When Michigan stopped recruiting running backs in the 2014 class, it seemed to make sense for the fact the Wolverines will have two highly rated sophomores and Damien Harris coming in the 2015 class.
The writing has been on the wall for weeks now that Damien Harris was about to de-commit. He pulled the trigger on that yesterday and now Michigan has lost their top two recruits in the 2015 class. I guess this is a result of Brady Hoke having a great summer recruiting and a terrible fall on the field.
Side Note: Damien was close with Big AL because his head coach was a GA at Auburn under Big AL. Damien is a dynamic runner and I want nothing but him to come back in the class. The Coach Nuss hire is much better long term for the program then where the Big AL train was heading. If Michigan loses Damien over it, then so be it. I have a hard time understanding how he could have watched the offense this year and seen himself being successful in it.
Michigan either looked great or had commitments from the following 5 star players this summer: Da'Shawn Hand, Jabrill Peppers, 2015 George Campbell and 2015 Damien Harris. Only Peppers stands firm as his commitment as we now are two weeks from signing day.
Here is Michigan's Depth at RB Next Year:
Justice Hayes RS JR
Drake Johnson RS SO (More to come on him)
Derrick Green SO
De'Von Smith SO
Wyatt Shallman RS FR
Thomas Rawls SR
As of right now there isn't a RB in the 2014 class. Justice was a surprise starter in the Bowl Game and it seems Derrick and De'Von will get the most carries next year. I expect to see Justice as more of a 3rd down back and maybe playing some slot receiver. Rawls is rumored to be transferring as it seems he continues to be the odd man out.
A BHB reader questioned my "research" on Drake Johnson and his medical redshirt yesterday. So let me clear that up if many of you have similar questions:
- Drake sat out the 2012 season and took a redshirt year
- Drake tore his ACL in the first game of the 2013 season against Central Michigan
- Michigan Basketball plays a "hot" Iowa team tonight at Crisler at 7:00 on BTN. This is a big game with MSU looming on Saturday night.
- Nik Stauskas was named the Big Ten Player of the Week. His dad also told SI this: “He sees the brass ring, like three inches away from his nose,” [father] Paul Stauskas said. “He knows all he has to do is keep his nose to the grindstone for another couple of months, and there’s a really good possibility he might be able to go pro. He’s working really hard to achieve that.” I always thought Nik had NBA potential but I thought it would be after 3 or 4 years in Ann Arbor.
- Under Armour's deal with ND is reportedly worth $90M which exceeds Michigan's Adidas contract.
3 comments:
I believe a good amount of the time that decisions to commit, de-commit or transfer are made in conjunction with the parents, however, it's the kid that takes the brunt of the heat for the decision. Is that fair or not? I also believe that even though a student should commit to a school and not a coach, the reality is that because of relationships that are built through the recruiting process sometimes the lines are blurred. Is that fair or not?
I don't want to wish a kid (because their all kids) any ill will because when push comes to shove, if they come to a school that they really don't have their heart into, when it comes to all of the pounding and stress of practice, being buried on the depth chart, along with school schedules, injuries and life as a student athlete...it is their desire to want to be there that keeps them there and not dropping out.
I think that Nik Stauskas has a shot to make the NBA and it's natural for him to have that "fever" about his potential. However, I also see him as a three or four year developing player but I would also imagine that his coaches and other outside sources will tell him just how much he has to work on or if he's ready by the time he finishes this year.
In my mind it isn't worth leaving early if you're not going to get drafted, because even though he can always sign as a free agent it makes it just that much more difficult to make a roster unless you're lights out good with all of the tools which may be in question now. IMHO
Dear Nicky Flash,
Please see Manny Harris for an example of leaving college too soon.
Manny, four year later, has finally found his groove and is getting a real shot at the bigs... One more year might not have been a sure thing for him, but it certainly would have helped.
GO BLUE, knock off those hawkeyes...
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