OLB Target Micah Pollard announcing tomorrow

It seemed to be stated that was the reason he was going TCU and if he couldn't reclassify Michigan would have been the choice but I don't know how accurate that is. 

With a name like Perkins-McCallister he should reclassify as an accounting firm.

Lootin and crootin, baby

I think Jim needs to step in based on Tatum's comments in the recent interview above. 

well said.  2 star or 5 star, the staff must develop the player to maximize his talent on Saturday’s.  ‘A rising tide raises all ships’.

This is pretty much what I was going to say. I’m ok with numerous 3 stars and low 4 stars this year. I’m hoping they are criminally under ranked. I’m really hoping that Harbaugh has that edge back again and is bringing in kids with that same chip and edge to them. We need the staff to identify the kids that were not scouted properly but are really talented and bring them in here with that prove everyone wrong mentality. Obviously if you want to throw Nolen in the pile too I won’t complain any. Nua is the one who I feel is lowering the bar here both recruiting and developmentally. 

I think in this cycle you have to take those rankings with a grain of salt. There's going to be massive fluctuations in rankings because scouts haven't had a chance to see many of these players play in person.

I hope you're right.  All things being equal I'd prefer to have more guys in the top 200.  I don't see OSU taking a bunch of 3 stars.  They've already got four 5-stars and eleven 4-stars.  I doubt those guys are going to take massive rankings dips.  See my point?  Sure, there's more variance this year, but not so much that it would turn what is not an average JH class into a top 5-8 class, which is likely needed.  No one is expecting a top 3 class, but with UM's resources there's no reason to e consistently be outside the top 8 IMO.

As for developing players, it's hard to say whether UM is a developmental program or not since half the coaches have been replaced.

While true, you're saying what our development could be with new staff members.  I'm saying what it's been under JH's tenure.  Maybe new staff will change things and maybe they won't. 

If you take their histories, Clinkscale, Hart, and Macdonald all have histories of developing players, and Bellamy did a great job with his players in high school. Hopefully they can keep that up at Michigan as well

But, if you look at JH's track record at UM you see a history of guys transferring out.  I personally think the lack of development and retention is a systematic problem that comes from the top.  I think it has more to do with how JH handles players than it does actual skill development or lack thereof.  It's a player personnel problem IMO not a coaching technique problem.  JH is too busy playing favorites or letting Nico pick the QB to keep guys around.  I have no idea if any of this is true and it doesn't really matter.  But, it highlights the fact that JH doesn't know how to manage players in today's game.

This is also what I am hoping for most from the new staff -- more consistency and focus on recruiting (most importantly, balance across classes so as not to leave glaring holes at important positions) and better player development to maximize the talent we bring on board.

Seems to be plenty of not drafted.

do you have a similar list for all of the 4-5 star players?  That would be interesting to see if that list is similar.

That's amazing, thanks for throwing that together Seth!  I don't like the odds of these guys turning into Braylon Edwards. J'marick Woods is a lot more likely. And, that won't do UM any good.

We need a lot more Dax Hill, Cesar Ruiz, Rashon  Gary, Chris Hinton, Will Johnson,  and JJ McCarthy and a lot less high 3/low 4 stars. It's just a numbers game.