Visitors this weekend
It's refreshing to me to have Michigan back to some semblance of a regular recruiting agenda. I don't know about you guys, but this spring/summer season is always a good chance to come across some new names who are emerging as targets and potential commits.
This weekend has another solid crew of guys coming in, including Texas WR Taz Williams, Jr., a 4-star wide receiver who has received some predictions to join Michigan's class. A couple top-100 prospects are also visiting in 2025 New Jersey WR Quincy Porter and 2026 OL target Tyler Merrill. Porter gives me some strong Cornelius Johnson vibes.
Also, Daniel Mielke is coming to town as a 2027 quarterback who already has an offer, so who knows? If you want to feel old...Mielke was born when Denard Robinson was a freshman at Michigan. (Okay, technically I don't know Mielke's birthday, but the math *could* check out.)
Here's the full list if you want to check it out (LINK).
On a side note, I'm also starting the 2024 Season Countdown over on TTB, running down the most important 130 players on the roster. More will be added when transfers commit, and I'm sure some guys will be removed when they hit the portal. But it's starting off at 130, and I posted #130 earlier today.
Great info Magnus and thank you for your constant info on this blog. I love your countdowns in the past, but there is no way it is already 130 days until next season. I am still watching Playoff videos as if the game was yesterday!
There are 149 days, but I wanted to give myself some leeway in case I go on vacation or otherwise can't post every single day from now until then.
Remind me, who wore that uniform number?
Excellent info as always Magnus - thank you.
FWIW the people I follow on Browns twitter who also cover the Buckeyes remain convinced that the reason for our recruiting issues this year isnt because of an entirely new coaching staff. No, the REAL reason is because the NCAA hammer is coming down on the program (any day now) and the recruits have been tipped off major, MAJOR sanctions are on the way.
The Japanese soldiers hiding in caves on remote pacific islands still fighting WWII until the late 50's got nothing on these guys.
What about the Japanese soldier from Gilligan's island?
Have the Bucknuts reached that level of ridiculousness yet?
Give the Japanese hold outs a little credit - despite deplorable circumstances, they never once pooped in a cooler!
Sometimes I kind of want to live in a cave on a remote Pacific island. As long as there are no Ohio State fans there, I think I'd be good.
This leads to the age old question.. with a decision.. Ginger or Mary Ann?
Mary Ann!
Not that Ginger wasn't super hot but seemed like a lot of work - LOL :)
Mary Ann. She had more personality.
If this were true, why would there not be significant movement to the portal as well?
edit: I guess the spring portal isn’t open yet, but you’d still hear rumblings for sure of impending doom.
Not just the late 50s. I listened to an episode of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History in which he told the tale of a Japanese soldier that was still fighting the good fight well into the 70s. I think the actual number was 29 years after the war had ended. They had to fly his former commander (who was thankfully still alive, working a small office job in Japan) to another country (the Philippines I think) to let him know the war was over. He wouldn't believe anyone else.
Werner Herzog documents that whole story in his fantastic book The Twilight World. He did extensive interviews with Hiroo Onoda who "defended" the island from 1945 to 1974. Highly recommend.
Love Dan Carlin - Super Nova in the East is the series. If you have 27 or so hours to kill it is more than worth.
If you listen to it, you will have no doubt Little Boy and Fat Man was the right move, despite the gruesome detailed fallout.
For sure. I mean, it totally makes sense that people are telling 16-17 year old kids something this serious but no one else knows about it or is fleeing the situation. Most conspiracy theories are completely ridiculous if you have an ounce of sense, but.......alas
I mean, the OSU coaches are probably saying that to recruits right?
Love the TTB countdown!
Magnus, for 4-star and higher ranked WRs, is there any indication Michigan is telling recruits they're going to open up the offense at all? Is there a reason a guy like that would come to Michigan at this point?
Not a complaint, we won, I love running and defense, but how do we recruit top flight WRs if you don't pass much, and how do you pass if you don't have really good WRs? Becomes a conundrum...
I have not heard that Michigan is going to open up the offense, but since the new offensive coordinator is a quarterback guy...maybe there's some hope.
This might not be that popular of a take, but I don't think wide receivers are that important for Michigan's offense the way it's been played the past several years. You can find diamonds in the rough who can get the job done. Sure, it was nice to have Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but you can find some big targets and there are lots of speedsters who can take the top off the defense.
If you run the ball as well as Michigan does, the wide receivers are somewhat extraneous.
April 16 Spring Portal opens any word of any kind on a WR that Michigan might target?
Kyle Ford is one name that has popped up from UCLA. He's a former 5-star who hasn't really played like it.
TJ Sheffield from Purdue is another name that has been discussed.
As far as guys not in the portal yet...lots of new names could pop up.
I respectfully disagree that WR are somewhat extraneous. It's kind of like homeowners insurance, even if most of the time you don't even know it's there, when you need it, YOU NEED IT. You may not have to field a battalion of 5-stars (ahem, look where it's gotten some of those guys), but you need at least 1-2 gamebreaking WR even if your offense is run-heavy and built up from the trenches.
And yes, we also rely heavily on great tight end play, which is fantastic. But you still need a couple guys outside who terrify a defense. To wit, the catch Roman Wilson made last year in the Alabama game. If he is not there to make a spectacular play, that game and the NC is likely lost.
I'm not saying the position is unnecessary. I'm saying you can find those guys in the mid-level 4-star and 3-star realm, not necessarily the 5-star or top-150 area. And in fact, you're not going to find 5-star receivers who are going to be okay with about 40 catches in a year.
Michigan is likely going to have to settle for the small-ish speedster or the somewhat stiff bigger receiver - the guys with obvious flaws - because the guys who can do everything are going to go to Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, etc.
Congratulations to Grayson Dee for being TTB’s Mr. Irrelevant.
Hopefully he absorbs some of that Brock Purdy energy.
gimme the good stuff
I know this is based largely if not entirely on the fact that Sherrone has been putting his staff in place, but it just feels odd that there haven't been any commitments since the national title game.
Not saying its a problem. There's been a good reason for it. Just feels a bit weird anyway. I'm guessing if Harbaugh was here and we weren't turning over most of the staff it would've been happening already. Hope Sherrone is still able to capitalize on all that positive momentum!
Yes, I must admit to a growing nervousness for coach's first commitment. Hopefully they'll be a deluge of them soon thereafter.
I've been a TTB countdown fan for a long time and highly recommend it. #130:
https://touch-the-banner.com/2024-season-countdown-130-grayson-dee/
I know we won't end up there, but currently sitting at #41 in the 247 ranking, it sure would be great to get some momentum going. Now that our coaching staff hires are (hopefully) complete, we should see the commitments coming in for the good guys. Go Blue!
Last year lots of Michigan fans - and well respected analysts - saw Michigan in the top five and guaranteed Michigan would finish there.
It's never as bad or as good as you think.
Thanks, Magnus. Appreciate you and the insight you provide.
I think an OL recruit will crack the seal for the Moore era.
Maybe this OT, Tyler Merrill 6'-5" 310 as junior!
He's from Mechanicsburg, PA and I hear he fires on all cylinders.
Taz Williams is one of the most explosive players with the ball in this hands in the class regardless of position. Only reason he’s not top 25 ranking is because of his height.
Is there a sense inside Michigan circles that we need 1-2 commits to break things open
Where there is one…there is another. Commits will come in pairs.
I have spoken.
Love the countdown. Only you know who will be at the top, but here is my guess at top 5:
1. Mason Graham
2. Will Johnson
3. Colston Loveland
4. Kenneth Grant
5. Donovan Edwards
Those are fair guesses.
#1. Winner of the QB position.