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Recruiting New FutureCast prediction 12/16

After some discussions with folks, I have placed an official FutureCast prediction for Michigan to land 2024 DE Lugard Edokpayi coming out of his official visit earlier this week.

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Things started to heat up with the defensive staff going in-home with Edokpayi and his family and culminated in a multi-day official visit that saw the family cancel its upcoming trip to Florida State.

While Jesse Minter and Mike Elston deserve credit, recruiting assistant Sam Popper deserves A LOT of the credit as well. During his previous tenure as an intern, Popper was a family favorite among a handful of families and that continues as he works as a full-time assistant. He essentially spent the entire visit attached at the hip to Lugard and his folks and put in a ton of work and that resonated, once again, with the family. He essentially went from Upton Stout directly to Edokpayi in a matter of days.

I believe a decision will come down sooner rather than later.

Insider Intel: On the transfer portal, Lugard Edokpayi

Michigan has had a busy few days between hosting transfer portal players as well as trying g to finalize the 2024 class before next week’s early signing period.

Here’s what I’m hearing about the past few days:

- My prediction is in for Michigan for Upton Stout. After speaking to those close to the situation, Stout is the kind of player that Michigan wants in the program from a skill standpoint as well as a culture standpoint too. I was told by a source that Stout’s priorities align with what Michigan is looking for and that resonated during the visit.

- There is cautious optimism with Jaishawn Barham after his visit to Ann Arbor. A kid that keeps things VERY close, you’re likely not going to hear much about him as the days go on. He’s another player that aligns with Michigan’s priorities. Not ready to say that they will get him but they definitely left a strong impression after the visit.

- As for Lugard Edokpayi, Michigan is feeling cautiously optimistic about its chances after two days on campus. He canceled his official visit to Florida State mid-visit and Lugard had multiple staffers attached to the hip to him during the visit. Confidence remains high that they won over the parents, too. I need to hear a little more before I officially place a prediction in for U-M but it’s clear the visit had an impact.

- For those asking, I do not expect the program to openly go after Walter Nolen on their own. If he were to approach U-M directly, then it would be a different story.
- Dante Moore has remained quiet in regards to his visit and, to my knowledge, has not made any visit plans just yet. I will continue to dig there.

So Bama Hammer, a pro Bama publication

has written that Michigan has realized that Bama is tougher, better and will win. Furthermore, stating Taylor Lewan has admitted that Bama will win because, well, they are better, they are the SEC.

I have no issue with being fans of your team. But this arrogance is absolutely ridiculous.

I am expecting a challenging game, with Michigan pulling out a 3 - 10 point victory.

Re-watch of The Game

Finally got around to rewatching The Game. It was nice to process it absent the build up and anxiety of Jim's ridiculous suspension and worries about the successful sabatoge of our great season.

What a football game. Really, really impressed with OSU on second watch. They were prepared in every way to give us fits. We had to be so darn good to move the ball and JJ was. So many short passes that had to be exactly where they were. JJ was great. Klatt caught on to us attempting to hit them with double moves, likely tried to set those up all year would be my guess and then tried to break tendency in The Game with the double move. They didn't bite and were with us stride for stride. Their two response drives when they went down 10 points were impressive and dare I say tough as hell. Especially the second half providing their own answer to their ghosts of the last two years running the ball right down the field as we had to them.

Speaking of them looking like us, I will always remember JJ grinning at the podium saying their defense is great similar to ours - that's what we like playing against. The sly grin read to me like JJ was saying they are attempting to be us now and they won't be us as good as us. I felt OSU's transition during the game and in the end they fell short of us - but they gave it an incredible run. But it does feel like they redefined their approach to winning based on us. That's crazy given where we were three years ago.

Both defenses containing the other's stud running back all game long was an impressive display of assignment defense. The only breakout run was Corum's inspired touchdown after Zinter's injury. So fitting of this team, at their best playing for each other.

Will's pick was massive - we had started with two three and outs and that was the spark that carried the first half.

Crazy moment in the game in light of the aftermath. OSU is down 14-10 at their own five yard line with two minutes to go in the half and the place on fire. McCord rolls right, into his own end zone under chase of two defenders and fires a seed on the run to a well defended Fleming who makes a clutch diving catch to get them off their goalline and avoid punting from the back of the end zone.

Massive clutch play by both - who are now gone, largely I'd guess as a result of the outcome of a near 50-50 game. That's insane for me to process.

I still think we made a massive mistake on our final possession with three Corum runs which handed the ball back to them with a chance to win. Have to give JJ a chance to end it with a first down. Glad it worked out. No qualms with anything else we did. Rod Moore is a legend. As is Sherrone Moore. As is this entire team.

What a well played game. Watched some NFL this weekend and while I know all NFL teams would beat the best college teams easily, I can say with 100% confidence that the precision and focus in those games is nowhere near The Game. The lack of penalties and mistakes is just crazy. These two programs have raised each other up to such a high quality of football in order to keep up with each other its....well its beautiful.

Going to make sure to enjoy the semi-final. Signgate took away a lot of joy. We're playing another great team, we could win or lose, but this ride with this group is one to be treasured. We're watching Jim's opus and man is it beautiful.
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