According to 247 midwest scout Steve Wiltfong, Michigan commitment and former OSU target has scheduled an official at Alabama. Hoke's policy would deem him no longer committed, but we'll find out if said policy stays as not so steadfast as it has with Conley. Either way, an interesting piece of news in the recruiting world, and also a source of UM tears.
Here's the link if you for some reason have a subscription to Wolverine247: http://michigan.247sports.com/Board/59424/Michigan-commit-scheduled-to-take-official-elsewhere-15422455
In other Michigan related news, in a live chat, Derrick Green just compared his running style to "a mix between Trent Richardson, Herschel Walker, and Bo Jackson."......... OK.
That's basically akin to saying "I'm the best running back EVER", or "I'm a mix between high school Marcus Dupree and Jesus."
Not really criticizing, I just found that hilarious.
Hmmm. Well, can't blame the kid for wanting to check out Bama. If I had to choose between the 2, I'd go Bama, wouldn't you guys? Can't wait to see how Hoke handles this.
He already had that choice, though, and chose Michigan. It's an interesting scenario, for sure.
If I'm a recruit, I'd be weary of going to 'Bama because of their shady over signing practices (I'd be weary of any school like this). However I'm not a recruit and have life experience and know to look for security of other options.
Yep. Would never go to a school with a coach that oversigns like Bama does. Might not have a scholarship by the time I got there if they found a more highly rated recruit.
He's been tearing up uaaag practices too from what I've read. Wonder if bama caught wind of this n came back at him hard.
O'Deez330
stark county football
DT Brantley also decommited from Florida... And had offers basically from all SEC schools be interesting to see where he lands. For some reason I have a feeling Ole Miss is gonna end up with a nasty DL recruiting class... At least a pretty solid class overall.
I think a lot of these kids bought into the Shane Morris/Hoke pipe dream and are slowly awakening from their slumber. We need a strong UM to help legitimize the B1G, but I can't help but smile. I really don't want him going to Bama though. It's like having a choice between 2 evil empires
Updated, with chuckles.
Poggi now saying he's all Michigan, but smoke, and fire, and what have you, etc.
No fire here. Reaffirmed his decision to Michigan. Not visiting. Debunked by all avenues.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
Yeah I saw that but this thread had fallen so far down the tracker that I didn't think it would be worth it. Did Wiltfong happen to mention why he reported it?
I think a trusted source started or passed on the rumor. Not really sure, but I know he recanted.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
All the UM recuits should be taking visits. Most of they committed early to a team that was 11-2 and won the Sugar bowl. Now they are 8-5 and looking that way for next year and beyond. All of their recuiting momentum was from Tatgate and Fickell being in over his head for 1 season. Way different atmosphere over there now compared to this time last yr.
I wouldn't go that far. Hoke has been recruiting much more robustly than Rodriguez ever did. He's got great players wanting to play in Ann Arbor. Gareon Conley only recently flipped to the forces of good. Hoke's got a lot of good players, and several highly ranked DBs, in his class this year, the first full one against Urban. I think his deficiencies are more in his coaching than anything to do with his recruiting. And while I don't think Shane Morris is the answer Hoke and Borges were looking for, they had South Carolina on the ropes for much of their bowl game with a half-year starter and no consistent threat at RB. I love when misery falls over Ann Arbor, but they are improving. I think Urban is arguably the best coach in America right now (Saban is the only one who would give me pause in that regard), but Hoke isn't a slouch. He's solid, an excellent recruiter, but offensively unimaginative in my opinion. And I think that is why the Buckeyes will have more victories than defeats while Urban and Hoke patrol the sidelines.
Who was their big win this yr? MSU? They played 4 good teams and lost all 4, they played 3 ok teams and went 2-1 (prayer to be NW). I am unimpressed with Jaba Hoke. Mattison has made a big difference, but balance that with Denard leaving. Where are they next yr?
MSU was a big win to the program and Michigan fans, but, let's be honest, it wasn't a big win.
While we're being honest, take a glance at those 5 losses. All away from home. #1 ND,#2 Bama, and #2A OSU, #10 (will move up) SCar, and a primetime game at Nebraska where your starting QB goes down pretty early and your put a kid out there who is a career 3rd stringer.
"Where are they next year?" QB situation: better. Defense: Better. OLine HUUUUUGE question mark, but all signs point to better talent with no experience (except for Lewan, of course). IMO Lewan is gone.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I'm not sure you can automatically chalk up your defense next year as better. Let's examine the South Carolina game:
First, I know you had suspensions and injuries, but Kovacs shouldn't have been in the game against those guys. He'd been getting burned all day, and the only reason I can find for putting him there in clutch time is that there are no other options. That means the Cass Tech guys can't get into the game, for some reason. It also means that making your speedy kick returner a DB didn't have much effect. I think that may be more of a question mark going into the next season than anything. Not to mention, neither Avery nor Taylor have really excelled, and no one really knows if Countess will be able to make seamless restart.
No, not automatically. I'm assuming Countess comes back 100%. Lose will campbell but have Pipkins and Q Washington has a lock on the other DT spot. Lose Roh, but have Beyer, Clark, Ojemudia. Ra Taylor didn't have a great game against SCar, but he's no worse than Floyd and a solid #2. Richardson may be ready next year, as well. Lose Demens but have Ryan, Bolden, Morgan (I'm not a fan), and Ross III. We'll have Gordon back at safety as a SR and then will need someone to step in: Robinson, Wilson, Dymonte (unlikely, but he is enrolling early).
No guarantees, but from a talent perspective, Michigan will probably be better. However, they're losing 170 starts worth of leadership between Kovacs, Floyd, Roh, and Campbell.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I don't think it's an unfair assumption that Countess comes back to contribute. But to say Taylor is "no worse than Floyd"? No offense, but Floyd was a giant liability every time he touched the field. As an OSU fan, I was actually excited that Floyd was playing corner in the OSU game.
I think Pipkins will be a solid contributor next year, and I assume Beyer will win the other DE spot over Clark just from watching them against USCe. I also think Bolden will be solid, but the other LB is a question mark because Ryan is more of a hybrid. The young guys haven't shown much at LB or safety, and that's why safety is the biggest question mark, to me. Wilson looked lost yesterday, and the safeties basically left Taylor with no room for error over the top.
I chalk the Bama loss up to UM being completely overmatched. I chalk the Notre Dame loss up to Denard thinking he was playing for the Irish. I chalk up the Nebraska game up to UM coaches not being prepared in the event that Denard went down with an injury. History has shown that Denard will get hurt and they were unprepared. There's really no excuse for that. I chalk up the OSU game to UM not being able to move the ball against OSU's defense, especially in the 2nd half. And I chalk the South Carolina game up to Um's defense giving up several big plays, including the game winning TD.
Maybe for some kids, they only look at records. I think the majority look at the whole package schools have to offer. Besides, I think some kids look at the big picture and their place and making that program better so that they move from 8-5 seasons to 10-3, then 12-2, and 14-0. That's why we see some of these commits recruiting so hard. They care more about setting themselves up with a championship caliber team for the future than worrying about some tough losses before they even set foot on campus.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
I actually think a young team playing really well is more threatening to recruits because they start to wonder if and when they'll get to play. For guys like Poggi, he can look at the ends playing out of position, Roh basically being neutralized, and Q Washington missing big tackles, and think that he can win a spot and help the cause.
Derrick Green is going to be one to watch. Never impressed with his film. Saw nothing special in any 7 on 7 competitions he was in. A 5 star should wow you in some way. He may end up being a decent back but don't see the hype. Good luck to him but he already has enough pressure. He should refrain from applying any more by labeling himself as he did in the OPs quotes.
He's been very impressive at Army practices, for what it's worth. Also his type of running back isn't the type that excels in 7 on 7 play, which doesn't showcase the running game at all.
Saw Poggi play against Moeller on TV this year. After the game, I thought, glad he is going to Michigan because he sucks. I think they recruited him to get an in road to his high school which produces many top college prospects. His father is the head coach there. He was pushed around by the Moeller offensive line the entire game.
Hail I read on 247 that Poggi's father is taking a few players to Bama and that Poggi is tagging along but it is simply a "business trip," not a "visit." I don't presume to know if it's true, just wondering if this rumor has been disspelled as well.
I haven't heard. I can't access 24/7 or MGoBlog at work, so my Michigan sources are pretty limited. Sounds legit, though.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler