I have to say...It hurts to see Jonathan Hankins on that list. Not that I don't like the kid (other than the fact that he plays for OSU), but knowing how badly he wanted to come to UM and never got the offer (or maybe did but it was too late, can't remember) still pisses me off.
When you consider the weak spot in our defense right now and the fact that if RR did things a little different we could have Hankins, it's enough to drive a person crazy. I should say also that I was one of the bigger RR supporters and still feel this way. Bad move RR, bad move.
Hankins was a Rivals "5.5" with a _really_ interesting collection of offers (lots of high-profile schools). As anonymous 8:11 notes, the guy wasn't considered a can't-miss prospect. Do you really think a more conservative coach (like, COUGH, Lloyd Carr) would've taken him? Seriously?
I think it's additionally meaningful that MSU didn't offer him. This is a school that has prospered on the Midwest 3-star run-off. Even *they* didn't go after Hankins.
The issue was known....it was his work ethic as insiders said many times. Also, just because one school doesn't offer a scholly to a kid doesn't mean a different school couldn't be justified in doing so. What was MSU's depth chart like at DT? That is many times the difference as to why one school offers a lower rated prospect and another doesn't. Our d line depth was terrible so whether he was a 3* or not, he was a local kid who could have added depth if nothing else.
Again, I'm not slamming RR (i love the guy even now) but it isn't like he was only offering 5* recruits. He had many offers to 3* kids so I don't understand what you are really saying when you mention that he wasn't a "can't miss" recruit who wasn't highly rated.
Even loving RR I can still look at his tenure at UM in a realistic way. He made many blunders as most people know. Not offering Hankins until so late given the numbers we had at the position was a blunder, no way around it. Also his use (or lack thereof) of redshirts was particularly infuriating.
To conclude I will say my previous post has nothing to do with hindsight. I wanted Hankins during his senior year in HS. You may have needed to see him play the last two years to figure out that he deserved an offer, but I (and many others) were complaining on mgoblog for months about the fact that he wasn't getting one.
I have to say...It hurts to see Jonathan Hankins on that list. Not that I don't like the kid (other than the fact that he plays for OSU), but knowing how badly he wanted to come to UM and never got the offer (or maybe did but it was too late, can't remember) still pisses me off.
ReplyDeleteWhen you consider the weak spot in our defense right now and the fact that if RR did things a little different we could have Hankins, it's enough to drive a person crazy. I should say also that I was one of the bigger RR supporters and still feel this way. Bad move RR, bad move.
Hindsight ... it's generally 20/20, y'all.
DeleteHankins was a Rivals "5.5" with a _really_ interesting collection of offers (lots of high-profile schools). As anonymous 8:11 notes, the guy wasn't considered a can't-miss prospect. Do you really think a more conservative coach (like, COUGH, Lloyd Carr) would've taken him? Seriously?
I think it's additionally meaningful that MSU didn't offer him. This is a school that has prospered on the Midwest 3-star run-off. Even *they* didn't go after Hankins.
Michigan offered Hankins late and MSU didn't offer at all. For a top 20 in state kid, that may be a clue regarding other issues.
ReplyDeleteThe issue was known....it was his work ethic as insiders said many times. Also, just because one school doesn't offer a scholly to a kid doesn't mean a different school couldn't be justified in doing so. What was MSU's depth chart like at DT? That is many times the difference as to why one school offers a lower rated prospect and another doesn't. Our d line depth was terrible so whether he was a 3* or not, he was a local kid who could have added depth if nothing else.
DeleteAgain, I'm not slamming RR (i love the guy even now) but it isn't like he was only offering 5* recruits. He had many offers to 3* kids so I don't understand what you are really saying when you mention that he wasn't a "can't miss" recruit who wasn't highly rated.
Even loving RR I can still look at his tenure at UM in a realistic way. He made many blunders as most people know. Not offering Hankins until so late given the numbers we had at the position was a blunder, no way around it. Also his use (or lack thereof) of redshirts was particularly infuriating.
To conclude I will say my previous post has nothing to do with hindsight. I wanted Hankins during his senior year in HS. You may have needed to see him play the last two years to figure out that he deserved an offer, but I (and many others) were complaining on mgoblog for months about the fact that he wasn't getting one.