Evening before NSD summary

Submitted by Bambi on December 14th, 2021 at 11:46 PM

There's been a flurry of Crystal Ball predictions on 247 with regards to Michigan, so I thought I'd give a quick summary of where Michigan stands based on current ball movement.

Likely Additions

  • Composite #79 Player (4 Star Edge) Derrick Moore
  • Composite #94 Player (4 Star Safety) Keon Sabb
  • Composite #131 Player (4 Star WR) Darrius Clemons
  • Composite #428 Player (3 Star QB) Alex Orji (VT Commit)
  • Composite #527 Player (3 Star WR/ATH) Amorion Walker (ND Commit)

These guys are all players who all the recent Crystal Ball movement has favored Michigan, or Sam Webb has put in a CB (who is generally the most trustworthy Michigan source). Putting Amorion Walker in here is a little bit of a stretch, as he's committed to ND and their insiders still think he's going to sign. But the ND insiders confidence has been decreasing down the stretch and I think the money is now on Michigan.

In a Battle

  • Composite #379 Player (4 Star Edge) Kevonte Henry (Michigan Commit)
  • Composite #913 Player (3 Star Safety) Damani Dent (Michigan Commit)

Both of these guys are current Michigan commits. Henry is a guy who primarily committed to Michigan because of Courtney Morgan so everyone was expecting him to potentially follow Morgan to Washington. He announced today that he won't be signing early, which is probably good for Michigan as current trends have him going out West. Waiting til February gives Michigan time to hold on to Henry, which is why he's listed here and not in the next category of trending away, but things aren't in Michigan's favor right now.

Dent is here because of some social media stuff. He posted a tweet earlier today saying that he would be signing tomorrow, but then deleted the tweet. He followed that up with an Instagram post of Michigan, Miami (YTM) and Florida hats. It seems like some local Florida schools have been pushing to keep him so we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Trending Away

  • Composite #244 Player (4 Star DL) Deone Walker
  • Composite #666 Player (3 Star Edge) Ethan Burke (Michigan Commit)

Walker is disappointing to lose since up until a few hours ago he seemed to be trending towards Michigan. He's an in-state 4 star DL from Cass Tech who seemed like he was looking for reasons to leave Michigan all throughout the recruiting process. He was a Kentucky lean for a while before this weekend when he started trending to Michigan, but now tonight he's trending back to Kentucky. The only saving grace is that 5 star Kentucky OL commit Kiyuanta Goodwin was looking like he might decommit and head to MSU, but this might help keep him at UK.

Burke recently committed to Michigan as a late riser out of Texas. Now Texas has offered and it looks like he's gonna flip.

Overall still looks to be a really good day for Michigan. If things play out like this (and Goodwin stays at UK), then Michigan is in a great spot for a top 10 class. Can finish out through February trying to get Conerly and Henry, any transfers, and whoever else pops up in 2022 (an edge seems likely since Burke and Henry are the only two edges in this class as of today).

MGoBoard

Bambi

December 15th, 2021 at 12:00 AM ^

Since I made this post, another 2 CBs have come in for Michigan for Clemmons and 1 for Sabb.

Recruiting is weird so never say never, but it'd be pretty damn shocking for Sabb and Clemmons to not choose Michigan tomorrow. Both are much better than coinflips.

Joined: 10/12/2013

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TK

December 15th, 2021 at 12:04 AM ^

I know about the crystal balls but they are all coming in about 5 for confidence levels which lets me know they really don’t know. EJ Holland had Clemons at 40 pct and Sabb at 50-50. I hope we get them both, but I’m concerned. 

Joined: 09/23/2014

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JMo

December 15th, 2021 at 1:33 AM ^

Honestly, I don't get this take. They're recruiting reporters, their job is to literally try to talk to family members, teammates, coaches and read the minds of 16-19 year olds.

Similar to the "Sam slander" that goes on in some of the corners of these parts. They write little recruiting updates based on the information they receive. Somehow people get all bent out of shape when that information turns out to be wrong, or again, a teenager, decides to change their mind about a major life decision (shocking I know). 

Part of it is shoot the messenger. Part of it is why aren't you a better mind reader. And the rest for some seems to be this weird, "I pay $5 a month I'm entitled to know everything, it better not change, and they better pick Michigan." 

But sure, EJ is "trash".

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Bambi

December 15th, 2021 at 12:02 AM ^

Sam talked about them on recruiting podcasts this week. He said he thinks Michigan killed the visits for both of them, and that both transferred from their schools with Michigan already at the top of their lists. A little more hesitant on Oluwatimi (UVA Center transfer) since he visited Clemson right after, and is still keeping a return to UVA open, but seems like we lead for both as of now.

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BlueWolverine02

December 15th, 2021 at 12:30 AM ^

Isn't Pollard considered an edge player?  I know he seems undersized based on his listed ht/wt but he is playing edge in his film and recruiting roundups seem to indicate that he is an edge.

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reshp1

December 15th, 2021 at 12:56 AM ^

I don't get following the recruiting coordinator to his new school. Like, the one person on staff that you'll have zero interaction with after enrolling, and you're gonna pick your college based on that? 

Joined: 10/31/2011

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Quailman

December 15th, 2021 at 1:03 AM ^

Zero interaction? Not sure why you and others here assume that after a player gets to campus they somehow can never talk to the Recruiting Coordinator ever again.

No, the RC is not going to coach them on the field. But they are still at the school, on campus and around the program. If they have a good relationship where the RC can be a mentor, or look out for the player, that can and will continue. 

Sometimes the RC and the player really develop a close relationship. They can trust them. A lot of players are going far from home and experiencing a lot of brand new things. Having someone around you who you trust and can look out for you can be a really big thing. And a lot of times, its nice to not have that person be a coach, so you can talk to them about other things and they aren't yelling at you everyday. 

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King Tot

December 15th, 2021 at 7:38 AM ^

I don't get why people post stuff like this. There is a decent amount of reporting and it was discussed at length and mostly by people who did not look into Henry's situation. This is what I posted in the Henry post from a recent article (free) by EJ Holland:

"Morgan led the way with Henry and was looked at as an older brother that could serve as a mentor in a safe space in Ann Arbor. Henry comes from a rough background and needs the proper attention away from the field in order for him to reach his ceiling. Morgan was supposed to provide that."

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