All Things SkunkBear

[Andy in Sactown]

I was reading an article on Shaun Crawford from back in May and came across this:



If that is true, they have like 1-2 spots left in 2014 and only nine spots left in 2015 as they already have three commitments (Campbell, Runyan Jr. and a kicker).

Very interesting. Also lots of time for "unspecified violation of team rules", "lingering medical concerns", "etc".

Would be interested to hear from Tom / Wolverines about their numbers "crunch".

 

[TomHaverford]

Very interesting. Also lots of time for "unspecified violation of team rules", "lingering medical concerns", "etc".

Would be interested to hear from Tom / Wolverines about their numbers "crunch".

2015 class is going to be really small. Not sure on the exact numbers, but it'll be less than 15 most likely. They have Runyan Jr., Campbell, a kicker, and a greyshirt DT from the 2014 class, so right now they already have 4 spots filled for a class that will probably only be around 12.

2014 should be 18-20. They are at 14 commits right now in 2014, so 4 more players minimum and 6 maximum is what it looks like.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

2015 class is going to be really small. Not sure on the exact numbers, but it'll be less than 15 most likely. They have Runyan Jr., Campbell, a kicker, and a greyshirt DT from the 2014 class, so right now they already have 4 spots filled for a class that will probably only be around 12.

2014 should be 18-20. They are at 14 commits right now in 2014, so 4 more players minimum and 6 maximum is what it looks like.

I remember watching Jon Runyan play at Michigan, the fact that his kid will soon be playing there makes me feel really old.

 

[maison bleu]

Michigan lands George Campbell, top athlete in 2015

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Yes, troll we know. Everyone knows. Hell, we've been talking Michigan recruiting since it happened. Thanks for the drive by raspberry. Good job though, reminding us that there are tons of Walmart Wolverines that represent their program terribly.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Michigan lands George Campbell, top athlete in 2015

Congrats. Did anyone tell Campbell that playing on a perennial 8-5 team can take it's toll on a player?

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Michigan lands George Campbell, top athlete in 2015

Yes, troll we know. Everyone knows. Hell, we've been talking Michigan recruiting since it happened. Thanks for the drive by raspberry. Good job though, reminding us that there are tons of Walmart Wolverines that represent their program terribly.

And before anyone jumps on me for being overly short with this troll, notice two things and then play devil's advocate with another:

1) Someone took the time to change his user title to scUM troll.
2) Looking at just a few of previous posts shows some attitude and that he once changed Whiskey's title to bitch made.

Then imagine how we'd be treated if we registered at mgoblog and just posted a link every time we got a commitment.

We'd have to re-register for every commit! That's how!

I love talking to members of other fan bases, but as phork pointed out in an old thread I was just looking through, we're way too tolerant to the people that are here deliberately to troll us. They're here to take a ****. Sure, once they're banned we keep 'em banned for the most part, but trolling should result in a permanent ban.

Now obviously establishing who is or isn't trolling is subjective, but I trust our moderators to know when someone "is a troll". Those are accounts that don't need to be active. My 2c.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

So with George Campbell ('15) joining teammate Mason Cole ('14) at Michigan, that's two from East Lake H.S.

Tarpon Springs is in Tampa. Nice place to have a pipeline.

 

[ant80]

This is a thread about scUM recruiting. I think posting that scUM got a recruit is completely relevant.

However, it has been news for a whole 24 hours. Instead of posting a link from someplace when we already know about the commitment, he could've posted a tactful comment on it though... I guess that's beyond the capabilities of a scUMmer.

 

[irish o'phile]

Whoa. I was just checking out Hoke's career stats. I did not know that Hoke has a career record of only 66-57. He was 4 games under .500 at Ball State and one game over .500 at SD State. He is 19-7 at UM in 2 years, with someone else's recruits, but I think that Denard's running had a lot to do with that.

He is recruting well this year, but I wonder how he will develop these guys he is getting. It is so much more than just getting them on campus.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Whoa. I was just checking out Hoke's career stats. I did not know that Hoke has a career record of only 66-57. He was 4 games under .500 at Ball State and one game over .500 at SD State. He is 19-7 at UM in 2 years, with someone else's recruits, but I think that Denard's running had a lot to do with that.

He is recruting well this year, but I wonder how he will develop these guys he is getting. It is so much more than just getting them on campus.

EXACTLY!

AND his only real back-up choice for QB this year, Bellamy, is out for the year.

Oh yeah and three of his defensive leaders are gone through exhausted eligibility or out for the season, (Ryan)!

 

[phork]

EXACTLY!

AND his only real back-up choice for QB this year, Bellamy, is out for the year.

Oh yeah and three of his defensive leaders are gone through exhausted eligibility or out for the season, (Ryan)!

By all reports Ryan is making great progress and might be back by mid season. Frankly if its me I take the year off. Blow it out again and you are toast.

Hoke has been the benefactor of one coach in particular. Mattison. Their 11-2 year was fueled by turn overs. The next year they fell back to earth. Mattison's schemes, especially with Ryan and Kovacs, were pretty effective.

I am still not convinced that Borges is a good OC. Denard should have been moved to slot or RB last year to make room for Gardner and to get a full year under his belt. All this hype about him and Funchess lighting it up is BS. They had some good games against the dregs of the BIG in the second half of the season. Nothing about their offense scares me. Replacing 2 or 3 OL. Touissant is no real threat. Gardner is an injury away from offensive DOOM and starting a freshman QB. Their WR corp is meh at best.

The defense will be the only stout unit on the field, decent but not great. I pray we can finish the job from UTL, that game should have been a blow out of epic proportions.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

This is a thread about scUM recruiting. I think posting that scUM got a recruit is completely relevant.

However, it has been news for a whole 24 hours. Instead of posting a link from someplace when we already know about the commitment, he could've posted a tactful comment on it though... I guess that's beyond the capabilities of a scUMmer.

Yeah, you're right. It had more to do with knowing that guy was a douche troll and that it was his version of a 'ha ha, **** you'.

Probably why I felt the need to explain myself..

 

[TomHaverford]

I am still not convinced that Borges is a good OC. Denard should have been moved to slot or RB last year to make room for Gardner and to get a full year under his belt. All this hype about him and Funchess lighting it up is BS. They had some good games against the dregs of the BIG in the second half of the season. Nothing about their offense scares me. Replacing 2 or 3 OL. Touissant is no real threat. Gardner is an injury away from offensive DOOM and starting a freshman QB. Their WR corp is meh at best

I think Borges is a good OC, he has a good track record prior to Michigan. I think sometimes he got too cute and tried to do to much. The Vincent Smith pass against you guys in the redzone last year was an example of this. His second half play-calling against Ohio State was atrocious. He was just doing the best with what he had though, honestly the offensive talent on Michigan's roster has just not been that good and it's been geared for a completely different style of offense than what Borges runs.

You say Denard should have been moved to RB/Slot, but hindsight is always 20-20. Denard had a record setting year in 2010 at QB and won the B1G player of the year award, and in 2011 in Hoke's first season Denard QB'ed his team to an 11-2 record and a BCS bowl win. The coaches weren't just going to switch him to RB/Slot for an unproven Gardner.

Honestly, replacing the OL's do not concern me that much. Patrick Omameh and Ricky Barnum might've had a lot more experience, but neither one had the potential or massive size that Kyle Kalis and Ben Braden are bringing to the table. Our interior OL wasn't that good in 2012. Molk graduating and Michael Schofield moving from LG to RT really damaged the interior of that OL in 2012, they went downhill fast. Ben Braden is up to 322 pounds and Kalis is around 305, Braden will start at LG and Kalis at RG. There is an experience gap there sure, but these two are better fits for the type of blocking schemes and offense these coaches want to run and both are major upgrades in terms of raw talent.

You are right that if Gardner goes down Michigan is screwed. Bellomy wasn't the answer even if he was healthy, not sure I've ever seen a scholarship QB less physically talented than Bellomy at Michigan. Morris is very talented, but raw as can be, there is no way he's game ready, nor will he be this year. He needs a redshirt. Hoke/Borges screwed themselves here by not taking a QB in 2012.

 

[Irish#1]

I think Borges is a good OC, he has a good track record prior to Michigan. I think sometimes he got too cute and tried to do to much. The Vincent Smith pass against you guys in the redzone last year was an example of this. His second half play-calling against Ohio State was atrocious. He was just doing the best with what he had though, honestly the offensive talent on Michigan's roster has just not been that good and it's been geared for a completely different style of offense than what Borges runs.

You say Denard should have been moved to RB/Slot, but hindsight is always 20-20. Denard had a record setting year in 2010 at QB and won the B1G player of the year award, and in 2011 in Hoke's first season Denard QB'ed his team to an 11-2 record and a BCS bowl win. The coaches weren't just going to switch him to RB/Slot for an unproven Gardner.

Honestly, replacing the OL's do not concern me that much. Patrick Omameh and Ricky Barnum might've had a lot more experience, but neither one had the potential or massive size that Kyle Kalis and Ben Braden are bringing to the table. Our interior OL wasn't that good in 2012. Molk graduating and Michael Schofield moving from LG to RT really damaged the interior of that OL in 2012, they went downhill fast. Ben Braden is up to 322 pounds and Kalis is around 305, Braden will start at LG and Kalis at RG. There is an experience gap there sure, but these two are better fits for the type of blocking schemes and offense these coaches want to run and both are major upgrades in terms of raw talent.

You are right that if Gardner goes down Michigan is screwed. Bellomy wasn't the answer even if he was healthy, not sure I've ever seen a scholarship QB less physically talented than Bellomy at Michigan. Morris is very talented, but raw as can be, there is no way he's game ready, nor will he be this year. He needs a redshirt. Hoke/Borges screwed themselves here by not taking a QB in 2012.

Good coordinators don't get excited or stray too far from the plan. If this is what he did, then he's average. If that was his plan, he's still average.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Damn.

 

[clashmore_mike]

need to get the guy who created Vine to start hitting up ND recruits

 

[NDWorld247]

need to get the guy who created Vine to start hitting up ND recruits

Is he a ND alum? The twitter CEO is a former skunkbear.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Is he a ND alum? The twitter CEO is a former skunkbear.

Cant believe this. Im a little ashamed i use twitter now haha

 

[clashmore_mike]

Is he a ND alum? The twitter CEO is a former skunkbear.

Yes I'm pretty sure he is

 

[dublinirish]

Tom Mendoz regularly tweets and follows ND players

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/NickyBaratti">@NickyBaratti</a> My pleasure. Your int against Michigan was the first of many great moments for you. Here's to a terrific season!</p>— Tom Mendoza (@TomMendozaTalks) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomMendozaTalks/statuses/361865719295639552">July 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[STLDomer]

“@TomVH: 2012 BBQ: 34 attendees, 17 were already committed, 20 eventually signed/committed to Michigan. Damon Webb, Artavis Scott big misses.”

Parker Westphal was at the 2012 BBQ and is considered a massive UM lean.

“@TomVH: 2011 BBQ: 24 attendees, 12 were already committed, 17 total attendees eventually signed w Michigan. Bri'onte Dunn and Treadwell big misses”

Over 60% of those at the BBQ end up at Michigan. That's impressive. I would like ND to replicate Michigan's style of inviting 30ish guys versus UGAs where they have hundreds.

 

[IrishLax]

“@TomVH: 2012 BBQ: 34 attendees, 17 were already committed, 20 eventually signed/committed to Michigan. Damon Webb, Artavis Scott big misses.”

Parker Westphal was at the 2012 BBQ and is considered a massive UM lean.

“@TomVH: 2011 BBQ: 24 attendees, 12 were already committed, 17 total attendees eventually signed w Michigan. Bri'onte Dunn and Treadwell big misses”

Over 60% of those at the BBQ end up at Michigan. That's impressive. I would like ND to replicate Michigan's style of inviting 30ish guys versus UGAs where they have hundreds.

I get what you're saying and I totally agree with you about ND going with something similar or a FNL of sort. But while technically true about the "60%", that's nearly as impressive as the blanket stat makes it sound.

Using the listed stats you just gave... in 2011 (are these years right? I'm a little confused), of uncommitted prospects in attendance they went 5/12 with 2 big misses. That's pretty darn good. In 2012, they went 3/17 with 2 big misses (although Scott doesn't really count... Damon Webb is a HUGE miss though). That's really not great at all, around 17.5%.

Counting already committed guys in the effectiveness rating of an event doesn't really make much sense to me because hypothetically you could just invite 15 commits and say it was 100% effective. Looking at uncommitted prospects they've gone a total 8/29 which is pretty darn good at around 27.5%... but it's also not earth shattering.

 

[STLDomer]

I get what you're saying and I totally agree with you about ND going with something similar or a FNL of sort. But while technically true about the "60%", that's nearly as impressive as the blanket stat makes it sound.

Using the listed stats you just gave... in 2011 (are these years right? I'm a little confused), of uncommitted prospects in attendance they went 5/12 with 2 big misses. That's pretty darn good. In 2012, they went 3/17 with 2 big misses (although Scott doesn't really count... Damon Webb is a HUGE miss though). That's really not great at all, around 17.5%.

Counting already committed guys in the effectiveness rating of an event doesn't really make much sense to me because hypothetically you could just invite 15 commits and say it was 100% effective. Looking at uncommitted prospects they've gone a total 8/29 which is pretty darn good at around 27.5%... but it's also not earth shattering.

All true. i would like to see the specific breakdown in a article rather then just these tweets, for example some 2015 or 2016 guys might have attended that could still end up at Michigan or did any commit at the BBQ end up decommitting . I think the BBQ brings the class together and helps their recruiting as a whole. We haven't really had one of those type events yet this year as not all the commits could make it to camp. 2012 Junior Day was that event for us last year where those guys really became close (our results from that Junior Day were amazing, home run by the staff)

 

[irishog77]

How do these events work?

Do they invite certain kids to come, make them provide their own transportation, provide a BBQ of sorts, then allow them to stay on campus or provide their own accommodations?

 

[beryirish]

Damien Harris now...gggeeeezzz

 

[ShakeDown]

I get what you're saying and I totally agree with you about ND going with something similar or a FNL of sort. But while technically true about the "60%", that's nearly as impressive as the blanket stat makes it sound.

Using the listed stats you just gave... in 2011 (are these years right? I'm a little confused), of uncommitted prospects in attendance they went 5/12 with 2 big misses. That's pretty darn good. In 2012, they went 3/17 with 2 big misses (although Scott doesn't really count... Damon Webb is a HUGE miss though). That's really not great at all, around 17.5%.

Counting already committed guys in the effectiveness rating of an event doesn't really make much sense to me because hypothetically you could just invite 15 commits and say it was 100% effective. Looking at uncommitted prospects they've gone a total 8/29 which is pretty darn good at around 27.5%... but it's also not earth shattering.

I agree, but there is definitely something to be said for hanging on to the commits already in the fold.

Basically, what SLU said.

 

[STLDomer]

Michigan offered Jared Wangler a 3 star local kid committed to another school (in this case PSU) and he is expected to flip. Sound familiar? Hoke has no integrity

EDIT: he's even a tweener LB/Safety too haha

 

[NDWorld247]

Michigan offered Jared Wangler a 3 star local kid committed to another school (in this case PSU) and he is expected to flip. Sound familiar? Hoke has no integrity

Weak sauce!

 

[koonja]

I don't watch other school's recruits highlights and so I'm always a bit relieved when I see this thread bumped and it's because Michigan is getting a 3-star recruit.

He's a 2-star on rivals. Does have an LSU offer.

Jared Wangler - Yahoo! Sports

Not saying stars are all that matter - but when I don't watch the film or follow the recruits, that's all I have to go by.