Happy Mother's Day everyone, hope you got to spend it with the ones you love!
Comment From zeek
I haven't been on the board for a little while but UM offering anther rb a bad sign for Kingston or more of a "just in case" offer?
Tim
I don't think Michigan is looking at Kiante Enis (the new running back offer) as a true tailback. He's more of an athlete - which is what Rivals has him ranked.
Davis is solid for the time being, and offers from LSU and Florida haven't changed that. You can certainly think other RBs aren't seeing the door closed, just in case, but he doesn't expect to look around, nor does Michigan expect him to.
Comment From zeek
Is Michigan in it for Jack Jones?
Tim
Absolutely. I would say they're right near the top for him right now. Long Beach Poly guys are always tough to land when the L.A. schools pursue them hard, but U-M is starting out in good shape.
Comment From Blizzard
Any whispers on when we'll know about the attrition?
Tim
When guys have their future situations figured out (whether that's some guys retiring from football due to injury, or finding other schools to land at), the news will come out. Now that Michigan's semester is over, there's nothing definitive to wait on other than finding out what the next steps are for some of the guys.
Comment From BlueMax
So TIm, any updates on the players who are leaving and grad transfers coming in?
Tim
Just answered the first part of the question, but as for the second part, the situation is pretty similar. When Michigan lands an incoming transfer, the news will come out. Spath's been giving outstanding updates on the board all week on that front.
Comment From thedude2403
outside of Fitzpatrick any commitments you see as close or more likely later in the summer after more visits?
Tim
It'll be interesting to see how things play out with Fitzpatrick. Now that Michigan knows for sure that he's as good as committed if they'll take him, they might want his recruiting process to slow down a bit to figure out exactly where they stand with some other guys before taking a pledge.
As for other potential commitments, nobody has an established timeline (though, as we mentioned in ITF just over a week ago, if Fitzpatrick ends up picking Michigan in short order, we think another guy or two may drop, as well).
I would look for the summer visits to be keys there.
Comment From Guest
Tim, by any chance, would you happen to know approx. what the budget is for U of M Football program and to take it a step further how much is allocated for football recruiting?
Tim
That information is made public, though on short (responding to a question in chat with other questions out there for answering) notice, I can't pull it up immediately.
I do know that Michigan's recruiting budget has been relatively meager in comparison to other national powers - and even other Big Ten programs not on the same level as U-M - in recent years. With the new makeup of the staff, that's not likely to be the case anymore.
Tim
Coaches seem to be flying back and forth around the country more than before (no surprise, with a positional focus, rather than territories, for the most part), and of course the staff on the recruiting side has been re-configured and expanded in a big way.
Comment From SOHOAFFAIR
Is the 2015-2016 basketball roster set? Any chance Mad Max comes back? I wouldn't mind a 5th year grad center of some sort for insurance if not Max
Tim
Sounds like Bielfeldt is basically ready to move on, though his public statements indicate that the ball may be in Beilein's court. That there hasn't been much from Michigan's end indicates to me that it's unlikely Bielfeldt returns.
Any other addition from outside the program would be a surprise at this point.
Comment From Guest
Where will Michigan's 2016 class rank?
Tim
Tough to say at this point, because I think it's a fair statement that things haven't progressed as quickly as we thought they might with Harbaugh in the fold.
It could depend in large part on how the season goes. A year at or above expectation should result in a top-10 class. Worse than that could be interesting.
Comment From zeek
Some of your Favorite recruits from last year?
Tim
Not sure the question you're asking. I think some of the most interesting players Michigan signed from an on-field perspective are Rueben Jones and Zach Gentry, though. Certainly not finished products, but very exciting in long-term potential. You could throw Shelton Johnson in there as well.
Comment From Blizzard
Tim, I'm sure you've answered this question, but what are your expectations for this coming year? I'm in the camp of 8 wins is reasonable, 7 is the floor, and 10 is the ceiling.
Tim
I think eight (regular season) is where I'm starting. I'm torn between 7-5 or 9-3 being more likely on separate rationales of "this is a tough non-conference schedule, and Michigan certainly hasn't passed MSU or OSU yet" and "HARBAUGH."
Anything less than 7 would be a huge surprise to me, but as many as 11 wouldn't be that out-of-this-world.
Ask me after the Utah game, when we'll really know what this team is going to look like (that's how predictions work, right? I get to see the team before predicting?). That's a big swing game in terms of expectations.
Comment From Michael
Between the three of Adidas, Nike, and Under Armor who do you think will be Michigan next sponser and when do you think they will decide?
Tim
I think Adidas is the least likely of the three, and it's basically a toss-up for favorite between the other two in my eyes. I would look for an announcement at some point this summer.
Comment From Michael
Tim do you think Michigan will land one of the WR grad transfers mentioned in yesterday's podcast?
Tim
I think they may get a guy or two, but more than that strikes me as unlikely. Honestly, some situations are shaping up like a recruiting battle (an odd situation for kids who have been through it once four years ago). I think Valdez Showers is the most likely to end up at Michigan.
Comment From sklaw
Were you surprised by Michael Jordan going to OSU?
Tim
Definitely. It's hard to be too surprised, because he's been so quiet in recruitment and therefore it's inherently unpredictable, but I didn't think he'd make a decision this early - no matter who he decided for.
Comment From sklaw
How did Blake Countess do in the spring? Do you see him being the corner opposite of Lewis?
Tim
I think he's a good bullet to have in the chamber, but if Michigan is serious about doing more man-to-man than zone concepts (as it appears they are, based on the spring), he's not on the Day One depth chart, in my eyes. Zone plays far more to his strengths
Comment From eric
Carlin Fils-Aime looks like a serious game changer. How hard are pursuing
Tim
He's still on the board, but Michigan has their running backs If something changes in that regard, he'd be a far more serious option. He's a very good player, but not someone that I'm altering my whole recruiting plan for, either
Brandon Brown
Hard to say. Fils-Aims feels like he's still being recruited pretty aggressively but it's unsure exactly what that means.
Jim Harbaugh followed him on Twitter and sent him a couple of DM's which got Fils-Aime's attention.
Comment From zeek
I haven't been on the board for a little while but UM offering anther rb a bad sign for Kingston or more of a "just in case" offer?
Tim
I don't think Michigan is looking at Kiante Enis (the new running back offer) as a true tailback. He's more of an athlete - which is what Rivals has him ranked.
Davis is solid for the time being, and offers from LSU and Florida haven't changed that. You can certainly think other RBs aren't seeing the door closed, just in case, but he doesn't expect to look around, nor does Michigan expect him to.
Comment From zeek
Is Michigan in it for Jack Jones?
Tim
Absolutely. I would say they're right near the top for him right now. Long Beach Poly guys are always tough to land when the L.A. schools pursue them hard, but U-M is starting out in good shape.
Comment From Blizzard
Any whispers on when we'll know about the attrition?
Tim
When guys have their future situations figured out (whether that's some guys retiring from football due to injury, or finding other schools to land at), the news will come out. Now that Michigan's semester is over, there's nothing definitive to wait on other than finding out what the next steps are for some of the guys.
Comment From BlueMax
So TIm, any updates on the players who are leaving and grad transfers coming in?
Tim
Just answered the first part of the question, but as for the second part, the situation is pretty similar. When Michigan lands an incoming transfer, the news will come out. Spath's been giving outstanding updates on the board all week on that front.
Comment From thedude2403
outside of Fitzpatrick any commitments you see as close or more likely later in the summer after more visits?
Tim
It'll be interesting to see how things play out with Fitzpatrick. Now that Michigan knows for sure that he's as good as committed if they'll take him, they might want his recruiting process to slow down a bit to figure out exactly where they stand with some other guys before taking a pledge.
As for other potential commitments, nobody has an established timeline (though, as we mentioned in ITF just over a week ago, if Fitzpatrick ends up picking Michigan in short order, we think another guy or two may drop, as well).
I would look for the summer visits to be keys there.
Comment From Guest
Tim, by any chance, would you happen to know approx. what the budget is for U of M Football program and to take it a step further how much is allocated for football recruiting?
Tim
That information is made public, though on short (responding to a question in chat with other questions out there for answering) notice, I can't pull it up immediately.
I do know that Michigan's recruiting budget has been relatively meager in comparison to other national powers - and even other Big Ten programs not on the same level as U-M - in recent years. With the new makeup of the staff, that's not likely to be the case anymore.
Tim
Coaches seem to be flying back and forth around the country more than before (no surprise, with a positional focus, rather than territories, for the most part), and of course the staff on the recruiting side has been re-configured and expanded in a big way.
Comment From SOHOAFFAIR
Is the 2015-2016 basketball roster set? Any chance Mad Max comes back? I wouldn't mind a 5th year grad center of some sort for insurance if not Max
Tim
Sounds like Bielfeldt is basically ready to move on, though his public statements indicate that the ball may be in Beilein's court. That there hasn't been much from Michigan's end indicates to me that it's unlikely Bielfeldt returns.
Any other addition from outside the program would be a surprise at this point.
Comment From Guest
Where will Michigan's 2016 class rank?
Tim
Tough to say at this point, because I think it's a fair statement that things haven't progressed as quickly as we thought they might with Harbaugh in the fold.
It could depend in large part on how the season goes. A year at or above expectation should result in a top-10 class. Worse than that could be interesting.
Comment From zeek
Some of your Favorite recruits from last year?
Tim
Not sure the question you're asking. I think some of the most interesting players Michigan signed from an on-field perspective are Rueben Jones and Zach Gentry, though. Certainly not finished products, but very exciting in long-term potential. You could throw Shelton Johnson in there as well.
Comment From Blizzard
Tim, I'm sure you've answered this question, but what are your expectations for this coming year? I'm in the camp of 8 wins is reasonable, 7 is the floor, and 10 is the ceiling.
Tim
I think eight (regular season) is where I'm starting. I'm torn between 7-5 or 9-3 being more likely on separate rationales of "this is a tough non-conference schedule, and Michigan certainly hasn't passed MSU or OSU yet" and "HARBAUGH."
Anything less than 7 would be a huge surprise to me, but as many as 11 wouldn't be that out-of-this-world.
Ask me after the Utah game, when we'll really know what this team is going to look like (that's how predictions work, right? I get to see the team before predicting?). That's a big swing game in terms of expectations.
Comment From Michael
Between the three of Adidas, Nike, and Under Armor who do you think will be Michigan next sponser and when do you think they will decide?
Tim
I think Adidas is the least likely of the three, and it's basically a toss-up for favorite between the other two in my eyes. I would look for an announcement at some point this summer.
Comment From Michael
Tim do you think Michigan will land one of the WR grad transfers mentioned in yesterday's podcast?
Tim
I think they may get a guy or two, but more than that strikes me as unlikely. Honestly, some situations are shaping up like a recruiting battle (an odd situation for kids who have been through it once four years ago). I think Valdez Showers is the most likely to end up at Michigan.
Comment From sklaw
Were you surprised by Michael Jordan going to OSU?
Tim
Definitely. It's hard to be too surprised, because he's been so quiet in recruitment and therefore it's inherently unpredictable, but I didn't think he'd make a decision this early - no matter who he decided for.
Comment From sklaw
How did Blake Countess do in the spring? Do you see him being the corner opposite of Lewis?
Tim
I think he's a good bullet to have in the chamber, but if Michigan is serious about doing more man-to-man than zone concepts (as it appears they are, based on the spring), he's not on the Day One depth chart, in my eyes. Zone plays far more to his strengths
Comment From eric
Carlin Fils-Aime looks like a serious game changer. How hard are pursuing
Tim
He's still on the board, but Michigan has their running backs If something changes in that regard, he'd be a far more serious option. He's a very good player, but not someone that I'm altering my whole recruiting plan for, either
Brandon Brown
Hard to say. Fils-Aims feels like he's still being recruited pretty aggressively but it's unsure exactly what that means.
Jim Harbaugh followed him on Twitter and sent him a couple of DM's which got Fils-Aime's attention.
