New in-state offers: WR, LB, S
Michigan offered a few in-state prospects after a prospect camp this weekend.
The most immediate is 6'1", 205 lb. Belleville linebacker Aaron Alexander (2022).
The next is 5'10", 175 lb. West Bloomfield wide receiver Semaj Morgan (2023).
The third is 6'0", 180 lb. Harper Woods safety Jacob Oden (2024).
I'm a little surprised at the Alexander offer, since his other offers come from Eastern Illinois and Marshall. Sam Webb has also been saying that Michigan wants big and fast linebackers, and while Alexander runs pretty well, he doesn't really have great size. He's a 247 Sports 3-star, the #205 linebacker, and #55 in the state.
The other two prospects should be pretty highly sought in the subsequent classes, so I figured those offers would be coming sooner or later.
I love guys named Semaj for some reason. Don't like James? Spell it backwards!
That's why I liked Nomar Garciaparra.
NOMAH
Ham on?
Let me know when it's ready.
Sammishes! (on seeded rye, of course)
Ramon Arrapaicrag?
I think his parents really wanted to avoid giving giving him two first names. When your last name is Morgan, you need to be creative.
Never trust someone with two first names. Coming from someone with two first names...
Are you Tommy Lee?
Why ya doxin me bro?
Semaj is his dad's name also...
Looks like Lorenz has already put a crystal ball in for Alexander to Michigan.
How many LBs do you think Michigan will try to take this year? 247 people seem to think this is going to be a large LB class since Michigan will try to restock a depleted LB core
The interesting thing about Alexander is that the staff has seen him twice at camps this summer already before offering. i personally take that as a good sign for both parties involved.
This year does seem to be a down year for us recruiting wise. I could see this class being outside of the top 25.
I think that is a pretty dramatic take. I went through the last three recruiting cycles and averaged classes 26-30. They average 4.5 four star prospects and an average rating of 86.5. The only class that included a single 5 star in that range was a Wisconsin class but they only had 2 four stars that cycle. We already have a Five star and 3 Four stars.
Yeah that’s true. A little premature as well. Just a concerned fan.
I agree it seems a bit down. However, theres a few guys that seem like they've been close to committing for a long time that would boost us a bit.
Dillon Tatum, Micah Pollard, Hayden Schwartz and Jordan Phillips are the few that come to mind. You could even throw Nate Johnson in.
That alone would put us at the number 5 class.
Looking through the 2022 recruiting board, it seems like we are close on Myles Pollard, Jeremiah Caldwell, Jaden Mangham, Justice Finkley, Deone Walker, George Fitzpatrick, and Mario Eugenio. If we got all of them we'd have a 240 team score on 247 with 19 commits. We won't get all of those guys but it seems like we need to "close the deal" on a few guys which will make people that are worried about our recruiting rankings feel a bit better. There are also some wildcards that will greatly affect our rankings, Walter Nolan, Josh Conerly, Oscar Delp, and who knows what will end up happening with Domani Jackson.
Exactly, if the results on the field are good I think a top 10 class is not out of the question.
We will have a top 15 for sure. I'd say a top 10 depends on the wildcard picks I listed above. If we got Walter Nolan, I'd say we will for sure have a top 10.
Yeah, even if we just hold on to what we have and nab the guys we are, more or less, favorites for we will be top 15.
The guys you mentioned Nate Johnson , Jordan Phillips, Hayden Schwartz and micah pollard are all 3 stars. The only four star is Dillion Tatum. Not saying they won't be good players , but if your think a bunch of three stars are going to boost our class long term we are in trouble!
He was simply stating those are the guys who are closest to committing and they absolutely will boost our recruiting class. It has been discussed here often (see the many Rutgers posts, todays ND post) about how number of recruits boost classes. Additionally, this is a covid year and you will have to trust our coaches evaluations. Considering how heavily they are pursuing Pollard, Phillips, and Schwartz they are likely at minimum that 3.5* types of players.
Better to have 3 stars than walk ons like last year. But the fact of the matter is that 3 stars can develop, and we've kinda proven it. Kwity Paye, Ronnie Bell, Eubanks, Khaleke Hudson, Uche, Metellus even Karan Higdon was a 3 Star.
I'm not at all trying to be a "Stars don't matter" guy, but the 3 star guys are either the majority, or close to it with 4 stars. Even though we have 4 and 5 star players, or players who are ranked MUCH better, 3 stars can still out play them.
Mang is getting West Virginia crystal balls and apparently the longer this Phillips recruitment drags out the worst spot we are in. I wouldn’t count on him being in this class unfortunately
It's a weird year because of Covid, and a lot of kids who would have gotten a bump from camping last year, didn't get that bump, so this si truly a year where you have to trust the coaches scouting more than the ranking services.
This is exactly why i like the Alexander pick up. The staff has seen him more in person than any recruiting site.
Gone are the days when you could stash a 205-lb. linebacker for bulking up until he was ready. Now he'll hit the portal right when he's needed most.
Gone are the days when you could stash a 205-lb. linebacker for bulking up until he was ready.
Remember the time Mike Leach allegedly tried to stash a player until he was ready to play? Yeah, that didn't work out so well...
I forgot about this. I think this ended Craig James' career on TV also. His son tried to end Leach's career, but ended his dad's. I wonder what Christmas is like at the James' now?
Probably still nervous. Never forget. CJK5H.
Allegedly.
Maybe this was a safety evaluation and all three are to play safety.
Haha... fixed....
can he play DE?
Will there be a BBQ at the Big House this year or another event that will create a run of commitments?
I have not heard anything about a BBQ at the Big House in 2021, but it's possible. This coming weekend is supposed to be the biggest recruiting weekend so far.
I ran track with Semaj Morgan's dad (also named Semaj) in high school.
He finished 2nd in the state class A meet in the 100M and 400M in 1990.
His kid has about 3" and 30lbs on his dad in HS.