Well, here we are again. Another great season, another signing day.
Except this year, primarily due to NIL, we are only trending towards a top 20 class as opposed to something better.
Still, there are a lot of things on the recruiting front to be excited about:
- A huge week when it came to landing high quality transfers from the portal.
- Positioning ourselves very well with class of 2024 prospects. Especially with offensive linemen. Especially in Ohio.
- Landing a potential five star in the class of 2025
So what about today? Today is really critical in terms of landing some high-end talent for the 2023 class. We may end up with a freshman class of about 25 signees. So numbers are not an issue.
The issue is that the class is not top heavy in five star or high four star talent. No consensus top 100 types, which I have never seen in a Michigan recruiting class. No JJs, Donovan Edwards or Will Johnsons.
Today we have a chance to land a couple of top 20O types in Karmello English and Jyraire Hill. And who knows, perhaps there is a Signing Day surprise. Then in February we can focus on Harbor and perhaps one or two other high end 2023 talents.
We are not about to end up with a top ten class of incoming high school recruits. But by closing strongly with Hill and English today and adding one or two other top 100 or 200 types in February we can take some important steps in “damage control” of the situation that being slow to embrace NIL put us.
So how else can Michigan mitigate the damage caused to the 2023 class due to its failed NIL policy?:
1. The transfer portal this year: Lacking high end immediate impact freshman talent (eg Will Johnson, Donovan Edwards), that immediate impact will need to be covered through the portal. Fortunately, Michigan has hit it out of the ballpark when it comes to transfers.
2. The transfer portal the next few years: Gaps that will emerge due to a less than stellar 2023 class will need to be filled in future years through the portal.
3. Outstanding player evaluation and development: This is especially critical with the 2023 class. If we can hit on another Loveland and/or Mason Graham in this class it would be huge. And even if they are not impact players as true freshmen, bring in some kids who develop along the lines of Hassan Haskins, Luke Schoonmaker or Ronnie Bell.
4. High ceiling/low floor approach to recruiting: I remember back when Jim started coaching at Michigan and one of the insider comments was that our linebackers were more football players than athletes. Classic high floor/low ceiling types. Michigan is now recruiting more athletes than football players. Some will approach their ceilings, others will not. The beauty of this is that those who approach their ceilings become impact players. Those who do not transfer out. No more dead weight. Cover gaps/depth through the portal. Better to sign 25 athletes a year and have 7-8 develop into NFL talents and half the class transfer out (hence making room for at least 25 signees every year, which we need to have when gambling with high ceiling types) than average signing 22 per year with most of them sticking around four years. This is no longer the Brady Hoke era. College football has changed, And, fortunately, the portal fits right into Jim’s model for success.
5. Most importantly, come up with an NIL plan that makes us competitive. Sooner, rather than later. 2024 class cannot afford to be negatively impacted by NIL. We are off to a good start. Could become great if we get NIL figured out sooner rather than later. Really eager to see the changes that will be announced soon.
Except this year, primarily due to NIL, we are only trending towards a top 20 class as opposed to something better.
Still, there are a lot of things on the recruiting front to be excited about:
- A huge week when it came to landing high quality transfers from the portal.
- Positioning ourselves very well with class of 2024 prospects. Especially with offensive linemen. Especially in Ohio.
- Landing a potential five star in the class of 2025
So what about today? Today is really critical in terms of landing some high-end talent for the 2023 class. We may end up with a freshman class of about 25 signees. So numbers are not an issue.
The issue is that the class is not top heavy in five star or high four star talent. No consensus top 100 types, which I have never seen in a Michigan recruiting class. No JJs, Donovan Edwards or Will Johnsons.
Today we have a chance to land a couple of top 20O types in Karmello English and Jyraire Hill. And who knows, perhaps there is a Signing Day surprise. Then in February we can focus on Harbor and perhaps one or two other high end 2023 talents.
We are not about to end up with a top ten class of incoming high school recruits. But by closing strongly with Hill and English today and adding one or two other top 100 or 200 types in February we can take some important steps in “damage control” of the situation that being slow to embrace NIL put us.
So how else can Michigan mitigate the damage caused to the 2023 class due to its failed NIL policy?:
1. The transfer portal this year: Lacking high end immediate impact freshman talent (eg Will Johnson, Donovan Edwards), that immediate impact will need to be covered through the portal. Fortunately, Michigan has hit it out of the ballpark when it comes to transfers.
2. The transfer portal the next few years: Gaps that will emerge due to a less than stellar 2023 class will need to be filled in future years through the portal.
3. Outstanding player evaluation and development: This is especially critical with the 2023 class. If we can hit on another Loveland and/or Mason Graham in this class it would be huge. And even if they are not impact players as true freshmen, bring in some kids who develop along the lines of Hassan Haskins, Luke Schoonmaker or Ronnie Bell.
4. High ceiling/low floor approach to recruiting: I remember back when Jim started coaching at Michigan and one of the insider comments was that our linebackers were more football players than athletes. Classic high floor/low ceiling types. Michigan is now recruiting more athletes than football players. Some will approach their ceilings, others will not. The beauty of this is that those who approach their ceilings become impact players. Those who do not transfer out. No more dead weight. Cover gaps/depth through the portal. Better to sign 25 athletes a year and have 7-8 develop into NFL talents and half the class transfer out (hence making room for at least 25 signees every year, which we need to have when gambling with high ceiling types) than average signing 22 per year with most of them sticking around four years. This is no longer the Brady Hoke era. College football has changed, And, fortunately, the portal fits right into Jim’s model for success.
5. Most importantly, come up with an NIL plan that makes us competitive. Sooner, rather than later. 2024 class cannot afford to be negatively impacted by NIL. We are off to a good start. Could become great if we get NIL figured out sooner rather than later. Really eager to see the changes that will be announced soon.
