Wednesday Recruitin' Braces for HOKEMANIA
Without knowing what Brady Hoke's coaching staff is going to look like, it's hard to say exactly what will happen with Michigan's recruiting. I'll maintain the status quo from last week for now, assuming most of Michigan's non-Florida recruits are going to stick. Hoke has already said he'll honor their commitments.
The Commits
So I'm not redundantly linking the same article over and over, AnnArbor.com article is here.
MI RB Justice Hayes took to Twitter to say he'd stay a Wolverine no matter what. The AnnArbor.com article confirms it.
MI OL Jake Fisher is "rethinking" his commitment. Though Fisher had previously said he picked Michigan for the total package, not just a coach, he'll make sure he doesn't like Michigan State, Oregon, or Notre Dame better.
FL OL Tony Posada, per AnnArbor.com, planned to stay with Michigan before the hiring.
OH OL Jack Miller said he'd stick with the Wolverines even before Hoke was hired, and his buddy, OH DT Chris Rock is solid, along with him ($). Video on Miller:
MI DE Brennen Beyer's coach told AnnArbor.com that he'd consider opening his commitment.
MI LB Desmond Morgan is "definitely solid" to Michigan:
“It was more than just the coaching situation,” Morgan said of deciding to accept a scholarship at U-M. “It was the school, it was the atmosphere, the education and the history, the tradition.”
TX LB Kellen Jones said, pre-hiring, that his commitment was firm (AnnArbor.com). He told Tom that he's still a Wolverine as long as the staff still wants him. There had been rumors of a decommitment in favor of Florida. He's still planning to take a couple visits, so keep an eye on him.
OH S/CB Greg Brown is already a student in Ann Arbor.
FL S/CB Dallas Crawford probably shouldn't even be considered a Michigan commit anymore, and he now favors Miami (YTM). It would be a surprise to see him end up in Michigan's class. I'll remove him from the commitment list, but leave him on the board.
MD CB Blake Countess will not decommit, but he's waiting to speak with Hoke ($, info in header).
CA K Matt Goudis has been replaced in Boise State's recruiting class by Jake Van Ginkel, but he'll visit Miami (YTM), and it sounds like he's looking to give the Canes his commitment "no matter what the Michigan coaches have to say."
It looks like Fisher, Jones, and Goudis are the only current commits (Crawford not included, of course), that are serious flight risks.
Finishing The Class
Hoke has said there will be no recruiting visits this weekend (though a couple unofficials may be a possibility), so there should be a pair of huge visit rosters over the next couple weeks. Stay tuned for those.
Sam Webb talks Hoke's recruiting in the Detroit News. A few new prospects to keep an eye on with the change in coaching staff: CA DT Christian Heyward and CA DT Mustafa Jalil. With Michigan's need at defensive tackle and Hoke's background, they could see opportunity. Also mentioned in Sam's article is CA WR Devin Lucien, who Hoke recruited at SDSU. He plans to visit Ann Arbor, and Michigan has a good chance at him.
Aside from defensive tackle, losing Tate Forcier makes quarterback a huge area of need in this class - especially with Denard Robinson mum on whether he definitely plans to stick around. San Diego State has one quarterback commit, 3-star Californian Chad Jeffries. The 6-3 pocket slinger is SDSU's highest-rated commit to Rivals, and if Al Borges plans to continue with pocket guys after Denard leaves town, rather than adapting scheme somewhat, Jeffries could be a possibility.
IL OL Chris Bryant has pushed back his announcement ($, info in header). He'll now decide the 28th instead of the 21st, giving him time to get to know Michigan's new staff. Tom says Michigan still leads.
NC WR/LB Kris Frost committed to Auburn last week, but the Tigers still haven't accepted his commitment. If they can't find room for him in their class, he'll consider Michigan again.
SC WR Hakeem Flowers will announce a commitment on January 23rd. Oregon, LSU, and Michigan are his final three.
NJ TE Jack Tabb had planned to announce yesterday, eliminating Michigan from the running, but now will announce tomorrow ($, info in header), with the Wolverines back on the table.
MI CB Raymon Taylor still plans to visit Ann Arbor. He's visiting Indiana this weekend, and the Hoosiers will try to regain a commitment from him.
Mini Happy Trails
NJ S Sheldon Royster has eliminated Michigan ($, info in header).
Happy Trails to FL RB DeVondrick Nealy, an Iowa State commit. The new staff likely would not have pursued Nealy.
MD DT Darian Cooper removed Michigan from his list, but with a defensive line-oriented head coach, it'll be interesting to see whether Michigan can get back in on a kid like him.
Happy Trails moments should be coming fast and furious as Signing Day approaches.
Reminder: 2012 updates are on hold until after Signing Day.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
Realistically, how many guys do you think we will sign this year? I know that number is subject to change by the hour but ballpark it.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
...and it sounds like he's looking to give the Canes his commitment "no matter what the Michigan coaches have to say."
This does not sound like good news especially considering how horrible the kicking was last year and will probably be again if no suitable replacements for the current kickers are made available.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
E-fact - kickers never improve.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
I agree. Additional e-fact: We currently have 5 place kickers on the roster, not counting Hagerup. 4 of those 5 (including Broekhuizen and Gibbons) are either freshmen or RS freshmen - they're young and stand to improve more. Give them another off-season and I bet one of them comes off as solid. Remember our kicker last year? He was a walk-on who nobody heard from until his junior year.
That, and keep in mind that most all high school teams have a kicker, and only like 15 kickers in the country get a scholarship every year. There's a non-zero chance that we get a walk-on this fall who didn't get a scholarship but is still a very decent kicker who might be our guy with another year of practice.
January 13th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^
but still felt the need to do this...
Remember our kicker last year?
no.
He was a walk-on who nobody heard from until his junior year.
oh that's why.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
Travis Dorsch. 18 of 31 (58.1%) as a freshman, 12 of 17 (70.1%) as a sophomore, then 11 of 15 (73.3%) and 20 of 25 (80%) to close out his career.
Of course that doesn't say if his attempts changed as time went on (although the departure of Brees after the 2000 season definitely led to a dropoff in offense, which should have meant more/longer FG attempts). Also, he went on to be a bad punter for Cincinnati for one year, so whatever magic he had in college ran out quickly after he graduated. But he did improve steadily in college, which means, um, something.
FWIW, he's now a second-year doctoral student. WTF? With published papers and stuff. And teaching a class. So maybe only psychology majors can improve their performance as kickers.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
Let's hope that Hoke brings in someone on his staff that can work with Gibbons. He was a highly rated kicker out of high school. Maybe with some more attention and possibly a visit to the AAD that helped Brady, Howard and I am sure countless others he can turn things around.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
Hoke had a TE / Special Teams coach with the last name of Ferrigno (I know, I know), who had 20 years of Pac 10 experience prior to joining SDSU.
Special teams coach, yes please.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Can't wait to see how these next couple weeks shake out recruiting wise. It's poaching season Hokemania!
January 13th, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
Unfortunately, I think that's going to be part of our problem. As excited as much of our fan base may be over Hoke at the moment, to the world of recruits, I'd find it hard to believe that many of them even know who he is. Tough to imagine that many will switch to an unknown commodity. Our odds of poaching were my higher with a known commodity like Harbaugh or Miles.
I hope for the best, but this will mostly likely be the worst recruiting class in decades at Michigan.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
I agree it's going to be tough, this recruiting class is probably shot..I'm just praying he pulls a couple recruits out of nowhere!
January 13th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
so what you are saying is that Hoke does not possess any of this aforementioned "snake oil" stuff?
January 13th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Sorry if this is a dumb question but is there any risk of a recruiting violation with the fact that Hayes has a Block M hat with his name imprinted on it? I'd assume he made the hat, which would nullify a violation, but....
January 13th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
what rule does it violate that a recruit personalizes apparel? if Michigan sent it like that? maybe. he's doing the exact same as anybody who buys a personalized jersey from M Den
January 13th, 2011 at 1:28 PM ^
Right, that's the only reason I asked. Damn, people are sensitive.
January 13th, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
Touche, salesman.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
I, too, have an uncle. Go on.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
We really need a safety. Dallas may have been that option. I hope Greg Brown can play safety.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
eh? Love that guy. And thanks for this. With each passing day I'm a bit more optimistic that we are headed in the right direction.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Unless Hoke pulls off a recruiting miracle with Cooper that door won't open. Darian told me yesterday it's over with Michigan. He doesn't know this coaching staff and it's too late.
January 13th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
So you're saying there's a chance?
January 13th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
Tom VH says:
He doesn't know this coaching staff and it's too late.
I think that is the single most telling sentence of this whole coaching change debacle. Had DB kept his promise and opened up the checkbook and gotten a name coach players would have flocked to Ann Arbor. Now they're like, "Who?" Michigan football would still be a national news story and news outlets like ESPN would be covering every move of the new coach. Outside of Michigan this story is old news now.
I still will buy my season tickets and support the players; I just shudder to think what would happen if this team goes 7-5 or worse, 6-6 in 2011. We might look back at 2011's recruiting class as the glory days of Hoke at that point.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Is there any word from Zettel? Any chance he might reconsider?
January 13th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110113/SPORTS06/10113…; Another opinion on our signing class 2011 prospects.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
Seriously, pull the link.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
Agreed, it doesn't work
January 13th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
throw your computer out the window - preferably if you are two stories up or higher.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
http://www.freep.com/article/20110113/SPORTS06/101130646/
Lemming: Good '11 recruiting class 'impossible' for U-M
January 13th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
Years. It will be hard for a coach with a mediocre record to overcome the academic standards of Michigan, lack of recognition, AND a less than stellar season. DB has made it so that Hoke HAS to win next year or natIonal perception will be that we are a once great program that is steadily on the decline.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
RR already got fired, stop piling on.
Seriously, look back at Hoke's recruiting history at Michigan. Better yet, have a look at how recruiting started to dip after Hoke left Michigan. You could argue if you wanted that Hoke leaving the Michigan staff is one of many reasons which led to Michigan's talent and depth deficit the past few years.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
Hoke left the program EIGHT YEARS ago!!!
My problem isn't that Hoke was hired. It's that Hoke was obviously always the guy, or at least #2 behind Harbaugh. If this was the call, then it should have been made a week ago, fans be damned. Neg away all you like. It won't change the fact that DB turned this into a total clusterfuck.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
I always enjoy your updates.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
class was on the up-swing as of late, but none of this is a suprise with the CC. Brady has his work cut out for him, and very little time to do it.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
@ this class was on the up swing. This class has been held together with duct tape for a long time now. Right or wrong neg press killed rr on the recruiting trail.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
This is depressing.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
It isn't Hulkmania or Hokemania. It is Hoke-A-Mania. There is an "A" in there. Spelling it wrong just makes us look stupid. Now, everyone promptly go back and edit your posts to the proper spelling before I go through and neg each and every one of them.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
we will get 18 or so. Hoke and his coordinators will close out the recruiting class. The question is not how many players, so much as the quality of those players. There are a lot of lower rated guys out there that would jump at the chance.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
I'm hoping a really solid set of assistants with good reputations will salvage the class. A couple of ex-Michigan coaches who are now in the NFL might go a long way.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
Kellen Jones is the one who surprises me the most out of this class. It seems he would really want to come now that his coach played linebacker and was the defensive line coach for Michigan for 8 years. Sounded like his dad was a die hard Michigan fan growing up and he was too.
I think the sleeper of this class is Desmon Morgan. He seems even more commited now that a Michigan Man is in the office. Coming from a family of die hard Wolverine fans, I bet they are really excited to see him in the winged helmet now.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
Does this mean we'll have a kicker this year? You know one that kicks the ball between the posts?
January 13th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Hopefully, as he was packing up the office, Rich forgot about his case of snake oil and left it for Brady to utilize, both now and in future...
January 13th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
Is Darren Kitchen (kid we were dangling an offer on from Louisiana) still available? Word early on was he wanted to commit to Michigan but the offer wasn't extended because Michigan was in on a few more highly rated prospects.
Well - we have plenty of room now to take a few lower rated prospects in an attempt to salvage/fill out the class.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
He would be a very good, underrated pick-up. He should have been offered a long time ago.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
I, for one, was not aware that Iowa State still played football. What an odd commitment.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Oh man this recruiting class is super awful. Fucking fuck.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
Is Devin Garner sticking around for sure? Since he was reshirted, he could leave and still play a lot of years somewhere else. Does he have any misgivings about the coaching change?
All I've read assumes he'll be back-up QB. I just hope it's true.
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