Darian Cooper off the board??
I was just reading this weeks Rivals Weekly Whispers article and one of the prospects they mentioned was Darian Cooper. It mentioned that Michigan State seems to be in the lead and he has visits set up for them and Ga. Tech. It also mentions Penn State and Iowa being in the mix, but no mention of Michigan at all. Tom's most recent update on him last week said this was probably our best chance at a D Tackle. Maybe Tom or Tim or anyone else could shed some light on the situation?
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1159901
December 1st, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he is our best shot as of right now, and it's not looking good. I believe his current teammate (Darien Harris) is already committed to MSU and I believe that is why the interest is so strong there.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
none of your Dariens are belong to us? :(
December 1st, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
UM visited him at home last night. Per Copper's twitter account. Unfortunate if true.
December 1st, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
December 1st, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^
Which DT still on the board is the most probable commit, in your opinion?
December 1st, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
Chris Rock will be a DT eventually. No need to get all crazy.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:04 PM ^
If Rock does become a DT(which is very likely), we still could use another in this class. I would be almost shocked if there isn't, unless Posada is slated to become a DT or something.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
I agree we could use one, but if there isn't the talent there we shouldn't reach for a kid who isn't D-1 talent. We will be fine with depth and can offer next year. I just don't see why people freak out about it so much. Hell, we have even seen OL become DL... imagine that... I wouldn't worry about it. People get crazy about the offensive recruiting when so many guys switch positions in college it's crazy. Obi was a RB in high school. If guys want to come to Michigan who are D-1 level talent then I will take them. Calming. Relaxation.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
What is the ideal number of DTs to have on our roster? If Rock is going to be a DT then we will have 5 DTs on our roster next year. If you include QW that is 6. BTW, the five is Heininger, Ash, Talbott, Martin and Rock.
December 1st, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
If we are including guys like Rock and Heininger at DT, then we should include Kenny Wilkins as well. He's listed at 270 on the roster and from what I hear, the kid looks huge. Considering he was praised for his athleticism out of high school, he's someone who could be a real beast on the line for us. If he can be in the 'hood of 290 in a couple years, he's a DT for sure.
Also, I noticed that mgoblue.com has Terry Talbott listed at 260 now, he was 249 or something before the season. It's good to see he's put on some el bees.
December 1st, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^
I recall him being behind Graham. I don't think he's a DT. Correct me if I'm wrong.
December 1st, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
Well, he's kind of a tweener, and he'll probably play where he's needed most. Kind of like RVB. When BG was here, he played tackle. When BG left and we had no proven DEs, he moved there. Heininger is listed at 6'6", 277lbs on the roster. That's either a relatively big DE or a relatively small DT (although Patterson is the backup at NT this year at 275). Mgoblue.com actually lists Heininger as a DT, though.
Like I said, he'll probably play where he's needed.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
I think he is a surprise florida commit following the trend of surprise FL commits (Barnum , Drob and Dorsey).
December 1st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Hopefully that is not true. I remember reading that he became good friends with Delonte Hallowell at one of the BBQ @ The Big House events and that he was going to visit him again.
December 1st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
This might be why Michigan offered Rob Trudo recently.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
2 star Syracuse commit and planning a Michigan visit in January.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
I know about the 3 star mafia, but does the 2 star mafia exist?
December 1st, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Their target last year was a fella named Ray Vinopal.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
Oh ya I forgot he was a 2 star. I remember there was some posts about his legs being too short. I think Ray has done a nice job a proving some people wrong on this board.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:19 PM ^
Yes, he did a few good things this year. He obviously still needs massive amounts of work with Barwis though.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
but he's a 3 star to Scout and ESPN (listed as an OG, #84 and #61 respectively). Offer list includes Pitt, Boston College, and West Virginia
December 1st, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
Robert Trudo is western PA kid (Farrell High School). I coach at Sharon High School (Marlin Jackson's alma mater) and we played Farrell first game of the season. This kid is a beast. I have seen him play 3 games this year and he dominated every one of them. With that being said, Im not sure if he is Michigan worthy but he possesses a lot of positive qualities. He is big, strong, and fast for his size. He plays in single A which is the lowest division of football in PA so the comeptition level isnt great. From what I heard from the guys around the valley, he loves Syracuse and probably will not decommit.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
I hate to say it but don't hold your breath on Cooper. Brandon is killing our recruiting efforts with all the uncertainty surrounding our program at this time...
December 1st, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
...that is a bad, bad sign. The one thing we still have left over lil' bro is the ability to recruit out of State. If that goes away then the green and white will start to pass us as a program. I'd never thought that would happen.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
Take a deep breath. Losing one recruit to them from the state of Maryland will not doom our out of state recruiting. It's not like they're sweeping in and taking Dee Hart. Like I said, their apparent lead is probably due to the fact that Cooper's teammate is already committed to them.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
not a huge trend, just a guy who wants to go to college with a buddy (if that is the case you can't really blame him)
December 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
there is nothing about the Spartans' recruiting calss that says they are recruiting better than us nationally.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
I wish I was quick enough to come up with something that is a mockery of your giant leaps in logic there, but I got nothing.
Somebody is sure to have something with the brains on this board.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
outside the state of Michigan who are ranked higher than 3 stars to Rivals (they actually only have one player ranked higher than 3 stars, regardless of state).
Michigan, despite 3 incredibly rough years, currently has Dee Hart and Dallas Crawford (currently a 3 star, likely won't end up that way), and also leads or is in the top group for Wayne Lyons, Blake Countess, Chris Bryant, Kris Frost and Avery Walls, and Jack Tabb, all of whom are out of state guys ranked 4 stars or higher. Michigan is also still in it for Timmy Jernigan and Lamar Dawson, and finished 2nd for Sammy Watkins.
MSU is currently in on Darian Cooper and Doran Grant.
Color me not particularly concerned about the two programs' abilities to recruit nationally.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:35 PM ^
...but State is getting better and we are not. Frankly there was a time when a kid like Darian Cooper would never consider MSU. If the Spartans can start to beat us on out of State kids head to head then we are in trouble as a program. I don't like the precident.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^
and this is silly. Jeff Smoker was from Pennsylvania. Roland Martin was from Illinois. Michigan State, throughout their history, even when they suck, even when they're getting totally pwned by Michigan, has always pulled in some highly rated guys from outside the state of Michigan, including some kids that had Michigan offers. To expect otherwise is absurd.
This year, like pretty much every other year in history, Michigan is crushing Michigan State in out-of-state recruiting (there's a pretty decent chance they'll end up beating MSU in in-state recruiting too, but that's a different convo). That Darian Cooper likes Michigan State in no way alters any of that.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
...I mean its not like they are competing for a big ten title. Or have beaten us 3 years in a row. Or have the only 5 star player in the state for the last 2 years. I mean those things are nothing to build on when going head to head with a recruit. We're Michigan!!! That's enough.
December 1st, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^
Michigan has a hard time recruiting Southeastern and Rennaissance. This has nothing to do with the last three years. Those "5 star" players likely would have chosen MSU even if Michigan won an MNC in 2008.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
that Dee Hart or Dallas Crawford is considering decommitting from Michigan in favor of MSU, then I will start worrying.