Olympia coach Kyle Hayes said. "We don't do the 55-yard throw against the grain drill. That's just being an athlete and making a play."
The future at the position looks bright. Speaking of which, the top-ranked quarterback in the 2019 class, California native JT Daniels, will take his next unofficial visit to Michigan, per Scout's Greg Biggins. Daniels is fresh off a trip to Stanford. Please go away, Stanford.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Offered: Other Programs' Dudes
Michigan is sending out a ton of offers recently, mostly to 2019 recruits. The staff hasn't been afraid to boldly attempt to poach committed recruits from SEC schools essentially in their backyards.
Color me skeptical that Michigan can flip an LSU commit from Baton Rouge, but four-star 2018 LA ILB Damone Clark sounds open to the idea, per TMI's Brice Marich:
“I was actually surprised,” Clark told The Michigan Insider. “I didn’t think Michigan would actually offer me. You know how you’ll never think [a program] would offer? I thought they might be one. I didn’t expect it, so I’m stunned still. It means a lot because they didn’t have to offer me, but they see potential in me and did it.”
He says he's "very interested" in visiting campus. We'll see how that goes.
This next one looks more likely to produce something. Lorenz reports that five-star 2019 GA WR Jadon Haselwood, a Georgia commit, is planning to get to campus soon:
"I'm most definitely going to visit Michigan," Haselwood said on Sunday evening. "No set date yet, but I'm looking to head up there sometime this summer."
That might give Kirby Smart an aneurysm.
A few other recent offers have gone out to uncommitted prospects. Three-star 2018 TN OT Jerome Carvin said he "definitely will visit" Ann Arbor after Michigan's offer made him reexamine his top group, per TMI's Brice Marich:
Carvin planned to start narrowing down his list of suitors fairly soon, but after landing this offer from the Maize and Blue, he now has some more thinking to do.
“The offer definitely shook some things up for me and probably pushed back my top 10 that I was dropping after my spring ball,” said Carvin. “It’s a very good chance (Michigan makes my new top list)."
Carvin's offer sheet is not that of a three-star's: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Louisville, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech are also on it.
Michigan also offered five-star 2019 TX S Brian Williams, who says he's still "wide open" to the point he hasn't planned upcoming visits, per 247's Isaiah Hole. Four-star 2019 CA DT Matthew Pola-Mao also added an offer, per Marich.
Call Him, Maybe?
The Wolverine's Brandon Brown caught up with several prospects at a recent Columbus Rivals camp, including guard commit Emil Ekiyor, whose contact with the staff apparently hasn't been consistent:
Ekiyor still considers himself a solid Michigan commit but communication has fallen off quite a bit in recent months. Alabama is making a hard push for him and he's just trying to figure out if he's still wanted in U-M's class. He plans to spend a night or two in Ann Arbor very soon to get a feel for where things stand and will go from there.
Hopefully the visit clears that up. Ekiyor is an excellent prospect and Michigan certainly has been recruiting like they plan to keep him in the fold (see: McCall, Marquan).
Mmmmmmmmkay
Today in "coaches say things that sounded smarter in their heads," here's an unnamed coach reacting to the new rules allowing early official visits:
1 said he thinks some recruits will take officials early then still want to visit later on, so it will still cost $$ https://t.co/IuXhsoZ9Vi
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) May 15, 2017
/thinking face emoji
He wasn't alone in missing the point entirely, at least.
Etc.
Four-star Grand Rapids Catholic Central OT Jalen Mayfield, whose decision is coming up later this month, is now 247's top-ranked player in the state. Their best player in Michigan looks very likely to play for Michigan.
Four-star NC DT Rick Sandidge, who recently included Michigan in his top 11 schools, tells Scout's Michael Clark that M is one of four schools after him the hardest, along with North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida State. He plans to visit Ann Arbor soon.
Not a great look, Wisconsin.
It's from some youtube parody on rap battles. Can't remember the actual title but if you search "rap battle parody" on youtube I bet you'll find it
Guy named Supa Hot Fire who will rap battle anyone and everyone and always come away victorious.
The man has bars for days.
Pleae remember....Supa Hot Fire is not a rapper...he's an experience
It's just a photoshopped version of this one
I always wonder what that means because I'm totally not down with the young kids and their social media communications habits.
Does this mean he used to get a text/snapchat/whatever every day and now it's just once or twice a week? Or that it's more like once every couple of weeks? Or he hasn't heard from them in a month?
Seems like it's all orders of magnitude.
Any reason why the staff isn't all in on keeping this kid?
I'm wondering if most of this has been over the last month when there was spring practice, spring game, then the Rome trip, and the staff has just been preoccupied. But you'd think maybe a staff member would have reached out to him at least. He seems too good of a player to slow play.
The staff were comunicating with him while they were in Rome.
If Shough ends up in the class, he'll provide more than adequate competition for Milton.
If Daniels ends up in the next class, he will provide to much competition for both of them.
Shough 'nuf
Shough and jive.
I know QB is important but two in this class seems like overkill for a position that only can have one guy playing at a time and you don't want to rotate. When you factor in that they were probably only going to take one when it was DTR and it just seems like they are reaching a bit.
Going into this recruiting season, I was hoping they would take two because after Speight (and presumably Malzone) leave, which may be after this year, the depth chart is: Peters, McCaffrey, and a true freshman. If Peters or McCaffrey win the job, there is a chance the other will transfer. If one of them gets injured, the QB depth chart is reduced to two.
Just remember Hoke only took three QBs - Bellomy, Morris, and Speight. Only one of those guys evolved into a real starter here, and only after he was pushed by some competition. Harbaugh has brought in Rudock, O'Korn, Malzone, Gentry, Peters, McCaffery, and now Milton. The numbers are in his favor that one of those guys will work out. Hoke's strategy relied on impeccable scouting and development.
I'd love if Speight were gone after this year because it would mean otherwise he had a good enough year to jump to the NFL. Otherwise he can play for two more years. If he is transferring out because Peters wins the job you'd still have Mccaffrey and Milton on the roster in two years and mccaffrey would have been in the program for multiple years. Since you also are recruiting guys in 2019 those guys get added to the depth chart too. This is a small class, not sure its the class to be adding what will be the 4th qb on the depth chart too, that's what walk on spots are for. I'm just not convinced 6-8 scholarship qb's is the most efficient use of roster spots and if you are taking two a year that is what you are looking at.
absolutely need at least 4 scholarship QBs on roster, preferably more. doubt many coaches would disagree.
also even if they took 2 QBs per class multiple times over 4-5 year cycle, attrition would offset some of the numbers...they wouldnt have (nor would the coaches want) 8-10 scholarship QBs.
the modern game has shown QBs have no issue transferring or moving around, and there never seems to be a shortage of programs in market for QB transfers (or 5th years). some guys will go the malzone route, others the gentry route (i think wisc and stanford both recently started ex-QBs at safety and they played fairly well, just as another example), or the morris route, etc.
the player may initiate a transfer or the coaches may gently suggest a change but it happens often and its not that hard...and its preferable to an alternative where a team doesnt have enough talented bodies fiercely competing at QB (due to lack of recruiting) to potentially trigger an otherwise championship caliber team.
better to have too many legit QB options than too few...its the games most vital position and can consistently impact a game / team like no other...should be treated as such. and most staffs do. harbaugh obviously preaches competition and plans for attrition when building rosters
You say the 4th QB on the roster should be a walkon and that 6-8 scholarship QBs are too many in consecutive sentences.
4 should be the absolute minmum # of scholarship QBs on the roster. That is very likely what we will have in the fall. Hoke was cavalier about keeping those numbers up. In my view, that was his one of his biggest flaws as a HC. How soon some forget.
We're obviously aren't taking two every year. One in each of the last two classes. With attrition and position switches, you're never going to have 8 QBs on the roster, more likely 4-5.
It really seems like you are arguing against things that aren't happening and in favor of something I would consider reckless.
Speight, O'Korn, Malzone, Peters and McCaffery will all be scholarship QBs in the fall.
Obviously O'K will be gone in 2018 and Malzone may decide there's more playing time elsewhere but that leaves 3 plus Milton. I won't second guess Harbaugh on this but this seems like a small class to be going for 2 QBs.
There have been multiple reports that he will graduate early and transfer.
The risk of using up one more spot for QBs than is ideal is far less than getting stuck shorthanded. I think I'm understating that. Just my opinion.
I've expected him to conclude that his best option is to grad transfer but isn't it a little soon for him, even as an EE?
and he lacked the incentive of doing an early grad transfer. This may be becoming a more popular option.
You think Speight is likely gone? I see it as a possibility, but certainly not likely.
maybe he's looking at spring of 2019 when you'll have Peters, McCaffrey and the 2018 recruits at spring camp.
Because a second qb in this class would be a 4th guy on the roster in a worst case scenarion in fall 2018. Unless everyone is banking on speight in the nfl or passed by Peters after this year, which I'm not the 2018 fall depth chart at qb would be:
Speight
Peters
Mcaffrey
Milton
Qb #2 in the class
If it looks like Speight will be gone one way or the other grab 2 qbs in 2019. I don't think there should be a 1 qb every year rule but they also shouldn't go for 2 every year either. The staff was only planning on taking 1 qb when it was DTR, I think missing on DTR is and taking projects is pushing them into using a second scholarship on a qb they would prefer not to be using too.
is Speight the only one of those QBs not available in 2018, I don't know what to say.
It pays to take precautions with your most important position. Plugging holes with an extra QB in 2019 is a poor way to deal with depth issues that have already arisen. We don't want to rely on freshman QBs.
when you find the ones you are satisfied with 4 to 6 players shoud do nicely with correct divisions in classes. Michigan, I think, would be better suited to keep pursuing and signing some of the best OL talent in the nation, and once that's accomplished, pick the best you have out of the number above and run ti down their throw, using the pass as both a weapon, of course, and to set up your ground game.
I've been pre-occupied the last several weeks. Why wouldn't Malzone be on the roster in the fall?
odd to be taking 2 QB's in the class. You always want to bring in at least one very good QB in every class, but have to wonder why they feel a need for two oin the 2018 class. My only thought is they might be looking at Milton and Slough as athletes more then strickly QB's. One will rise above the other to be the top QB in their class and the other could then possibly play another position.
maybe the coaching staff knows more than you?
This is a lame argument, and it's only used when someone doesn't like the speaker's opinion. Of course the coaches know more than ak47, just like any expert in any field knows more about that subject than a random Joe Schmoe. That doesn't mean we can't share opinions. Charlie Weis knows more about football than any of us, but it doesn't stop anyone around here from making fun of his coaching.
Really really hope we keep Ekiyor in the class. He would be nasty at LG with Ruiz at C and Onwenu at RG. So much beef.
http://247sports.com/Recruitment/RJ-Mickens-94845/RecruitInterests
Kid’s legit. Probably no chance but nice to see UM getting in on these younger guys.
Something OSU does that really resonates with recruits is they offer these kids in front of their team after a scrimmage or practice.
OSU offered the QB out of Allen HS following Allen's scrimmage last week. It was pretty cool.
Are you saying UM should take a page out of OSU recruiting tactics? Seriously Dave. I think they might want to take a page out of the UM recruiting tactics. Oh wait they did, last year when they tried to get all the Jersey recruits to go to their Satalitte camp instead of the UM camp. I'm talking to you too Rutgers. So don't be suprised when they come up with a totally new idea like taking their spring practices to Europe or Australia. In this world of the CFL you have leaders and you have followers.
You are right though, the kid is legit and there's probably no chance OSU will have with this kid. I don't care where they might try to offer him. One last thing before I go. Were you thinking that teams that offer kids at/after their high school football practice is something new or innovative. I would bet that practice goes back a very long time and is something coaches have been doing since I was in High School. I believe when the coaches just show up at the kids practice or game asking about them could be enough to sway the kids to commit as soon as they are offered.
He's the son of Ray Mickens, who played for Texas A&M and then the Jets, Browns, and Patriots.
No visit rule of coach Hokes looks pretty mild compared to Wisky no speak of rule. Don't even say the name of schools who have offered you while committed to the self proclaimed cheese capital of the universe UW. I had no idea that a Wisky committment was so prestigious.
What does that say about your UM committment when they actually encourage recruits to not only think about another schools recruitment of them but to please go visit and make sure you want to be a Wolverine? I think it says alot about the coaches honest concern of a players well being and not of the schools need to force their university down their throats like it or not.
While simultaneously making sure they don't have players on the roster second guessing the decision they made about the school. That would seem to breed togetherness along with a genuine desire to be the best they can be in a family that really does care about them. Like they say action speaks louder than words...
Ekiyor, Brown, Mayfield, Hayes, Carvin, Faalele... Despite all the hand-wringing, this class may well turn out to be incredibly impactful. Specifially there is this group of O-linemen lining up that, when Fry gets done with them, could be the best college line in the country...especially in combination with the 2017 class. Because, as a position group, the O-line may be the most important part of a championship football team.
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