Michigan Thursday: The Numbers Game

When your a major program like Michigan you have to balance your scholarship limit of 85. Coaches have to have a crystal ball to predict things like transfers, career ending injuries, not being offered a 5th year, leaving early for the NFL, etc. All those things lead to the number of spots available for the current recruiting class.

The number most of us recruiting guys have been using for the 2013 class is 24 spots.  Michigan took a commitment early this week from PSU de-commit CB Ross Douglas.    Which would have left one more open spot in the class.   Then we were hearing that the Michigan coaches were continuing to recruit Derrick Green, Laquan Treadwell and DB Leon McQuay III.  Why would they still be recruiting Leon after Ross jumped on board?  Is the number now 25 spots?

Yes it seems to be.  Michigan also announced two suspensions this week in running back Fitz Toussaint and Frank Clark.  Both are serious crimes but Frank's (if found guilty) could mean he is removed from the team and could lose his scholarship. An example is Cam Newton at Florida, who did the same thing.   Is that where the extra spot came from?  Maybe?

Then we learn this morning that CB Terrance Talbott is leaving the program.  The Talbott family has had a tough ride here at Michigan.  Terrance's brother Terry was seriously thinking about going to UNC on signing day and then decided to attend Michigan with his brother Terry.   Then Terry hurt himself seriously and I don't believe can play football again. Terry hasn't been on the roster for about a year.  I'm not sure if he is still at Michigan or elected to go to another school.  (Players who hurt themselves seriously and can't ever play again can keep a scholarship and still attend school.  Those scholarships do not count towards the 85 mark).   Terrance who showed flashes at CB and got to play early, finds himself lower on the depth chart due to the solid play of guys like Blake Countess and Delonte Hollowell is leaving the program.  JT Floyd is also a senior and is pretty much written in ink at one corner spot.

Considering Talbott is leaving the program, I believe that is why they are looking at 25 spots now for the 2013 class.  On a side note,  this limit also effects potential transfers from Penn State players.  Many believe that Anthony Zettel might be interested in playing for Michigan.  The Wolverines were the runner-up in his recruitment.  AZ is a redshirt freshman and would take up 4 years of scholarships on the Wolverines roster (The NCAA is giving teams a one year pass on the scholarship limit for PSU transfers meaning Michigan could take a player and be at 86 scholarship this year but next year they would have to be at 85 with the PSU transfers) if he transferred right now.   Which means his scholarship could effect the 2013 class which only has a few spots left.

Michigan might be more interested in a senior WR or DT that would take up 1 scholarship for this year (which could be over the limit) and then they graduate next year. 

The last point here is that players that enroll in January can count towards either class (2012 or 2013) if there are open spots.   We are hearing that 2-3 players from the 2013 class are trying to enroll early.

Update: I'm hearing that Michigan may no longer be recruiting McQuay but that Green and Treadwell are definitely options.   Green has cancelled his visit to OSU this Friday and will be in Ann Arbor for 3 days with his family.