2024 Michigan Season Thread

[MikeDeTiger]

Nick Saban set such unrealistic expectations.  Hell, even MSU fans realize what Dantonio did was nearly impossible in that era, and is completely impossible now.  LSU finished in the AP Top Ten once in the 30 years before Saban got there, and act like they are a helmet.  Tennessee fans have more of a reason to be pissed than LSU fans

lolz

[SuperMario]

I get what you are saying, hype don't mean jack and he's got to prove it on the field. Sam McGuffie is probably a bad comparison- he was never the wire to wire #1 player at his position in a class let alone the #1 player overall in a class....not even close. He was in that 3*-4* range. McGuffie had an insane highlight reel on YouTube but he wasn't some uber 5* #1 overall recruit.

I'm using McGuffie as an example of the hype machine and waiting to see it on the field rather than comparing to talent level and predicted success. Say what you will about the star rating, but most Michigan fans on the planet tore apart the star rating on McGuffie and tried to use him as an example of why recruiting rankings meant nothing because he wasn't rated like he should have been and he should have been a 5* in their eyes because of the highlight videos. 

My point is, plenty of people can look like they have the total package in high school and not transition to the next level. Devin Gardner was the #1 QB recruit in 2010 per 247. He was a decent QB at Michigan, but nothing like what expectation was set. Rashan Gary 2016 was supposed to be the best defensive recruit and player the country would ever see. Super talented. Made it next level. Made an impact at Michigan.. Didn't change the state of the program like it was talked about he would. I'm personally just more pessimistic on the signing of one big name that hasn't done jack squat at this level. 

[Mdot21]

I'm using McGuffie as an example of the hype machine and waiting to see it on the field rather than comparing to talent level and predicted success. Say what you will about the star rating, but most Michigan fans on the planet tore apart the star rating on McGuffie and tried to use him as an example of why recruiting rankings meant nothing because he wasn't rated like he should have been and he should have been a 5* in their eyes because of the highlight videos.

My point is, plenty of people can look like they have the total package in high school and not transition to the next level. Devin Gardner was the #1 QB recruit in 2010 per 247. He was a decent QB at Michigan, but nothing like what expectation was set. Rashan Gary 2016 was supposed to be the best defensive recruit and player the country would ever see. Super talented. Made it next level. Made an impact at Michigan.. Didn't change the state of the program like it was talked about he would. I'm personally just more pessimistic on the signing of one big name that hasn't done jack squat at this level.

Devin Gardner was the #68 player overall, #3 QB in the nation (Phillip Sims and Blake Bell were #1 and #2 respectively), and #2 player in the state of Michigan in the 247Composite (5* DL Will Gholston was #1 in-state). Just looked it up. That's a very good prospect, but also a bit of a far cry from the #1 overall player/QB in the nation.

DL does not = QB. A QB is far more important in terms of building a recruiting class and obviously his importance on the field is far greater than a DL. As far as Rashan Gary goes- he did help change the trajectory of the program- Michigan landed the #1 overall recruit- it was a big deal after the lost decade they had with RichRod/Hoke- and he was a damn good college player and wasn't he the #8 or #9 overall draft pick in an NFL draft or something like that? Yeah I'd say if you're a top 10 draft pick in an NFL draft and 'crootin' sites had you as a 5* STARZ that they nailed your 'crootin' ranking.

I get what you are saying, he's got to prove it first. But #1 overall players and #1 overall QB's have pretty decent track records.

[SuperMario]

So what's the difference between top 247 and 247 composite? Not that I care, but from memory, this is more accurate of what people thought.. Sims and Gardner were tied for #1 qb and one was pro and one was dual. The big push at the time was that dual qbs were the future.



That being said.. to your arguments defense, 2018 #1 & 2 overall were Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. 2020 was Bryce Young and 2021 was Quinn Ewers. When a QB tends to be ranked #1 overall, not just at the position, they tend to be very very good. 

[ELA]

This actually bothers me a lot less than the transfer portal stuff.  If fans want to pay 17 year olds, I'm fine with that, if it means at least we have roster continuity.

[ELA]

So what's the difference between top 247 and 247 composite? Not that I care, but from memory, this is more accurate of what people thought.. Sims and Gardner were tied for #1 qb and one was pro and one was dual. The big push at the time was that dual qbs were the future.

[img width=500 height=187.988]https://i.imgur.com/4nAPiHL.png[/img]

That being said.. to your arguments defense, 2018 #1 & 2 overall were Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. 2020 was Bryce Young and 2021 was Quinn Ewers. When a QB tends to be ranked #1 overall, not just at the position, they tend to be very very good.

State of Michigan produced 3 4* QBs that year, and it didn't work out great.

Gardner was a mediocre starter, and was the best of the bunch.  Joe Boisture never threw a pass for MSU.  He retired for medical reasons, and then tried to make a comeback at D2 Saginaw Valley State, was a 3rd stringer there, then retired for good.  Rob Bolden was bad at Penn State, transferred to LSU, placed 4th on the depth chart, transferred to Eastern Michigan, and was also bad there.

MSU rarely had blowouts under Dantonio, even during their best years, but I recall a Bolden game for EMU that was about the most lopsided FBS-FBS game I've ever seen.

I looked it up.  MSU led 49-0 at halftime, and won 73-14.  EMU ran 25 plays for 11 yards, an interception and 2 fumbles in the first half

[Mdot21]

So what's the difference between top 247 and 247 composite? Not that I care, but from memory, this is more accurate of what people thought.. Sims and Gardner were tied for #1 qb and one was pro and one was dual. The big push at the time was that dual qbs were the future.



That being said.. to your arguments defense, 2018 #1 & 2 overall were Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. 2020 was Bryce Young and 2021 was Quinn Ewers. When a QB tends to be ranked #1 overall, not just at the position, they tend to be very very good.

that screen shot is 247's own rankings. I tend to lean towards the composite, which compiles all 4 major recruiting services rankings and then averages them out. 

[Mdot21]

This actually bothers me a lot less than the transfer portal stuff.  If fans want to pay 17 year olds, I'm fine with that, if it means at least we have roster continuity.

I actually agree with that. what causes far more chaos is guys on rosters deciding hey I'll just hit the portal and go somewhere else for more money. Imagine being a coach who recruited a kid and believed in him when no one else did and put all that time and effort and energy into him to develop him into a star and then once he has a great season he says, "nah, I think I'll hit the portal and go to 'Bama or Ohio State or Michigan because they'll pay me way more than you can". That's got to suck and be a gut punch to any coach. Just one of the many reasons why coaching in college has to suck now. 

[Mdot21]

State of Michigan produced 3 4* QBs that year, and it didn't work out great.

Gardner was a mediocre starter, and was the best of the bunch.  Joe Boisture never threw a pass for MSU.  He retired for medical reasons, and then tried to make a comeback at D2 Saginaw Valley State, was a 3rd stringer there, then retired for good.  Rob Bolden was bad at Penn State, transferred to LSU, placed 4th on the depth chart, transferred to Eastern Michigan, and was also bad there.

MSU rarely had blowouts under Dantonio, even during their best years, but I recall a Bolden game for EMU that was about the most lopsided FBS-FBS game I've ever seen.

I looked it up.  MSU led 49-0 at halftime, and won 73-14.  EMU ran 25 plays for 11 yards, an interception and 2 fumbles in the first half

Devin Gardner was ruined by really bad coaches. He picked the wrong school at the time unfortunately. I think he'd have developed into a pretty solid player had he gone to Ohio State. 

I think EVERY coach should do their very best to take 1 HS QB and 1 portal QB every single cycle and hope one eventually hits. It's the most important position on the field by far and also probably the hardest to nail from a recruiting/development standpoint.

Michigan took 4* Jadyn Davis in 2024- he was ranked #112 player overall and #9 QB in the 247Composite, now have Bryce Underwood in 2025- ranked #1 player overall and #1 QB in 247Composite, and in 2026 they have Brady Hart the #98 ranked player overall and #6 QB in 247Composite. That's a far cry from where they were in '22 & '23 classes when they got absolutely nobody. Love what they are doing on the HS recruiting trail for QB's right now but they also need to supplement that with a portal guy every class. They need to portal one in for 2025 and 2026. 

[SuperMario]

that screen shot is 247's own rankings. I tend to lean towards the composite, which compiles all 4 major recruiting services rankings and then averages them out.

Found a breakdown of this on Reddit. 247, ESPN, Rivals and On3. Weirdly, i think i would trust 247 now over any combination of the other 3 but maybe not from 2010. 

[Mdot21]

Found a breakdown of this on Reddit. 247, ESPN, Rivals and On3. Weirdly, i think i would trust 247 now over any combination of the other 3 but maybe not from 2010.

Rivals had Will Johnson as the #1 CB and #4 player in the nation. I believe 247 had him as the 6th corner and 38th player or something stupid like that....

[Mdot21]

Michigan brought in the big guns for Bryce Underwood. Tom Brady FaceTimed him and said son, stay your ass put and come on home to Michigan...


https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1860052339350188048

[SuperMario]

Rivals had Will Johnson as the #1 CB and #4 player in the nation. I believe 247 had him as the 6th corner and 38th player or something stupid like that....

C'mon.. you could do that on both sides of the coin with hundreds of examples. Using one example proves nothing. Now if you had mass quantities of data, then you'd have my ear. 

[Mdot21]

C'mon.. you could do that on both sides of the coin with hundreds of examples. Using one example proves nothing. Now if you had mass quantities of data, then you'd have my ear.

which is why I tend to lean towards the composite....seems to be more accurate in the long run. for example composite had Will as a 5*, #15 player overall, and #2 CB.