New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and running backs coach Fred Jackson visited Harris in his hometown recently, and obviously, Harris wasn't 100% comfortable with the situation. His mother has told recruiting outlets that the Wolverines are still #1 on Harris's list, but the vast majority of kids who decommit end up choosing another school.
Michigan has a few options at this point. They immediately responded by offering Princeton (NJ) Princeton 3-star running back Johnny Frasier, who holds a middling offer list. Detroit (MI) Cass Tech runner Mike Weber has had an offer for a while, but he has stated that Michigan wasn't recruiting him very hard, so it might be hard to get back in the race with him after teams like Michigan State and Tennessee have worked on him. Orlando (FL) Timber Creek's Jacques Patrick has a cousin who coaches in Detroit, and Plano (TX) West's Soso Jamabo holds an offer as well, but both of those players seem like longshots.
Despite a couple mediocre seasons, Michigan still has the brand name and the television presence to pull kids in from around the country. Nussmeier has some different connections and some different philosophies, so it will be interesting to see which players get offered next. Two names I plan to keep an eye on are Hubbard (OH) Hubbard's Larry Scott and East St. Louis (IL) East St. Louis running back Natereace Strong, a teammate of linebacker Kyron Watson, a Kansas commit who was offered in the 2014 class.
For other news on ex-Wolverines, you can check out the Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia.
I know we are not supposed to get mad at these kids and they are only 16 or whatever, and we are supposed to wish them the best but that is not the way I feel.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me is that he squatted on the 2015 RB spot for a good while while other teams were making headway on other top recruits. Now he decommits and leaves us without an obvious answer at his position in that class. Hoke now has to make pitches to guys he previously put on the back burner and that will certainly be awkward and unproductive. Makes me think that coaches like Saban have it right in their more ruthless approaches to recruiting. If you are straight up with these kids and honor your end of the bargain, you end up getting shafted. Why play the fool to a 16 year old?
And if he doesn't end up at M, I don't really give a damn how he does down the road. I have to admit, I kind of enjoyed watching Dee Hart languish deep on the Alabama depth chart after scorning us. The only connection I ever really had with recruits is that they decided to choose Michigan. That would have given us a bond and a shared experience even though I never may meet them. If he goes elsewhere then really we have no bond and I really don't care what happens to him. Sorry if that sounds bitter, but sometimes sanctimonious MGoBlog posters make a show of wishing these kids the best, as if there is any value or sincerity in doing so in a blog posting.
Maximus -
DeleteI think I can "kinda" see your initial reaction but let me tell you as a parent of a D1 4-star recruit (who now is on a team in college) this kid is not doing anything atypical and the coaches are totally prepared for this scenario. What you hear publically is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the overall board and feelers that are out for any position. When a kid commits, and admitedly there are kids across the country who view commitments differently than you do or my son did for that matter, he is committing to something at that point in time. If it changes he should re-evaluate. Our theme with our son was that once you commit, you are committed so take your time. The reasons we thought that would be fair to back out of a commitment were 1. if NCAA violations/probations were a part of the picture, and 2. If there was a significant (to you) coaching change. This situation to me is realistic to this athlete because of his relationship with Borges. No problem and Michigan is not left hanging, especially with the time on this one. The one thing I really do think is poor is that you enjoy seeing a kid have troubles if they didn't end up at Michigan. Until you have actually been through this at this level and see the stress (albeit for great reasons but it is stress nonetheless) it puts on a kid and often an entire family you really wouldn't understand how complicated this process is. Finally, when a team is working "out front" as much as Michigan has been with recruiting then you are going to hit these public "losses" too. A lot can happen in two years if the kid is committed - Remember, it is a non-binding verbal agreement by the school and the kid to the school - Lot's of stories of schools rescinding offers, flipping kids, etc. Remeber back a few years ago with Norfleet... committed to Cinci and Michigan literally offers/flips him within a day or so of signing day. You should be wishing Norfleet bad luck then for coming to Michigan but I bet you don't .....
My viewpoint is Michigan-centric, not faux objective as many people like to think their opinions are (not an attack at you, just something I have noticed before), therefore I have no problem with what Norfleet did. Also, I really do not know Cinci's policies on recruiting. I know Hoke's, so I know that Hoke would have honored Harris' commitment no matter what happened after he committed (barring anything out of left field, like criminal activity, inability to qualify, etc.). Obviously the Borges situation has been stated as the reason for his commitment, and it would appear to be valid. However, there have also been rumbling for quite a while that he was wavering. One gets the impression that the Borges firing provided him with an out. I do not expect him to over suit up for us at this point.
DeleteAs far as enjoying see people struggle who flip from Michigan, I certainly do not want them to be All-Americans. That would compound the insult. I would never wish injuries upon anybody (such as happened to Dee Hart), but it hardly bothers me when they toil in obscurity after they flip.
And as far as not being able to effectively discuss something unless I have lived through it, that is not valid. Otherwise, we can not effectively discuss most things found in common discourse. These kids can choose to do whatever they want for whatever reason they want. I am not going to harass them on Twitter or savage their character publicly, but I am going to react to it according to my own thoughts/experiences, and not take them at their word in all instances. I have been around the block one too many times to make that mistake.
Maximus, Harris is 17 and wants to make the best decision for himself.
DeleteGet over yourself.
In some cases, it is justified to get annoyed at a recruit. But this is not one of them. I am guessing that his relationship with Borges is more of a convenient excuse than a major factor. From the kid's perspective, the UM staff probably sold him on this major transition to an explosive, pro-style offense. And then he witnesses what is arguably the second worst rushing offense in the B1G and probably UM's worst rushing offense in modern history. UM had absolutely nothing to hang their hat on regarding offense this year. Who could blame a recruit for getting cold feet?
DeleteIn recruiting, both sides need to hold up their end of the bargain. Offensive recruits can argue that UM gave them a B.S. sales job that was all talk, and they would be correct. And it is not like the kid dropped UM a month before signing day - he gave them over a year.
BlastBeat, we are all fans and we are pissed that this supposed lifelong Michigan fan flaked out on us.
DeleteGet over yourself.
"sanctimonious MGoBlog posters make a show of wishing these kids the best, as if there is any value or sincerity in doing so in a blog posting. "
DeleteIn regards to value, there is very little in any blog posting. It's fans talking to fans more or less. However, IF there is any value to be had it would be encouraging and supporting the kid to sign up with Michigan. That means being positive and not critical. It's worth flipping back that same value question on being negative about a kid in a public forum.
There are many 'commitment' purists out there - "don't do it unless you're sure". While I understand this mentality and recognize that it is frustrating from a fan perspective, I think it's worthwhile to keep perspective about how much this decision matters to fans versus how much it matters to the kid. Also, programs will toss athletes to the curb very quickly if things go badly. Most coaches don't have the character and ethics that Carr and Bielien have demonstrated. Beyond coaches, programs don't take kids into regard. Hoke fired Borges right after early enrolees were committed to Michigan. If Speight wanted to play for Borges and dislikes Nuss - he's in a tough spot. Or if you're in Stephen Threet's situation...
These kids are right to watch out for themselves even if they risk being called 'primadonnas' or worse by fans.
Suduri, Damien Harris owes us nothing. Neither does any other recruit. Stop acting like he pissed on your lawn. There's a good chance he ends up back in the fold anyway, and there are 13 months until his signing day.
DeleteThere are several reasons I don't follow recruiting that closely, and becoming emotionally involved in big decisions made by high school kids I don't know at all is something I prefer to avoid.
Suduri, that's unfortunate that someone who can't even rent a hotel room has emotionally taken over you that much
DeleteSuduri, we are all fans and don't have to be "pissed" that a kid, yes a kid, hasn't quite decided where he wants to spend possibly four years of his life. He didn't "flake" on anyone, he's taking time to make an informed decision. And unless he told you he is no longer a UM fan, then maybe you shouldnt comment on his lifelong UM fan-ness. You can be a lifelong fan of a school and make the informed decision it is not the best place for you to be.
DeleteMaybe you should heed your own words about getting over something.
Ok guys. Let's move on. I need to tone it down sometimes. Let's hope we can wrap up for the NSD and move on for '15. GO BLUE!
DeleteUnfortunately I can't see a way where this ends up being good for us. Our new OC and RB coach personally visit him, and then he decides to decommit. How can that be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a kid that was being recruited, I think the only thing I would ever say to him is commit to a school, not a coach.
Joe Dumars not being able to resign Grant Hill lead directly to Ben Wallace and then Chauncey Billups, Tay Prince, etc. Sometimes what seems bad ends up being good.
DeleteI agree, I didn't mean good for the program. I meant it can't be good for us in terms of Harris getting back on board.
DeleteI'd also like to clarify that I have no problem with this, the kid deserves to go where he's happy and comfortable. It just hurts to lose out on elite talent.
Fwiw, '15 running back Johnny Frasier was offered by Georgia and Penn State in the last couple of days.
ReplyDeleteOne thing to remember - signing day is still 13 months away. I get that the recruiting cycle is way accelerated from years past, but there is still plenty of time. Don't panic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maximinus. It's a Schadenfreude thing. As I don't know any of these kids personally, I have no reason to root for them to be successful elsewhere (Sammy Watkins or Diggs success make anyone's day brighter in Ann Arbor?). I won't write anything about them anywhere or put them down - I can see how that's counterproductive, but it certainly won't bother me if they turn out to be flops.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a schadenfreude thing. Dee Hart... I will see you when I rent a car down in FL in a few years...!
DeleteADDED TO THE BOARD:DUAL THREAT QB
ReplyDeletehttp://247sports.com/Player/Jarrett-Stidham-30678
All the OSU recruiting guys seem to be saying he's going to choose OSU now.
ReplyDeleteWant some good news? My cousin goes to school with 2014 prospect SDE Malik McDowell, and said that the reason he's not visiting Michigan officially is because he's been to Michigan so many times that he needs to visit schools he hasn't been to often. Also said that he's no longer going to visit Ohio State, and that Michigan is still a school that he's definitely considering.
ReplyDeleteSo maybe Michigan hasn't lost him yet afterall?
Not much of a news, but any recruit dropping the University of Ohio State is always a good thing.
DeleteNot sure if that was an Erick Smith joke or if you were completely serious.
DeleteAnyways, in reply to the original poster, I feel like he's going to MSU. I think he'll end up narrowing it down to Michigan and Michigan State, and go to East Lansing for the better opportunity on the field. I still think there's a chance that he comes to Michigan, but I don't know how happy he'd actually be if such were true. I feel kind of bad for the kid because he can't figure out 100% where he wants to go, and I feel like his parents are way too much of a factor, and they should let off. I'd love to see the guy play for Michigan, especially with the shortage of D-Lineman coming in. Since he more than likely won't have another chance to visit Ann Arbor before his commitment, Hoke and Mattison have to make a STRONG pitch to him in an in-home visit. If he doesn't commit, I feel like it's inevitable that the coaching staff offers a lower ranked DE/DT a scholarship for the sake of filling up the DL depth chart.
You mean the University of Ohio State? I've been using that word ever since T Pryor used it on committing to OSU after receiving something-something from the scum businessman booster of his.
DeleteHoke already had his in home visit with McDowell. It happened back in December.
DeleteThe thing that bothers me is that they pulled back on Weber.
ReplyDeleteThis coaching staff has repeatedly backed off of quality prospects in years past, specifically on OL and LB recruiting. Turning their nose at high 4 stars, only turn around the next year and end up with 3-stars.
IMO, they need to be a little more flexible with whatever positional quotas they've identified and strike while the iron is hot so to speak. If good players want to come to your school, find a way to make it happen.
You know what, I think you made a great point here. I think Ethan Pocic from 2013 was one of the players "turned off" by the M staff's recruiting. Instead of ending up getting more of a back-up guy (I hope he proves me dead wrong) like Dan Samuelson, I think the M staff could've gotten more aggressive with Pocic in the beginning and reel him in.
DeleteIn the coaches' defense, that '13 OL class was not the easiest to manage. The interest from the recruits came in huge bursts. They did not have the luxury of moving through their priorities in a controlled fashion. They had like four OL pledge in the matter of a day or two. You don't see that every year. Samuelson is definitely a quality prospect, so considering he was their sixth guy, that is pretty impressive.
Delete"Michigan still has the brand name and the television presence "
ReplyDeleteThe brand name is increasingly irrelevant. It's now a thing 30-somethings who remember '97 talk about (and even older folks) but not kids. Even Tom Brady is nearing retirement. For a teenage recruit, the brand name is meaningless unless they have some older person in their ear. Lately, many of the national recruits Michigan is after have a coach or family member with ties to Michigan staff or ex-players.
The brand name is something the us fans have really taken for granted, and it may disappear very soon -- that was the real damage of the Rodriguez era and the lulls of coaching transitions. The brand takes a big hit when the consistency is gone. Suddenly kids are choosing Baylor, Oregon, Boise, and MSU over Michigan. In short - Teenagers don't know much about history.
As for TV exposure - that too is increasingly marginal. These days pretty much any game can be watched with an internet connection or cable subscription. It means increasingly little weather your game is on ESPN or ESPN2 or ESPN38. I think the bigger deal is who plays in those high profile BCS games. Our size and fanbase help, but ultimately winning is more important.
This season (2014) is very very important on the field.
You are so right about this one. Most kids in high school do not remember the time when Michigan was dominant. All the kids in Michigan high schools remember is MSU winning the last 5 out of 6. The 2014 season is very important for the future of program.
DeleteTo make an apt comparision, consider Tennessee. Do kids in HS these days even know the fact that Tennessee once was a dominant program? It won a NC in 1998 and their longtime HC Fulmer won about 75% of his games. Sounds a lot like Lloyd Carr, right? Now a lot of CFB fans consider Tenn a program in perpetual decline. Michigan might be next if Hoke doesn't quickly turn around the program.
DeleteWhy is it hard to believe that someone could genuinely wish the best for and care about people they don't know personally or have anything to gain from? Maybe that's not your perspective but others see the world differently.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I enjoy Michigan football, that's a game, some entertainment on fall Saturdays. For these kids, it's their lives, every day for years, their futures, their educations, their first time away from home, their friends, and everything else college is. I'd hate for any one of them to not go to the best school for them and miss out on anything so that I can have a little more fun a few times a year.
I sincerely wish Damien the best and I hope he goes to the best school for him, whether or not it's Michigan. I consider that a normal, healthy perspective, whether or not some people here believe it.
Long Time Alum
My point, as I said earlier, is that there is little value or sincerity in such a statement. A typical boss says the same thing when an employee is let go for budgetary reasons. You may consider it a normal, healthy perspective, but I consider it a pointless, meaningless gesture. Much like people who say in a moment of emotional bravado "call me if you need anything, ever", yet fail to offer help at a later point when it is quite obviously needed.
Delete-Another long-time Michigan alum
To the Borges haters: I seem to recall many people claiming he didn't do any recruiting. Not only Harris, but several other recruits have indicated otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson is that, as the parent of a recruit pointed out above, unless you are in the UM meeting room or are the recruit, you have no idea what is going on. Now you got what you wished for.
LTA
When we don't have back-to-back negative rushing yards next year and Gardner has a much better season with better protection, I'll be doing crotch chops in your direction.
DeleteI'd be curious to know what "other recruits" have stated that Borges had a heavy hand in their recruiting. This is moot, since Nussmeier is an excellent recruiter by anyone's standards. Of all the things to whine about when it comes to firing Borges, this is by far the dumbest.
This is 100x better than being one of the three hats on the table at signing day and losing. That just completely screws a program. U-M has over a year to recover. I would expect a middling 2015 recruiting class, somewhere in the high teens at best, simply because 2013 was so pathetic. These coaches have to show that they can develop the 4/5-star players they have (the jury is still out) and they can't look like a MAC team against the Akrons, UConns, and PSUs of the college football world.
ReplyDeleteI like that Nussmeier reached out to Weber. If at all possible, I'd go after Harris, Weber, and Patrick. Three RB's would be a bit much, but you could easily move Weber to WR, and Patrick + Harris = One Damn Good One-Two Punch .
ReplyDeleteWeber's not a wide receiver. That's not going to happen. And there's no possible way that we could pull in all three of those guys, who are the #2, #6, and #11 running backs in the 247 Composite, if I remember correctly.
DeleteI understand that bit, but I know Weber played a lot of receiver this year, and I believe he's listed as an "athlete" on one of the recruiting websites
DeleteWeber is a running back on all 4 major recruiting sites.
DeleteThanks for clearing that up, I honestly thought he was list as an ATH on one of the websites.
Delete