RB Jeff Jones will take an official visit on 1/31
According to 24/7, Minnesota commit RB Jeff Jones will officially visit Michigan on the weekend of January 31. He will take an official visit to Florida the weekend prior. We will be his last visit before Signing Day. Thoughts?
January 8th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
I hope they don't show him any film of Michigan running plays from this past season
January 8th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
Actually, that's probably a selling point. We need help in the running game. Granted, the problem is probably more on the OL, but we certainly don't have the RB position locked down at the moment.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
Thats kinda my point there isn't any blocking
January 8th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
And there never will be ever ever again
January 8th, 2014 at 3:35 PM ^
I've never understood this logic - "We suck at [fill in the position(s)], so you should come here." If that really worked, Indiana should be awesome by now (although I guess the idea is that Michigan, unlike Indiana, will eventually get better because they're historically a stronger program).
January 8th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^
Actually, you understand it well, based on your parenthetical.
Our OL will get better. We have the passing game. We need a tailback to step up, and why not Jones?
January 8th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
You're assuming the OL will get better. I'm not willing to make that assumption.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
You aren't willing to assume that our OL will get better between now and the time that Jones would be finished at Michigan?
Yes, this past season sucked. No, our football team will not suck forever.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
always wanted to put that in a Subject line.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^
I think that sort of recruiting pitch makes sense if the argument is 'We have a kickass o-line, a great QB, and a bunch of WRs that will take pressure off you, but our RB sucks. You're the missing piece!"
I'm not sure you can really make that argument at Indiana, though the early playing time argument is probably what made them so successful last year.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
Come on down!
January 8th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 3:34 PM ^
Also, five or six people (including a Florida-based writer) just changed their Crystal Ball pick to Michigan despite the fact that he'll visit Florida the week of the 24th.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
If these are the same folks whose Crystal Ball was telling them Hand was picking Michigan, I'm not impressed.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
That was an unofficial. Though I'm not sure of the exact rule, officials generally can't start til the beginning of the season.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
He took an unofficial because he was in the area for the SMSB camp.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
He attended the Sound Mind Sound Body camp (I believe) and that does not count as an official visit. Considering he was taking reps live, in front of the coaches, and they didn't offer him then I wonder if he has improved substantially over the course of his season.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
He toured campus in addition to going through the camp
January 8th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
Minnesota or Michigan. Hopefully he enjoys his second trip here.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^
I would look at the young guys on the line and think I like the situation better than Minnesota and probably Florida. He should have a very experienced line when he is hitting his prime.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
get better at it.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
that the hilarious play in which two dudes on the same team block each other went for 11 yards, right? meaning in about 5 michigan games this year it would be have been Michigan's longest running play FOR THE ENTIRE GAME!
HAHAHAHA - SO FUNNY I FORGOT TO LAUGH
January 8th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
The MN O-line is a relative strength of their program right now. Not saying that the MI won't be better but MN has something to continue to pitch.
January 26th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
You can see a lot of alot of girls all year around in Gainesville, FL. Not so in Minn or Mich. And look at the playing time he can get with always warmed up muscles...
GO GATORS !!!
January 8th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^
We need more competition at RB next fall: Green, Smith, Johnson look to be it. Rawls seems to have fallen on hard times (or something?) and I recall Borges or Hoke saying that Hayes is destined for the slot. Another RB would be great for competition.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^
This is good news.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
This cannot be good for Jerry Kill's health. Jokes aside, I would feel bad for Minnesota if Mr. Jones commits elsewhere.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Kenny never feels bad for nobody.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
Knowing Minnesota fans, they will just consider it a privilege he was on their commitment list as long as he was.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Since the odds are good that whatever other schools he would potentially commit to will probably sign running backs in this cycle, the answer is no.
Also, I'm not sure why this question comes up with elite prospects all the time. They (and even not-so-elite) prospects think they're the best, that's just the nature of growing up as the best player in your town and having 80 college coaches blowing hot steam in your ear. I think the 'competition fear' angle is overplayed in just about every recruiting narrative.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
Whatever that is, stop following it. It'll de-stress your life, you'll be happier for it.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
Not sure why it would since they are in different recruiting years.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
If you can get anyone to visit Michigan in January, there is probably high interest.
January 8th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
True, but coming from Minnesota, anyplace looks nicer in January.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
Well he's committed to Minnesota [EDIT: and from Minnesota], so...
January 8th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
...Ann Arbor should feel downright tropical.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
January 8th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
What does a flight attendent, Red Bull & The University of Michigan have in common?
They give you wings!!!
/shows self out
January 8th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
So we'll add Jeff Jones and an under the radar DL prospect?
January 8th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
He looked damned good in the UA game both running with and catching the ball. I love his versatility (hopefully he can block too). I really want Michigan to get one back in this class, and from what I've read about the other prospect from TX, I like Jones more.
January 8th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
247 lists only UF and M visits, and nothing to EL. I thought it was reported earlier that he was heading there for a visit?
January 8th, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^