Sam Webb and Steve Wiltfong Crystal Ball 5* CB Will Johnson to Michigan
Throughout the darkness comes a confusing glimmer of light in the BPONE that is Michigan Football. Sam Webb and Steve Wiltfong just crystal ball'd 2022 CB Will Johnson to Michigan.
Johnson is a legacy recruit of 1990-1994 Michigan DB Deon Johnson, and is the highest ranked in-state HS recruit since Lamar Woodley. He may also be a package deal with another 5-star (see link).
I guess things are trending up?
November 17th, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
Why only one? I'll take three more 5* DT's please.
November 17th, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
We had 2 5 star DTs in the past 4 recruiting cycles: Aubrey Solomon and Chris Hinton.
Neither played like a 5 star.
The most jarring thing to me is that Brady Hoke (of all people) recruited the greatest DL in Michigan history which Harbaugh inherited from him. The 2015 and 16 DLs masked a lot of problems that have since emerged after the players graduated.
November 17th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
Haha... This is funny. Hyperbole much?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Not a 6*, don’t want.
-Maizen
November 17th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
I think people are underestimating the effect of JJ McCarthy and Junior Colson and Donovan Green-Warren recruitments. McCarthy has been Michigan's best recruiter, Colson is the JJ of the defense, and Green-Warren was like the big brother for Domani Jackson and Ceyair Wright and his parents were instrumental in organizing this past weekend, which the coaches couldn't have anything to do with because it's a dead period.
This class has an opportunity to be special. If it turns out that way, I think the players themselves should be celebrated for taking their own initiative to build something at Michigan.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^
This sounds cheesy, but I hope that the positivity and excitement that these kids bring to the program brings Harbaugh back to life
November 17th, 2020 at 12:54 PM ^
Don Brown was playing press coverage defense in this clip. 3rd and 18. Sad just sad.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
Hey, I appreciate the search for anything hopeful, and I hate to be Donnie Downer, but...
I chuckle at putting any stock in 5*s, much less crystal balls. We've seen this blow up in every way possible. Guys who unexpectedly don't commit to Michigan (Deshaun Hand); guys who commit and come, but are busts (Derrick Greene), guys who come and are all that, but trapped in a dysfunctional defense (Daxton Hill). Meanwhile, Wisconsin and Indiana look great with their more modest recruits. Show me on the field, the college field. Not HS highlight reels of guys playing against future Div 3 athletes.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
Yeah, screw 5 stars, why risk the heart ache?
November 17th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Why not take the same approach with coaches? Maybe we should fire Harbaugh and hire Fickell. OSU castoffs work well enough for Cinci, maybe they can work for us?
November 17th, 2020 at 1:08 PM ^
Idevon1, should they seek a diamond in the rough 2* corner from Rhode Island instead?
November 17th, 2020 at 2:59 PM ^
Sarcasm. I was responding to the post above me.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:26 PM ^
Things are going pretty well, but can't get over the hump: "We need more 5 stars!!!"
Things aren't going well and we are in good position for 5 stars: "5 stars aren't going to change anything!!!"
November 18th, 2020 at 7:22 AM ^
there's our guy
November 17th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
What if all these guys say, they are only coming if Harbaugh signs an extension?
November 17th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
Well, that would suck. And it's also rarely the case. And I would say bye - it's clear HArbaugh has run his course here. Even if he salvages some wins this year, the fanbase has soured. There will boos when his name is announced before games.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Wouldn't surprise me and then still subject to them changing their minds, especially with so much time left. Like Tractor Traylor saying Ellerbe needs to be the coach and he'd come back and then went pro anyway.
November 17th, 2020 at 7:07 PM ^
They weren’t going to fire Ellerbe after a conference tournament title and tourney appearance in his first year on the job.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Ill be honest, maybe because he is a legacy, but otherwise Id feel like its a matter of time before those crystal balls change. When we all agree our 5 stars haven't been developing well it eventually isn't the players but the coaches.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^
We can develop 3 stars and walkons but not 5 stars? C'mon man. The 5 stars that Harbaugh has had, and stayed have gone in the 1st round.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
Well Daxton Hill actually looks really really good. He's the only 5 star on the team though outside of Hinton.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:07 PM ^
I'm talking about Peppers and Gary.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^
Agreed. The only five star that had a really disappointing draft outcome was DPJ, who suffered from multiple offensive scheme turnover during his time. Not his fault, unfortunate series of circumstances.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
“I love it,” Jackson said. “Honestly, I love it. It is hard to go away from home, but you got to do what’s best for you and Michigan is a place I’m seriously considering.”
While on campus, Jackson took the time to bond further with other Michigan commits and targets.
“I’m definitely connecting with Will (Johnson),” Jackson said. “That’s my guy. We will be a package deal wherever we go. Cristian (Dixon) always talks to me about Michigan. Darion (Green-Warren) is a great person to talk to and he keeps it real. A lot of the kids on this visit are all cool and laid back. I think we got a nice bond with this group.”
The result of the game wasn’t what Jackson was looking for, but he said it doesn’t impact his view of the program and he still loves the defensive system that the Wolverines play.
“Not really, it doesn’t change how I feel about them,” Jackson said. “I personally think they are in a great position and the wide receivers just made some great chances. I think the defensive backs were probably thinking about it too long and it could affect their play sometimes. I just know it doesn’t impact me. As a football aspect with Michigan, they bump and run every play, which I love. I love pressing and they leave you on an island, which I just really love.”
November 17th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
I look forward to his comitt and then him exploring other options a few months later.
November 17th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Brian Kelly had a 4-8 year, then bounced back
We'll survive
November 17th, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^
For similar cases, look at Gary Patterson's coaching record:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Patterson
He was 2-7 in conference than went 13-1 and finished 3rd in AP rankings. It happens more often than people realize.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Well, if this is the case I still think we have to move on from Don Brown. We maybe keep Zordich. Say what you want about Zordich as a recruiter but strictly as a teacher and developer I think he's easily the best on staff and top notch overall. That guy has turned mid level recruits into lockdown defenders and put them in the NFL. I imagine he would have no problem taking the talent level of Johnson and Jackson and turning them into high first round pick type guys. One year where he's trying to turn chicken shit into chicken soup doesn't diminish that rack record.
Replace Brown, Nua and Shoop with a couple of high level recruiters and send them after some defensive lineman and tell them to get busy.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
The offense is even worse than the defense. Honestly, Don Brown has never been the problem. The only reason Michigan has ever been a top ten program under Harbaugh is because of the defense. They've won in spite of the offense.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
I agree, the defense may not be lights out but if you put a good to great offense with it they would make that leap into top ten territory. Its the offense that has held the team back, although now the defense has glaring holes in it. Another problem is Harbaugh's inability to retain great recruiters on this staff and have an actual recruiting strategy. This was a problem under Carr and over a decade later its still a problem with this program.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
Domani Jackson also said him and Will Johnson are a package deal..
November 17th, 2020 at 1:05 PM ^
Me so happy .....
November 17th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
Man, dude must really love Michigan. Good for him
November 17th, 2020 at 1:36 PM ^
Wake me up when him and Domani reclassify to the 2021 class. We need these two and Ceyair Wright next year, not 2022.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
Weird times for sure. This is really awesome though.
November 17th, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
I would rather not bring Harbaugh back even if it means blowing up the recruiting class. Coaching is what matters most. Yeah you need the recruits too, but it means squat if they don't get coached up. How is Tennessee and USC doing these days?
November 17th, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
PLAYING TIME! PLAYING TIME!
November 17th, 2020 at 2:58 PM ^
It's like Zordich felt his seat getting a little hot and he decided to become a RECRUITING GOD.
November 17th, 2020 at 3:00 PM ^
One way or another Michigan will come back and the father knows that
November 17th, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
but can he play DT???
November 17th, 2020 at 3:41 PM ^
God bless them
November 17th, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
this is nice, but without the proper coaching he's just going to be another CB who gets flagged for holding all the time.
November 17th, 2020 at 4:15 PM ^
Hopefully the fan base doesn’t screw these opportunities up!
November 17th, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
November 17th, 2020 at 7:34 PM ^
if Sam and Wilfong are putting in CB for a 5* the week after getting losing the most lopsided game at home in Michigan history, it stands to reason that there are a lot of other factors in choosing a school than say, anonymous posters on message boards or facebook.
November 17th, 2020 at 9:05 PM ^
Michigan 5-star QB commit J.J. McCarthy’s message to fans: ‘Take 3 breaths and have faith
November 17th, 2020 at 9:38 PM ^
he likes the new coaching staff....sight unseen
November 17th, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
Harbaugh is not going anywhere.. they know this. You guess might as well relax with the coaching change talk.