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| Russell Bellomy probably thinks what I think: "Purdue coach Danny Hope is a tool." |
Russell Bellomy, a quarterback from Arlington, TX, committed to Michigan on Tuesday. He had previously been committed to Purdue but hadn't been offered by Michigan until Brady Hoke took the head coaching job at Michigan. Bellomy is a 6'3", 180 lb. prospect who also holds offers from Boise State, Colorado, Marshall, Minnesota, and South Florida, among others.
Bellomy is a 3-star prospect to all three recruiting services, and mostly viewed as a dual-threat quarterback. Scout ranks him as the #39 overall quarterback, while ESPN puts him at #35. Rivals has no opinion on the matter, but at least their site looks pretty.
Watching highlights of Bellomy, his high school team runs an offense that looks a lot like Auburn's. It's somewhat surprising that Rich Rodriguez, who needed a quarterback in the class of 2011 after Kevin Sousa decommitted, didn't pursue Bellomy. Bellomy has some serious wheels and escapability. He only completed approximately 59% of his passes over the past couple seasons, but he threw very few interceptions (seven total from 2009-2010) and ran the ball for 1,200 yards over those two seasons.
Interestingly, Bellomy is a bit like offensive coordinator Al Borges' old protege, Cade McNown. Bellomy is a little bit taller than McNown, but he's mobile, has somewhat erratic mechanics, and lacks great arm strength. He shares those qualities with McNown, although the former UCLA quarterback also lacked some leadership qualities. Judging by a couple interviews I've seen of Bellomy, he seems to be a very grounded, respectful, humble young man.
I expect Bellomy to redshirt in 2011. Michigan has two capable-to-fairly capable quarterbacks in junior Denard Robinson and sophomore (or redshirt freshman) Devin Gardner. There's no need to get Bellomy game experience as a true freshman. Experience is only necessary if he's expected to play in the near future (like freshman Ryan Mallett in 2007, who would presumably have taken over once senior Chad Henne graduated). If injuries to Robinson and Gardner occur in 2011, Michigan's chances of winning likely go down the drain, whether Bellomy gets a few garbage snaps or not.
The Wolverines are almost certainly finished with quarterback recruiting for 2011. Three scholarship quarterbacks is the minimum number a team should carry, but having four quarterbacks spread out over only three classes would cause a bit of a logjam. Expect to see Michigan pursue another quarterback or two in the class of 2012.
TTB Rating: 74
A solid pickup. We'd be incredibly lucky if he turned into McNown, who was a dominant player his last two years at UCLA (minus McNown's jerk tendencies, of course).
ReplyDeleteHis offer list is just decent, but it's not like we're going to get many top-level BCS guys at this point who we already weren't in it with for a long time. Any reason why MSU dropped off? I know, even with Boisture leaving, they're pretty set at QB, but did they pull the offer? (see this story for him stating they had offered him, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=5078917)
@ Rob Pollard 10:24 p.m.
ReplyDeleteYeah, McNown is probably a best case scenario. But like I said, there are a few similarities in their play. McNown started as a freshman, but I don't think Bellomy's career arc will be quite the same.
I haven't heard a reason why MSU dropped off. Probably because they're turds. That seems to explain a lot about them, especially when I don't have a better answer.
MSU dropped off probably because he committed to Purdue. These things are inconsequential to you guys.
ReplyDeleteGood pickup considering we desperately needed a body there, and the guy has some potential upside.
ReplyDeleteFunny that you totally ignore the possibility of Denard transferring after spring practice. I think there's a good chance he's going to struggle in the new system, see Devin's ahead of him and bail. By the time Hoke took over, it was almost too late to enroll at another school.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 10:41 a.m.
ReplyDeleteAnything's possible at this point. It's a new coaching staff for everyone. Denard could transfer, Devin could transfer, Craig Roh could transfer, Taylor Lewan could transfer, etc.
Denard said he's not transferring. I don't see a need to address it at this point.
Maybe rr didn't recruit him so he didn't have to listen to Danny Hope anymore than he had too.
ReplyDelete@ Anomymous 10:41am
ReplyDeleteDude, if Tate Forcier got beat in nearly the same manner you describe last year and STILL stuck it out for a season, do you honestly think Denard will be more flaky?
Denard won't transfer. Bank on it. The RichRod era gave people distorted views of how common trasnfers and attrition are.
ReplyDeleteGreat start for Hoke! Or should I say Snake oil salesmean in a Wizard Hat II. Michigan showing it's class again. I'm glad stealing a 3 star prospect is such a big deal, show's how far Michigan has fallen.
ReplyDeleteIt's way early to make that comment, January 26, 2011 2:22 PM. We've already had a big one in Tate, leaving us with just two viable QBs (esp worrisome given Denard's injury history).
ReplyDeleteI agree it seems real unlikely that Denard will transfer (why would he - he is almost universally beloved here!), but we'll see how many other folks, once they end up 4th on the depth chart when they thought they should be 2nd, end up taking their talents to Toledo.
...and 12:13 AM comment, this is not a big deal. It's just a nice pickup by a new coaching staff.
@12:13
ReplyDeleteIts true that Michigan fans are overreacting to the type of recruits Hoke and Co. are pulling, but given the circumstances they just need to pull bodies in. The fact that they're getting high 3 stars from all over the country in a short time frame is good news.
It doesn't necessarily mean anything for the future recruiting and it doesn't change the fact that the 2011 recruiting lass will probably handicap this program for the next 4 years, but its still good news.
The staff needed to establish a decent foundation of players that can be successful in their system, and they've done that.
-Lank
Maybe Bellomy will lead you guys to a Cover for once
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 12:13 a.m.
ReplyDeletelol I'm assuming you're a Purdue fan who's just pissed that Michigan - despite all its struggles recently - is STILL a better program than Purdue. You don't see me whining about other programs poaching Michigan commits (Demetrius Hart, Dallas Crawford, Matt Goudis, etc.), do you?
It happens. You can't expect a brand new coach to come into Michigan, flat-out eliminate all "committed" prospects from the possibility of receiving an offer, and then just try to lure the kids who haven't pledged anywhere. Hoke had/has 2-3 weeks to double his class size from 10 to around 20. Deal with it.
@ Lankownia 1:12 p.m.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm wrong, but I don't see Michigan fans being super excited about the recruits Hoke is getting. What I see is excitement that he's able to pull in recruits, period. This could very easily have ended up as a class of 13 or 14 kids. As it stands now, Michigan will probably get up around 20.
I don't think any of them are superstars (the best one is Poole, IMO), but they're depth guys who might be contributors in 3-5 years. I'm not a huge Hoke or Borges fan, but I am impressed by their accomplishments on the recruiting trail when they've only had one official visit weekend so far. Six commits in 1 to 1.5 weeks of recruiting? That's pretty good, no matter how you slice it.
@ Anonymous 3:54 p.m.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who you are, but there's a good chance that your football program is worse than Michigan's. You can come here and talk shit anonymously, but I'm guessing your team's head-to-head record with Michigan comes out with you on the losing end.
To be committed for almost a year and to decommit anyone is not the sign of a descent leader. He clearly liked the uniform better as many 18 year old boys do. He and Roundtree can exchange stories of how their word means nothing. To bad they couldn't man up and honor their commitments.
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 5:42 p.m.
ReplyDeleteYou must not like the taste of sour grapes.