Scout Grades scUM Recruiting Class

[jiggafini19]

Removed.

 

[jiggafini19]

Scout must have them in the Top Ten because I haven't seen them in the top ten anywhere else by anyone else's ratings.

Lloyd Carr had a heart in his chest for Jai Eugene to rip out? News to me.

Agreed on Graham. Another early verbal that the paysites simply forgot about because he doesn't give them a story. He'll make his own stories for the next 3 years. He's NFL all the way. Beast of a backer.

Their DT crop is about the only thing I envy. Hopefully 2007 yields one that is similar if not better for ND.

 

[scooper]

Well, they had to dig deep beneath those massive manboobs to reach that heart.

 

[Irish Envy]

If we would have landed Kates, he would have been downgraded 1 or 2 stars. Go figure how that all works.

 

[VictorsValiant]

Couple of quick notes:
Kates is currently listed as a two star player. So I don't know what people are talking about there.
Second, ND will never take any recruits away from Michigan if the players are from Michigan. The only other school Graham had remote interest in was PSU, where he visited. In recent memory, the only player ND has stolen from the state of Michgian who's been any good is Jerome Bettis, and that's only because Michigan wanted to convert him into a LB.

I have very mixed emotions about this year's class. The article is mostly correct (though I think they mixed up Shilling's strengths, he's a pass protector, from what I've heard). One thing that bothers me is that you can't expect blue chip QBs and WRs to come in every year. If they already have depth, why would a recruit risk it? Matt Gutz. is a good example of this. So saying a QB/WR is needed every year is deceptive, since there are only so many available spots on the field.
Notice the many A+s and Fs. There will be some positions where the talent will be excellent. Graham has already started talking. But there will also be holes in others. Lloyd struck out with CBs this year. This is a huge deficiency. I don't know how we're going to stop PSU or OSU's many multi-faceted recievers, though I'm not really worried about ND because the only real guy they have is underachieving McKnight.

With next year's roster, expect an attacking defense. That's where the strengths are. The whole Ron English as DC scenerio really makes me think he played politics (bluffing and actually taking the Bears job temporarily), to force Herrmann out of the team for good (Herrmann has been with the program 30+ years). Apparently, they had some huge disagreements over philosophy last year, where English correctly said the defense should attack more and not try to convert players out of their natural positions.

Boren will probably be a starter on the OL. Shilling will come off the bench as a sixth man. The only other impact position is RB, where Hart's injury woes this year have prompted the coaches to load up on the position, a good sign. New OC Debord will never be outfoxed by coaches, since he's a great playcaller. But like the recruiting class, there is a huge void. Debord can't motivate, Lloyd can't either, and English is on defense. So someone needs to provide leadership on offense.

Next year will be interesting.

 

[jiggafini19]

VV, Kates is 4 stars on Rivals and 2 on Scout. Kates' recruitment in regards to Notre Dame was an extremely bizarre situation to say the least. Ironically, he ends up with ND's biggest rival.

To say ND will NEVER get any Michigan preps might be a stretch, but I can certainly see them losing their fare share of battles as opposed to winning them. Kids these days, they want to experience new things. They aren't always going to stay home to go to school. Bettis goes way back into the vault. I'd like to see how this new staff does in certain geographical areas. Two LB from Georiga and two O linemen from Florida lead me to believe that they can recruit anywhere. And if Gerald McCoy weren't a daddy that needed to stay close to home, ND would have plucked him out of Oklahoma.

Rhema McKnight couldn't really underachieve last year. He missed the entire season after getting hurt against your Wolverines, after scoring a TD on the first drive of the game. He led the team in receptions and yards the previous two years. As far as him being reliable in 2006, we'll see. Serious knee injuries to wide receivers are no joke. Someone will have to emerge to complement Samardzija, who Ohio State wisely locked down on.

Since when does Penn State pose a threat to Michigan? They've owned Paterno since he came to the Big Ten, right? That trip to Columbus at the end of the year will be rough, I agree.

Rod English is not only the best recruiter on that staff, but he is going to change a lot of the climate there. I think he will demand more from his kids and toughen up the culture there. And if things don't go well, he might end up being the next head coach.

 

[jiggafini19]

Michigan's Offer List:

Greg Banks DE 5.6 6-5 260 Denver, CO Michigan
Justin Boren OL 6.0 6-3 319 Pickerington, OH Michigan
Carlos Brown RB 6.0 6-0 205 Franklin, GA Michigan
Steve Brown DB 5.9 6-0 197 Columbus, IN Michigan
David Cone QB 5.5 6-6 201 Statesboro, GA Michigan
Perry Dorrestein OL 5.5 6-6 283 Plainfield, IL Michigan
Obi Ezeh RB 5.5 6-2 219 Grand Rapids, MI Michigan
John Ferrara DE 5.6 6-4 268 Staten Island, NY Michigan
Brandon Graham LB 6.1 6-2 250 Detroit, MI Michigan
Jason Kates DT 5.8 6-2 324 Harrisburg , PA Michigan
Greg Mathews WR 5.9 6-2 189 Orlando, FL Michigan
Brandon Minor RB 5.8 6-0 213 Richmond, VA Michigan
Cobrani Mixon LB 5.8 6-2 220 Cincinnati, OH Michigan
Jonas Mouton DB 6.0 6-2 212 Venice, CA Michigan
Quintin Patilla LB 5.7 6-2 193 Flint, MI Michigan
Adam Patterson DT 5.9 6-2 256 Columbia, SC Michigan
Stephen Schilling OL 6.1 6-5 290 Bellevue, WA Michigan
Quintin Woods DE 5.6 6-6 218 Flint, MI Michigan
Bryan Wright K 5.4 6-2 205 Salem, OH Michigan
Neli A'asa DT 5.6 6-2 300 Big Rapids, MI Utah
Jason Adjepong DE 5.9 6-3 248 Carteret, NJ Virginia Tech
Asher Allen DB 5.9 5-10 187 Tucker, GA Georgia
Franchot Allen DB - 6-2 200 New Berlin, NY West Virginia
Justin Anderson OL 5.9 6-5 320 Ocilla, GA Georgia
David Ausberry WR 6.0 6-4 213 Lemoore, CA Southern Cal
Jake Ballard TE 5.8 6-6 250 Springboro, OH Ohio State
Jim Barrie OL 5.8 6-5 310 Tampa, FL Florida
Chris Bell WR 5.9 6-3 205 Norfolk, VA Penn State
Nate Byham TE 5.8 6-3 215 Polk, PA Pittsburgh
Neil Caudle QB 5.8 6-2 191 Hoover, AL Auburn
Dexter Davidson QB 5.5 6-4 211 Coconut Creek, FL Pittsburgh
Pat Devlin QB 5.9 6-3 200 Exton, PA Penn State
Dorin Dickerson ATH 5.9 6-2 202 Imperial , PA Pittsburgh
Dedrick Epps TE 5.8 6-4 227 Richmond, VA Miami-FL
Jai Eugene DB 5.8 5-11 169 Destrehan, LA LSU
Aaron Gant RB 5.5 6-0 200 Orchard Lake, MI Ohio State
Thaddeus Gibson LB 5.9 6-2 205 Euclid, OH Ohio State
Marcus Gilbert OL 5.8 6-6 270 Fort Lauderdale, FL Florida
Percy Harvin WR 6.1 6-1 188 Virginia Beach, VA Florida
Akeem Hebron LB 6.0 6-1 195 Gaithersburg, MD Georgia
Jamar Hornsby ATH 5.9 6-3 195 Jacksonville, FL Florida
Blaine Irby ATH - 6-3 235 Ventura, CA list
Micah Johnson DE 6.0 6-2 267 Ft. Campbell, KY Kentucky
Reshad Jones DB 6.1 6-1 173 Atlanta, GA Georgia
Dexter Larimore DT 5.7 6-3 265 Merrillville, IN Ohio State
Butch Lewis DT 6.0 6-6 280 Aurora, CO Southern Cal
McKenzie Mathews DE 5.7 6-2 225 Syracuse, NY Pittsburgh
Taylor Mays ATH 6.1 6-3 218 Seattle, WA Southern Cal
Knowshon Moreno RB 5.9 5-11 205 Middletown, NJ Georgia
Michael Morgan LB 6.0 6-2 200 Dallas, TX Southern Cal
Mitch Mustain QB 6.1 6-3 208 Springdale, AR Arkansas
Robby Parris WR 5.6 6-4 185 Cleveland, OH Notre Dame
John Paul DE 5.8 6-4 244 Immokalee, FL list
Antwine Perez DB 6.0 6-1 199 Camden, NJ Southern Cal
Corey Peters DT 5.8 6-3 294 Louisville, KY Kentucky
Jason Pinkston DT 5.7 6-5 273 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh
Taylor Potts QB 5.7 6-5 210 Abilene, TX Texas Tech
Andrew Quarless TE 5.8 6-4 222 Uniondale, NY Penn State
Myron Rolle ATH 6.1 6-2 214 Princeton, NJ Florida State
Daron Rose OL 6.0 6-5 310 Tampa, FL Florida State
Chris Slaughter WR 5.9 6-3 170 Fort Valley, GA Auburn
Marques Slocum DT - 6-4 331 New Berlin, NY list
Cameron Smith RB 5.8 5-11 185 Snellville, GA list
Connor Smith OL 6.0 6-6 300 Cincinnati, OH Ohio State
Toryan Smith LB 5.7 6-0 230 Rome, GA Notre Dame
Alex Stadler OL 5.8 6-6 300 Bealeton, VA Alabama
Matthew Stafford QB 6.1 6-3 210 Dallas, TX Georgia
Nick Stephens QB 5.7 6-3 195 Flower Mound, TX Tennessee
Joshua Tatum LB 6.0 6-0 219 Oakland, CA Southern Cal
Tim Tebow QB 6.1 6-3 217 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Florida
Joe Thomas OL 5.5 6-4 294 Parma, OH Pittsburgh
Ken Tinney DB - 6-0 185 New Berlin, NY Michigan State
Darrin Walls DB 6.0 6-0 172 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame
Bartley Webb OL 5.7 6-7 290 Springdale, AR Notre Dame
Chris Wells RB 6.1 6-1 228 Akron, OH Ohio State
Damian Williams WR 5.9 6-1 180 Springdale, AR Arkansas
Tony Wilson ATH 5.8 5-10 165 Daytona Beach, FL Georgia
Will Yeatman TE 5.5 6-6 255 San Diego, CA list
Sam Young OL 6.1 6-8 302 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Notre Dame

 

[domerfor life]

VV it's kind of interesting that you say you're not worried about us. Yet we've beaten you 3 out of the last 4 times we've played you. Michigan couldn't even beat ND consistently during the Davieham years. Michigan is a very talented team (so what else is new?), but somehow they keep succumbing to the same patterns. I think we all know what those patterns are. Anyway, you guys should do well in the Big 10. That game against OSU will be a monster of a game. You'll lose in South Bend.

 

[Subway Alum - MA]

Lets See What Happens This Year

Lets See What Happens This Year

VV, the playing field hasn't exactly been level in recent years. However, based on what this new coaching staff has shown so far, Michigan and Ohio State won't have things quite so easy in the future. Let's talk after the 2006 class has been recruited and signed their letters of intent. Here is a list of the players that Notre Dame has at least some interest in that are from MI. They are shown in no particular order. I may have missed someone and other players may be added after having outstanding senior years. Obviously, they will not all be offered. I expect that you can probably add Barksdale and perhaps Allen to the list of players to be offered. It will be interesting when next February rolls around and we can actually compare how the two schools did in head-to-head competition. Then and only then will we be able to add up the score cards:

1. Chris Colasanti ILB from Birmingham.
2. Ronald Johnson CB from Muskegon [Offered]
3. Joseph Barksdale DT from Detroit
4. Derek Sherrod OL from Columbus
5. Steven Street QB from Adrian [a wayback fall back]
6. Shane Torzy LB from Warren
7. Cedric Everson CB/ATH from Detroit [Offered]
8. Dionte Allen DB from Orchard Lake
9. Kelvin Grady RB from East Grand Rapids [Offered]
10.Washington Taurian WR from Orchard Lake

Keep in mind we are talking about recruiting players from Michigan in competition with the state university. Yet, I'll still take my chances on Coach Weis and his staff.

"In the pros, you get one first round draft choice every year; in college, if you work hard, you can get 10." - paraphrasing Coach Charlie Weis

 

[Subway Alum - MA]

Lets See What Happens This Year

Lets See What Happens This Year

VV, the playing field hasn't exactly been level in recent years. However, based on what this new coaching staff has shown so far, Michigan and Ohio State won't have things quite so easy in the future. Let's talk after the 2006 class has been recruited and signed their letters of intent. Here is a list of the players that Notre Dame has at least some interest in that are from MI. They are shown in no particular order. I may have missed someone and other players may be added after having outstanding senior years. Obviously, they will not all be offered. I expect that you can probably add Barksdale and perhaps Allen to the list of players to be offered. It will be interesting when next February rolls around and we can actually compare how the two schools did in head-to-head competition. Then and only then will we be able to add up the score cards:
1. Chris Colasanti ILB from Birmingham.
2. Ronald Johnson CB from Muskegon [Offered]
3. Joseph Barksdale DT from Detroit
4. Derek Sherrod OL from Columbus
5. Steven Street QB from Adrian [a wayback fall back]
6. Shane Torzy LB from Warren
7. Cedric Everson CB/ATH from Detroit [Offered]
8. Dionte Allen DB from Orchard Lake
9. Kelvin Grady RB from East Grand Rapids [Offered]
10.Washington Taurian WR from Orchard Lake
Keep in mind we are talking about recruiting players from Michigan in competition with the state university. Yet, I'll still take my chances on Coach Weis and his staff.
"In the pros, you get one first round draft choice every year; in college, if you work hard, you can get 10." - paraphrasing Coach Charlie Weis

 

[jiggafini19]

Grady already verballed to Michigan. No shock there.

Give me Barksdale and Dionte Allen off that list and I'll be a happy camper.

 

[Guest]

so PSU's offense scares you more with them starting a new QB, and a bunch of new olinemen. ok that makes alot of sense.

I just hope Michigan fans who may be in attendance at the game will show some class and not throw stuff all over the field.

As for ND bringing in talent from Michigan, maybe Weis should point out michigan's pathetic african american graduation rates to some of the states top prospects. Fortunately for you guys Weis is to much of a class act to do that.

If Jerome had chosen Michigan he may of had the same success in the NFL, but he certainly wouldn't of had the success he's had off the football field.

 

[VictorsValiant]

The whole idea of poor african-american graduation rates is really overblown. Most players come to our schools with the expectation of going to the NFL. And the idea of graduation rates is suspect, too. I mean, teams can enroll athletes in easy classes or indirectly send answers via tutors. You're talking about a difficult school here. Michigan does not hold people's hands. The overall dropout rate (not necessarily college altogether) is, I think, somewhere along the lines of 20% overall. The rates for african americans in general, I believe, are almost twice that. The school has a problem graduating african americans overall. I don't know if you can give me one example of a nd player from Michigan who came to ND for academic reasons. In fact, a big draw for parents of players from Ohio is that we are a better academic school. A degree given to a football player here actually means something.

I don't know if there will be rivarly battles between these two schools in the next few years. With respect to nationally ranked players, ND is just going to be another one of many school competing for their services. But first of all, nd needs to win consistenly. Even then, though, ND draw from more of a national audience and is big at the catholic schools. We take all the talent from Michigan, a few players from Ohio, a few from California (where there is a pipeline), a few from the South (where there's a new pipeline) and the rest from a football state where schools nearby have had bad years (like PA a while back and now NY). And I tend to think that no matter how successful Nd is, there will always be people that hate them even more, and by extension, players who will not go to ND because of the hate. On the other hand, we are generally respected everywhere except Ohio.

People's points about one team "owning" another is right. I'm looking at it purely from a matchup standpoint. If you look simply at Xs and Os, our defense does not match up well against PSU, but matches up very well against ND. All of this is predicated upon the assumption that our offense is inept until further notice. Technically, with PSU and OSU losing a lot of key defensive players, we can score on them with our talented players on offense. However, I'm not going to make predictions about that uninspired bunch. I'll only be convinced after the last second ticks from the clock.

An opposite argument can be made that if you lose a lot to one team, you're really motivated to beat them. That was defintely the case two years back when we killed you (38-0). And I have a feeling that JoePa is really motivated to beat Carr, since a lot of the previous games have been close, very close (the game is also away). Hopefully, this message will also work against OSU, a team we are 1-4 against in the past 5 years.

And QueensNY, if you want a taste of class, go to the thread about the 10 worst coaches.

 

[scooper]

Wow. I love the argument about ND being hated everywhere so that could cost them players, but on the other hand, Michigan is respected everywhere but Ohio.

Did you see the poll on ESPN.com last year? It was favorite teams divided by regions. One school broke the top ten favorites in every region nationally. Care to guess who? Here's a hint. They WILL make it four out of five against the skunkbears in 06. Certainly being one of the 10 most popular teams in every part of the country can't hurt recruiting, right? Michigan really doesn't scare me much anymore. They may steal one in Ann Arbor once every 6 years or so, but that's about it.

 

[jiggafini19]

Ron English being DC is going to inject some life into this program. He is already their best recruiter and now has the keys to the defense. I'm not counting on the Ronald Johnson and Dionte Allen types going anywhere else. I hope ND can snag Joseph Barksdale out of there, esp. since Mich just took a few DT this month.

English did a great job using the Chicago Bears as leverage to get what he wanted.

 

[BigIrish]

a lot of English's potential success will depend on whether or not he's allowed some creative license with the direction of the defense. if he's expected to "tow the company line" and uphold the existing philosophy, his hiring impact in terms of on-field results may be diminished. but jiggs is right - UM appears to have put a great recruiter in charge of the D.