Grading out Michigan's 2011 NSD Class

I tip my hat to Brady Hoke and staff for the hard work the past two weeks.  It has to be really hard to keep and build a recruiting class in a couple weeks when your competition has a 2 year head start on you.   If you consider that liability, this was a pretty strong effort.   Michigan's class right now is ranked #21 in the nation by Rivals.  Many believed this class was going to finish in the 30-40 range.

Michigan addressed needs on defense at LB and in the defensive backfield.   They also whiffed on the DT position with zero signed players.  They did sign 3 DE's in this class and 2 might be able to convert to DT's down the line.

Michigan is very young at DB and they added 5 more freshman in 2011 to add to depth down the line.  Let's hope all these guys get a chance to learn the position before they are thrown on the field.

Hoke's staff elected not recruit the WR position by turning down potential commitments from Hakeen Flowers and Devin Lucien.   I would have taken Devin without thinking twice.   The other need positions were TE, QB, and Kicker.  All targets at those positions were signed.

Offensive line after low numbers in the 2010 class was another high priority and Michigan got 3 guys in center Jack Miller, OG/OT Tony Posada and Chris Bryant.   3 was probably the least amount the Wolverines could have taken in this class and would have preferred at least one more. 

Running back was also a strength of this class with two instate guys in Justice Hayes and Thomas Rawls. 

Anyone left?  Maybe.   Michigan still has a 4 star LB on the fence that expects to announce on Thursday in  Leilon Willingham who was/is a silent commit but getting a ton of pressure from his local University of Colorado. 

Big Misses?  Yes, plenty.  Clearly, the 5 star loses of Dee Hart and Kris Frost but you also have to include instate prospects Jake Fisher and Anthony Zettel.  Michigan also was not able to land the NSD signature of defensive tackle Darin Cooper.    All these guys could have and should have been blue, even with a coaching change.  (with the exception of Dee Hart)  

Not having a DT in this class is a huge hole and a big need for 2012. 

All in all I grade this class a B+.  Michigan went 2-2 today on NSD signatures with still one pending.  This was not a top 10 -15 type of class which they could have achieved if they were able to sign the 'big miss guys".  Right now, Michigan is two scholarships short of a full class and I hope they land Leilon tomorrow.