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I have been following recruiting here for over 20 years and cannot recall a class with 4 recruits listed as Athletes. All of these athletes are listed at 6-3 or taller….again not common. It will be interesting to see how these players develop. Hopefully with success similar to Mike Sainristil.

The dust has largely settled from signing day.
Michigan did well in December, as usual.
The use of the portal this year was different, but is it part of a bigger picture?
Has Michigan adopted "the Olu formula"?
Michigan strategy, the 2023 class and beyond.

Breakdown
Jason Hewlett Jr. 00:00-:35
Open :36-7:30
Michigan's class 7:31-13:00
Past classes 13:01-15:18
Favorite players in this class 15:19-19:03
Is this a bad class 19:04-29:06
Cole Cabana 29:07-30:10
Juwan Howard 30:11-34:40
Feedback: Jyaire Hill, video of players, Eno Etta, NIL & Blake Corum 34:41-42:09
Benjamin Hall & Cabana 42:10-50:34
Favorite UM football players to interview 50:35-55:10
Team rankings & '23 class 55:11-105:05
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And we're off! We will utilize this thread to share updates and discuss NSD throughout the day. Share your thoughts here.

For those looking for streamlined updates: https://michigan.forums.rivals.com/threads/national-signing-day-hub-update-only-thread.348574/

The class ranks will not be completely finalized until the late period is concluded in February, but for now, we take a look at how the 2022 recruiting class currently matches up against every other class in the past 10 years.

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.

@JaredHalus and I gave our superlatives for the 2023 class. Agree? Disagree? Let us know!

The good news is that Mike Morris is full go and is expected to play next weekend.

The bad news, Andrel Anthony was hurt in practice today and won’t be full-go next weekend.

OSU is going to shred Georgia because they put 54 on Iowa lol
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Hope you guys get demolished by Villanova.

Awesome work Josh by you and your staff! Well done. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Michigan football secured its 19th commitment of the 2023 class as Jason Hewlett Jr. (Youngstown, OH) just announced his pledge.

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STORY:

1-on-1 with Jason Hewlett Jr

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Anyone else watch these high school kids? Offensively I only saw one kid who stood out…way out. The QB on the black team—Avery Johnson, a Kansas State commit. There were a few on defense, but I didn’t get their names. One was a big lineman who is a Michigan State commit, who looked pretty good. There were a few gigantic out-of-shape buckets of lard that will have to spend LOTS of time in the weight room. The player of the game was a last minute addition to the black team, a 5-9 160 lb RB from Texas with no stars and no scholarship offers. That may change in coming days.

Our kicker looked OK. He’s a little guy who’ll look better with some conditioning, coaching, and a reliable long snapper and holder.

The kids had only one practice and three walk-thrus before the game, and they only ran 20 plays for each team. The white team lost but they had a built-in disadvantage being coached by Scott Frost.

Anyone else see anyone that looked good? Whoa, our kicker just drilled a 49-yard field goal, right down the middle, with plenty of room to spare!

Last night went well for KBA and the crew, so let's see if Juwan Howard and the men's team can keep it going tonight. Wolverines vs. Tar Heels from Charlotte in just about a half hour. The game will be aired on ESPN.

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Winning two more games will transform this program to heights unimaginable. We will be that school. LFG.

Crazy !

Interesting list

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Michigan falls to 7-4 on the season.
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And let them know how proud of each of them I am.

@Seth Berry and @JaredHalus you guys had the task of coming into a team at the tail-end of the recruiting cycle, which is never easy to do. You guys nailed it and I am so glad to you have both here. Both of you are going to do big things with 2024.

@Trevor McCue, my right-hand man coming in clutch with the graphics when we needed them. You are very much appreciated.

@Brock Heilig the jack-of-all-trades for us, thank you for going out to see Amir Herring at the last minute for us, even if you're new to the recruiting game.

@DavisMoseley, keep doing you in the basketball world. Your efforts in the 2023 class are appreciated as well.

@dennisfithian_ thank you for being available today at the drop of the hat to speak to any recruit that's available. Your hosting skills are so important to me.

And thanks to all of you who followed along. Not a whole lot of drama today but things went exactly how I expected them to, which means I led you all in the right direction. I never want to steer you wrong.

Now, let's go win a CFP game next weekend!!