Enterprise (AL) Enterprise defensive end Zion Grady (5-star, #1 edge, #23 overall) decommitted from Alabama. He's one of five players to have decommitted from the Crimson Tide since Nick Saban retired.
OFF THE BOARD
College Park (GA) Woodward Academy wide receiver Josiah Abdullah (3-star, #54 WR, #392 overall) committed to Florida.
Brentwood (TN) Brentwood Academy quarterback George MacIntyre (5-star, #3 QB, #15 overall) committed to Tennessee. Michigan was heavily involved here, but the Wolverines landed Carter Smith (LINK) and were heavily after Bryce Underwood, who committed to LSU earlier this month.
Bradenton (FL) linebacker Parker Meese (Rivals 4-star, #17 ILB) committed to UNLV.
Cincinnati (OH) Mount Healthy cornerback Jai'mier Scott (4-star, #20 ATH, #326 overall) committed to Wisconsin.
Gotta wonder if it's worth even adding out-of-state top 50 recruits to our recruiting board anymore. I don't know anything about Zion Brady but I have to think our chances are somewhere between none and slim.
ReplyDeleteIn the last FIVE years we have landed just 4 top 50 composite recruits:
+Donovan Edwards (in-state, hired his HS head coach)
+JJ McCarthy (a unicorn, that OSU turned down)
+Will Johnson (an in-state legacy who almost committed to OSU)
+Derrick Moore (hired his HS head coach)
Pre portal/NIL we had 6 in 3 years (2016-2018) and only one of those was local or otherwise connected to the program (DPJ).
I'm not saying it's impossible of course but it seems to have become increasingly unlikely that we are going to throw NIL cash at premium high school recruits without some kind of IN.
Not only are these guys not coming out of high school but when they re-enter the market via the portal (e.g., Dante Moore, Domani Jackson, Nyck Harbor?) they are still not coming to Michigan (supposedly their second choice).
My hypothesis is that Michigan just values more experienced players and invests more in keeping their own vets (and getting guys like Stewart, Barner, and Henderson when the opportunity arises) than rolling the dice on high school kids. Of course the blue chippers are more likely to succeed than the 4 stars but at the cost premium these guys are demanding, the incremental increase in probability of success is not worth it compared to Michigan trusting their scouting on lower level 4-stars and 3-stars.