New Crystal Ball in for 4* QB Jayden Denegal
https://247sports.com/Player/Jayden-Denegal-46094841/
19th rated QB according to 247 composite.
Would be a really nice get.
Mostly agree with your well-reasoned takes, but gotta disagree with you on this one.
Doubtful that Michigan is attempting to replicate in any way, shape, or form what the Ravens have been able to accomplish with a once-in-a-generation and very likely future Hall of Fame player. Lamar Jackson is not a scheme-dependent football player. Dude would flourish in any offense in any era. So there is little to zero intrinsic value for Michigan of the familiarity that Matt Weiss has with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' running game.
It seems much more likely that Denegal was either the best that Michigan had left on their board, or was the best that they felt they could get the year after getting McCarthy, who looks like a multi-year starter.
Agree with you elsewhere though... Denegal does have a bit of an unusually looping and somewhat inconsistent throwing motion, but it seems to work for him.
I strongly disagree that Lamar Jackson would flourish in any era/offense. He's not a good pocket passer and requires the threat of the (shotgun) running game to give him favorable matchups in the passing game. Place him in a passing spread or under center in the I-formation, and he's not nearly the same guy.
The disagreement certainly makes an interesting discussion.
I suppose I was thinking single wing, double wing, wing-T, T-formation, I-formation, wishbone, flexbone, pistol, shotgun, spread, etc... most of 'em.
I'd also argue that it also depends on which version of the I-formation and passing spread you're talking about... If it's Nebraska's option version of the I formation from the 80's and 90's, they're probably pretty effective with Lamar Jackson running it. Additionally, the Ravens currently employ elements of the spread, and option offenses within their offensive schemes, so I'm not too sure about "not being the same guy" he is otherwise. Those schemes provide parts of the offense that he helps run now.
Jim recruiting QB's is always interesting. Can't wait for this year's group.
Nice, fingers crossed this works out.
I find it entirely believable that he was MSU's 3rd choice. His film isn't very good, be it game film or throwing for staffs/camps.
I agree with Magnus that he's a massive project. I didn't find much to like when watching his play, from mechanics to general intangibles.
It's not star gazing, btw. I REALLY liked that Harrell kid from Alabama and he was something like the 30th ranked player in that state. I was very high on his game and think he'll be a star at UNC (assumed landing spot) if he can add some good weight and thicken-up a bit. Tons of innate ability, a lethal deep ball, athletic but doesn't depend on it, etc.
This kid is a pure project, IMO. If he were 6' 170 he wouldn't even be recruited out of HS based on what I've seen.
Isn't it possible that the film is misleading? 2020 wasn't exactly normal for high schools, either.
What I do know is that he worked out, in person, for the coaches, today, and he "impressed" them. So, there's that.
Misleading in that a kid's entire game is different due to Covid? Misleading in that he looks no different in a camp setting and throwing for staffs this year?
California played in the spring, but his sophomore film from 2019 wasn't great, either. It's two years in a row with unimpressive film (IMO).
At this point, who else do you take? Seems like everyone else has decided to go elsewhere with the top two targets going to Utah (Nate Johnson) and UNC (Harrell). It's not ideal, but it's a bit of a weird class anyway as they'd have to compete with JJ and, if god decides to stop hating us, Dante Moore in 2023.
At least they stole one from Sparty
This is the exact situation. UM is in a position of having to take a chance on a kid with, at least, the basic physical tools.
Because he's an absolute project/reach. He's, IMO, the worst of the realistic options we've looked at this cycle.
I'm sure he's a good kid but I'm not here to talk on that. As a QB he's just not very good ATM...but UM is running out of options.
I mentioned a couple options elsewhere in this thread.
Meh, I think we land him, but before we even offered it was said by the west coast 247 writers that he didn’t have a single committable power 5 offer. We’re his only real power 5 offer. Nice looking athlete with a bad throwing motion.
Welcome aboard! It's always important to have a viable QB in each class.
If he's a project, we're going to need to improve our QB development. Hopefully that is being addressed with Weiss and anyone else we bring on going forward.