Sam Webb: If Brohm Goes to Louisville, We Get 5-Star Karlaftis
This isn't really breaking news, but Sam Webb was as direct as I've heard him on the subject this morning. If Jeff Brohm takes the job at Louisville, we get George Karlaftis.
To recap, Karlaftis LINK is a 5-star defensive end from West Lafayette, Ind. He is committed to Purdue, but as Sam reiterated this morning, Karlaftis has been saying all along that if Jeff Brohm leaves Purdue, then George Karlaftis is leaving Purdue, too.
"If Brohm leaves Purdue, then Michigan gets another 5-star. It's as simple as that," Sam said. He also said that Karlaftis is so good, he sees the field as a freshman, no question. On our line, that's saying something.
Seeing as how Louisville has no other real options, I'm feeling good about this.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:13 AM ^
I agree with his take as well. I'd like to see Brohm stay even if that means them keeping Karlaftis. The west is currently bad enough, it does nothing good for us to get even worse.
November 12th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^
He was pretty good in Frankenstein.
November 12th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
One of my favorite scenes from an underrated movie:
"(Karlaftis?) Sidekick? FU! (Karlaftis) does not deserve to smell my $hit! That limey (censored) can rot in hell for all I care!"
November 12th, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^
Can you build the entire team out of defensive ends?
November 12th, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
OSU signed four 4 or 5 star defensive ends in 2012. They won a national championship 3 years later.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
This sounds like such a trite, overused comment, but I will say it anyway: the game really is won and lost in the trenches. Assuming that you have decent enough talent at the other positions, the lines make and break a team. An insanely athletic, well-coached DL has the ability to completely disrupt an entire offense. Can't run against them and can't really throw because if the ball isn't out in 2 seconds, the QB is running for his life. Even if the QB isn't hit, the pressure and collapsing pocket can prevent him from going through his progressions and impact his footwork, leading to poorly-thrown balls. The impact of a dominent DL cannot be overstated (see, for example, hmmm, our team this year).
Same is true on offense, obviously. A top OL can make all other aspects of the offense work, whereas a crap OL, whether coaching or talent (see the past decade of Michigan football), can destroy what might otherwise be a decent offense.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Hello Clemson (and Michigan)
November 12th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
The reason Miami Hurricanes dominated the 1980s and 1990s was because they recruited DEs to play DL, except for Russell Maryland.
Nobody could block him either.
It's utterly insane. And that's pretty much why it worked. What can you do against talent and speed?
November 12th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
From 1988 through the 1992 season, Miami went 55-5, won two NCs, and finished #2 or #3 the other years.
The DL coach of those dominant teams was Cajun Brady Hoke, Ed Orgeron.
November 12th, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
November 12th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
Would he be a DT or a DE?
November 12th, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^
I think he'll be an Anchor (SDE).
November 12th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
If both Harrison and Karlaftis commit to Michigan, does that mean a lower-priority current commit will get processed out of the class?
November 12th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
I don't think anyone can say that for sure at this point, but it's quite possible.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
There might be enough room, but we see more firm handshakes than expected. Also more attrition. Right now 26/27 is a pretty good bet.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
No inside knowledge, but as I said in another comment in this thread, even if they are not processed out of the class, I would expect that one or two of the lower-priority guys might end up looking around on their own. These kids are savvy and are surrounded by coaches who know the deal, and they recognize that with players such as Harrison, Karlafis and Hinton (and even Obajo) in the class, playing time over for the first few years, if ever, might be hard to come by. Wouldn't hod it against them if they decided to explore other possibilities.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:21 AM ^
Harbaugh changed his approach after getting a lot of criticism for pushing out commits in the 2016 class. I hope he continues to keep that to a minimum. Sometimes the "process" is the recruit looks at how much the class has changed. One only need look back at Mike Weber to see that.
If Harrison and Karlaftis come on board, that's a dramatic change for the other DE commits.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
I don't follow the point you are making about Mike Weber. I thought his deal was that Weber felt he was deceived because the position coach who recruited him to OSU up and left after Weber signed?
November 12th, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
Weber was going to go to Michigan. He changed his mind on signing day after Higdon was offered and signed.
OSU held off their RB coach's announcement long enough to get Weber's signature. It was a crazy day for him.
November 12th, 2018 at 6:21 PM ^
Ah, didn’t realize that. I thought Weber had already decided upon OSU and then M flipped Higdon from Iowa as a plan B. Either way it worked out better for M, as Higdon wound up being the superior back.
November 12th, 2018 at 10:50 AM ^
so there is no concern that he would follow Brohm to Louisville?
November 12th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
Nope.
November 12th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
Seconded
November 12th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
He's the #9 player in the country according to 247 and he's #197 according to dumbass Rivals.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
Rivals also has Eric Gray as 3* back so...
November 12th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
So best case scenario we get Karlaftis AND Zach Harrison, but that would give us 5 DEs in this class (assuming Hinton moves inside).
Zach Harrison, George Karlaftis, David Ojabo, Mike Morris, and Gabe Newburg.
That seems excessive, but you don't pass on 5 star talents. I remember Mike Morris wasn't happy because Florida State saw him as an OT, but he wants to play DL. So that could be a possibility for him if he stays on?
November 12th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
I suspect that if we add Harrison and Karlaftis, one or two of the lower-rated guys in the class may decide to look around. That's not a comment on any one recruit, but it makes sense that if you are in a class with that much competition at the top end, you might want to look around and see if there are other landing spots that might offer you a better chance to see the field early.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Was I thinking this? Maybe. But hate to speculate on kids getting processed, or given the cold shoulder because we have higher rated priorities. In the end it's a business I suppose.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
I also suspect "Harbaugh" and "class" will start trending on Twitter again.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
On 247, Harrison, Karlaftis, Hinton and Ojabo are all listed as SDE's. Am I missing something? Thats quite a bit of talent for one position. Are any candidates for other positions?
November 12th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
Hinton is moving inside, he already said he's getting ready for the transition.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
Those positions usually mean almost nothing. Remember when Denard Robinson was listed as a DB?
November 12th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Harrison could play WDE, and I think Karlaftis could, too. Hinton can play DT (and IMO he should play OL), and Ojabo looks to me like a future DT once he finishes filling out. He looks like a Lawrence Marshall type of guy who will come in physically looking like a DE, but then he'll end up 285-290 lbs. and playing 3-tech.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
Would be nice to have both Hinton brothers as our OTs.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
Hinton and Morris would move inside. Newburg and Harrison are your WDEs. Ojabo and Karlaftis are SDEs. Karlaftis could bounce inside and out a la Wormley or Gary.
Karlaftis and Hinton would probably be on the 2 deep immediately. Harrison may come on situationally depending on if Vilain is healthy or not. Newburg, Ojabo, and Morris are redshirt and develop over time candidates.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
People seem to be forgetting about 4-star Mazi Smith at DT. He's ranked #128 (#8 DT) on the composite. That's much higher than Ojabo, Newburg, and Morris. My point, you ask? This DL could be friggen BONKERS!!!
November 12th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
Agreed! Mazi and Woods seem like NT to me, while Hinton and Morris would be 3T. Seems like this class could have 2 players for every position on the DL
November 12th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^
If we end up with Karlaftis, this could actually be the best recruiting class of the Harbaugh era to date:
Assuming that Harrison also comes, Harrison, Hinton and Karlaftis would give us three 5* players (!!!!) on the d-line. That's insane. Mazi Smith, a high 4* himself, would be our 4th highest rated DL. And, don't forget about 4* David Ojabo. Talk about d-line U.
Add in 5* Daxton Hill at safety, and the defensive haul is just off the charts. Close to Bama levels at the top end.
On offense, Zach Charbonner is already not far below 5* territory, and looks to be improving over his senior year. Throw in Grey (another 4* RB), and 4* talent at guard (Rumler), tackle (Jones), TE (All) and QB (McNamara, who is going to come in when we still have DMcCaff and Milton have multiple years left) and the top end of this class, just going by stars, is STOCKED with talent.
Also, if we keep winning, I expect that there will be 1-2 more top end kids that are previously committed or leaning elsewhere that might surprise and pick Michigan.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
And with Harrison enrolling early, providing he goes Blue, he won’t have to deal with the bile emanating from the bucknuts.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
I think we can start talking about legitimately challenging Alabama with a class like that.
November 12th, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
What's crazy is that class still wouldn't be ranked #1, maybe not even top 5. Alabama had the top ranked class 7 straight years, until 2018. They've had an unreal amount of talent.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^
And Crouch at LB.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
Giggity
November 12th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
Ryan Day would be an excellent fit for the 'Ville.
November 12th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^
....what about zach smith, I hear that he may be available for the right offer.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^
2:1 favorite doesn't seem all that high based on what you'd think the chances would be based on all the media speculation. Everything surrounding this situation you'd think this would be a done deal. That gives me a lot less confidence that Brohm is actually going to Louisville.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
I can't see Brohm not returning home. This recruiting class is VERY loaded.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
I could see Brohm going to a bigger program than Louisville. For example, USC might be looking to replace Clay Helton.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:13 AM ^
BOOM.
November 12th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
Please take your Brohm to go sweep up Louisville!! GO BLUE!!!