Best of UM By Position: 2015-2019
Been thinking that UM rosters were deeper and better when Harbaugh first arrived compared to today...which led me to this. What are best players by position from 2015-2019 and who recruited them? Here are my picks:
TE Butt -1
LT Cole -1
LG Bredeson -1
C Ruiz -2
RG Glasgow -1
RT Bushell-Beatty -1
QB Rudock -2
RB Higdon -2
FB Houma -1
WR Darboh -1
WR Collins -2
DE Winovich -2*
DE Gary -2
DT Hurst -1
DT Glasgow -1
LB James Ross -1
LB Bush -2
LB Peppers -1
CB Lewis -1
CB Long -2
S Wilson -1
S Hill -1
1 = recruited by Hoke
2 = recruited by Harbaugh
* = Harbaugh credited for Winovich due to position switch
My conclusion: Hoke left the cupboard full and Harbaugh has done a questionable job of stocking and keeping It that way.
P.S. Open to dispute and discussion except for my favorite player, Sione Houma. And if you disagree with me on this go back and watch the bowl game versus FLA and compare it to anything that Kerridge, KHill, or Mason have done.
September 26th, 2019 at 9:51 PM ^
If Hoke left the cupboard full, the QB section of his shopping list must've gotten chopped off or the dog ate it because there was legit no one on the roster worth a damn when Harbaugh walked through the door. The development Speight had in 2016 would not have come close to happening if Hoke were still around.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:00 PM ^
You did notice I have Rudock at QB, right? smh
September 26th, 2019 at 10:08 PM ^
And rightfully so but I was pointing out that Hoke's QB recruiting was atrocious.
Russell Bellomy, Shane Morris & Wilton Speight are his only recruits at QB in 4 years.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
If you are going to give Chase to Harbaugh then you have to give Gary to Hoke. Hoke did all the work to get both of those players.
Seven Harbaugh recruits on your list, the rest are Hoke’s. ?
September 27th, 2019 at 12:17 AM ^
Huh. How the hell did Hoke do the work for Gary?
September 27th, 2019 at 2:24 AM ^
Nope. Harbaugh made Winovich a DE. Hoke gets no credit for landing Gary.
September 26th, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
Hoke wasn't terrible at recruiting. He even signed several elite players. But there were some big holes and not a ton of depth anywhere. I certainly wouldn't go with your "cupboard full" analogy....
September 26th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
Fair enough. How about the cupboard wasn’t bare. Better?
September 26th, 2019 at 10:06 PM ^
Harbaugh’s recruiting is creating similar holes.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
If the cupboard was full Hoke wouldn't have gone 12-13 his last 2 season's at Michigan.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
Not necessarily true. Hoke was not a good coach. Hoke was a heckuva good recruiter.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:19 PM ^
I noticed immediate improvement in all these players in Jim Harbaugh's first year. That Jim Harbaugh, back then, could make ice at the North Pole freeze better.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
Houma was much much much better than Mason. He could catch, he could grind out yards on the ground. He could block amazingly.
The guy was great.
Harbaugh’s recruiting has been pretty good overall. However, it seems like he stopped being able to develop players at some point, and his recruiting of a few key positions has been really poor.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
Eh, I think Mason is a really good fullback. He'st just not needed anymore (or is he?). Also, it's worth noting that the Houma you're remembering was a redshirt senior.
September 26th, 2019 at 11:45 PM ^
Fair enough. However, Mason made his rep on a few spectacular plays but got repeatedly stuffed when we really needed him to get a yard.
Houma was a much more versatile player. He was almost a FB/TE hybrid and Harbaugh used him perfectly.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
Hoke recruited hard nosed players.
Ben Gedeon was MUCH better than Ross has been so far.
September 27th, 2019 at 12:33 AM ^
The 'Ross' OP is talking about is James Ross #15 from the Hoke days. Not Josh Ross.
September 27th, 2019 at 8:13 AM ^
In that case Gedeon was MUCH MUCH better.
September 27th, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
Indeed, but still, I personally would say Gedeon was better than James Ross. Probably one of the more underrated LBers in recent memory, he is still a starter for the Vikings.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
Bredeson was a Harbaugh recruit (2016).
September 26th, 2019 at 10:26 PM ^
Yes, since Harbaugh has been at Michigan:
September 26th, 2019 at 10:30 PM ^
Looks like a boxer after 15 rounds.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:27 AM ^
Bredeson was not a Harbaugh recruit. Read JUB’s Overtime. He committed to UM, then Hoke got fired and he stuck with UM.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:05 PM ^
Jahu Chesson was better than Collins.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:12 PM ^
What!?!? It’s not Nico’s fault he doesn’t get targeted and has been saddled with a poor QB/offense design since he arrived.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:14 PM ^
Jehu Chesson also was the best bowler in NCAA football.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:53 PM ^
And that’s an illegal blindside block this year. Great rule change.
September 27th, 2019 at 8:16 AM ^
Player safety for guys who don't even get paid for entertainment is much more important imo.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:19 PM ^
Im still waiting for jr year Chesson to return.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:16 PM ^
Maurice Hurst was recruited by Greg Mattison.
Ryan Glasgow was a walk on.
Jabrill Peppers was recruited by Greg Mattison.
Jarrod Wilson was recruited by Greg Mattison.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:25 PM ^
If we are being honest, why is Gary on this list?
Taco was far better than Gary at the college level.
Ross isn't better than McCray or Gedeon.
Chesson could easily be above Collins
DT Henry, Mo, and Glasgow were the best
Outside of a few Harbaugh guys, Hole is proven to be as good if not better recruiter
September 26th, 2019 at 10:33 PM ^
I know I can immediately agree with you about Taco. I'm too tired this late to type out accurately what I think of the rest.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
Soph year Gary>Taco>Wormley>Fr/JR year Gary.... Damn we've had some solid DE's
Khalid Hill>Houma>Mason... Love Mason, but he's not as versatile as Hill our Houma
McCray>Ross so far, but to be fair poor DT play makes it tough on him. Good teams exploited McCray in coverage though
Collins is a freak and is limited because he doesn't get targeted enough - his production isn't super impressive but not really his fault. Agree with OP he belongs on the list.
How about best position coach since '15?
Mattison - 1
September 27th, 2019 at 1:20 AM ^
Gary and Taco isn't really fair, they played different positions. Taco vs Winovich would be the better question. You could make an argument for Wormley vs Gary though.
September 27th, 2019 at 4:10 AM ^
Exactly, I still don't understand how this still gets confused.
It's like when they compared Gary to Bosa. Taco, Bosa, and Chase Young play Wino's position.
The OSU player who plays Gary position and has the same responsibilities you wouldn't even know their name. And if anyone cared to look, that position for OSU doesn't even have the stats Gary has that people say are weak, playing opposite those beasts.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:30 AM ^
I struggled with Gary, you may be right.
James Ross > McCray. Closer call with Gedeon.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:28 AM ^
This just in: Mattison wasn’t head coach. Jesus
September 27th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Who said he was?
September 26th, 2019 at 10:29 PM ^
Best FB ? Hands down is Ben Mason. Best RT ? Not JBB. Would have been Stueber but life sucks. anyone else is better than JBB including Mayfield.
September 27th, 2019 at 2:31 AM ^
This isn’t a list of who “would have been” better. Jesus. Some of you folks are thick skulled.
September 26th, 2019 at 10:37 PM ^
Hoke loved Michigan.... getting that first year BCS bid really helped us improve the talent..... Mattision had a lot to do with that
Mattison is one of the better coaches we've had since I started watching in '91, Hoke wouldn't have lasted as long as he did with out him
September 26th, 2019 at 10:48 PM ^
Chase in high school
September 26th, 2019 at 10:55 PM ^
Deveon Smith (Hoke) > Higdon (Harbaugh)
September 26th, 2019 at 11:34 PM ^
Would generally agree with your list except RT Bushell-Beatty ...
September 26th, 2019 at 11:42 PM ^
I'd say you gotta put Jehu Chesson over Nico Collins at the moment.
And if we're factoring in overall player at WR I'd still put DPJ over Collins for now, although Collins could be on pace to pass him.
September 26th, 2019 at 11:55 PM ^
Absolutely have to put Taco over Rashan Gary.
I enjoyed this post though, +1 OP
September 27th, 2019 at 12:01 AM ^
Recruit more kids that think they have something to prove. Instead of kids that look at their star rating and think they deserve to play without working.
September 27th, 2019 at 8:39 AM ^
Please show me one shred of evidence that this is the case
September 27th, 2019 at 12:34 AM ^
Hoke could recruit and couldnt coach. Harbaugh can coach but cant recruit.
Except QBs. Both couldnt develop a QB to save their jobs.
EDIT: Gary might be up there with Green and Grady as most overrated M recruit in history. Felt absolutely no fear with him in the game against my Eagles.
Peppers wasnt Charles Woodson 2.0 but he was a fucking beast and accounted for alot of our offense in Harbaughs 2nd year
September 27th, 2019 at 5:42 AM ^
Come on man, that's just a bad opinion. Gary may not have lived up to his hype, but he was still a good starter on a good defense and an excellent run stopper. He just sucks at rushing the passer, and still does as evidenced by his game last night. Looked the same as he often did at Michigan, taking himself right out of the play 4 yards behind the QB.
Green and Grady were both pretty much useless.