2025 Recruiting Thread

[Mdot21]

Bryce Underwood to LSU, as expected

f'ing sucks. big-time failure by Jeem to not land this kid, 25-30 mins from his backyard.

Michigan was playing catch up for a year or so- Underwood and his family absolutely despised Matt Weiss. Kirk Campbell was able to get Michigan back into it, but LSU already had a sizable lead by then.

Michigan taking a highly rated QB in '24 (Jadyn Davis- meanwhile LSU took a meh rated QB  in comparison), Jeem taking the commitment of a '25 QB he 100% could've slow played and waited on, and Jeem's future up in the air (almost assuredly going NFL) - OBVIOUSLY didn't help things.

I will say- don't think this one is over though. I think IF Jeem does leave- that Sherrone Moore will get promoted and he'll do well at Michigan- and the Purple faced a*hole in Baton Rouge will be on thin ice if he has another disappointing season in '24. Long way til now and signing day for the 2025 class.

[ELA]

I mean LSU has also had 2 Heisman winning QBs (granted under different coaching) in 5 years.  Harbaugh's offense has people wondering if a projected first round QB is actually good, because he is rarely asked to do anything.

That said, becoming a first round pick while not being asked to do a ton seems like a sweet gig.  Obviously Matt Cassell is the GOAT in that category

[Mdot21]

I mean LSU has also had 2 Heisman winning QBs (granted under different coaching) in 5 years.  Harbaugh's offense has people wondering if a projected first round QB is actually good, because he is rarely asked to do anything.

That said, becoming a first round pick while not being asked to do a ton seems like a sweet gig.  Obviously Matt Cassell is the GOAT in that category

Totally get that LSU has had 2 Heisman winning QB's in 5 years, but Joey B wasn't part of this LSU staff or program. I think obviously the real sell is what Brian Kelly did with Jayden Daniels- turning him from probably a 3rd rd pick to Heisman winner and probable top 10-15 pick in this next draft.

Having said that, Jeem's program has now gone 40-3 in the last 3 years with 3 straight wins over Ohio State, 3 straight B1G titles, 3 straight CFP appearances, and now a Natty. You'd think that'd catch the eye of the home town kid who goes to HS 30 mins away from The Big House and whose family are all Michigan fans. But nah.

Oh and Matt Cassell was a 7th rd pick I think.

[847badgerfan]

I can't understand why kids choose to play for Brian Kelly.

[utee94]

I can't understand why kids choose to play for Brian Kelly.

Well he has a fantastic fake southern accent, for one!

[MikeDeTiger]

I don't get what the fuss is.  Even if he signs with LSU next year, there's a 50% chance he transfers out, quite possibly home to Michigan, a la Quinn Ewers to Ohio State oops back to Texas. 

I refuse to follow recruiting anymore because unrestricted portaling and NIL have turned this sport into perpetual free agency, and half the kids we recruit don't stay here anymore.  There is literally zero excitement on signing day, because it's utterly meaningless now.  Although nothing is less than zero, the verbal commitment of a kid who has a year til signing, who may then portal out at any time, is somehow even less than utterly meaningless.  Heck, I'd say more than 50% chance he doesn't stick with LSU, because he's going to want to play right away, and Nussmeier is almost certainly not leaving after next season, and he's going to be nigh impossible for a true freshman to beat out. 

If I'm a Michigan fan, I just sit tight and wait for the 50+% chance he finds his way to Michigan no matter what.  Certainly not anything the current NCs should be worrying about.  

And of course there's the age-old fizzle factor even when we do get guys.  According to something I read this morning, Underwood would be among LSU's top 10 signees of the past two decades, at #3 between #4 Patrick Peterson and #2 Russell Shepard.  The WR committed to us would be #6 between #7 Derek Stingley and #5 Arik Gilbert.  Years ago I outlined for Eric Cartmann all the 5-stars who had busted for us, and how many 4 and some 3 stars were generally our big players.  But just looking at this quick, short list, Patrick Peterson was a hit, obviously.  Stingley was great, but we only got one real season from him as he stayed hurt after that.  Russell Shepard is a big LOL....he played for us, but never at QB, and he was an extremely meh WR.  Arik Gilbert transferred out before ever seeing the field.  Others include #10 Harold Perkins (hit), #9 Craig Loston (I mean.....pretty decent, but hardly anyone who springs to mind if I were rating the top 10 players of the last 20 years), #8 Kevin Toliver II (again, pretty decent, but same thing.....hardly a CB who springs to mind in the string of DBs we produced for 15+ years), and #1 Leonard Fournette (hit).  My point is, even if Underwood came to LSU and stayed put, that list indicates a decent chance he won't pan out to be the superstar everybody thinks.  

[MikeDeTiger]

Well he has a fantastic fake southern accent, for one!

Don't forget his killer dance moves.  

[Temp430]

I can't understand why kids choose to play for Brian Kelly.

Coach Kelly's face turns purple during games.

[Mdot21]

I can't understand why kids choose to play for Brian Kelly.

yeah, it honestly kind of blows my mind. Kelly is a giant twat. 

[Mdot21]

I don't get what the fuss is.  Even if he signs with LSU next year, there's a 50% chance he transfers out, quite possibly home to Michigan, a la Quinn Ewers to Ohio State oops back to Texas. 

I refuse to follow recruiting anymore because unrestricted portaling and NIL have turned this sport into perpetual free agency, and half the kids we recruit don't stay here anymore.  There is literally zero excitement on signing day, because it's utterly meaningless now.  Although nothing is less than zero, the verbal commitment of a kid who has a year til signing, who may then portal out at any time, is somehow even less than utterly meaningless.  Heck, I'd say more than 50% chance he doesn't stick with LSU, because he's going to want to play right away, and Nussmeier is almost certainly not leaving after next season, and he's going to be nigh impossible for a true freshman to beat out. 

If I'm a Michigan fan, I just sit tight and wait for the 50+% chance he finds his way to Michigan no matter what.  Certainly not anything the current NCs should be worrying about. 

And of course there's the age-old fizzle factor even when we do get guys.  According to something I read this morning, Underwood would be among LSU's top 10 signees of the past two decades, at #3 between #4 Patrick Peterson and #2 Russell Shepard.  The WR committed to us would be #6 between #7 Derek Stingley and #5 Arik Gilbert.  Years ago I outlined for Eric Cartmann all the 5-stars who had busted for us, and how many 4 and some 3 stars were generally our big players.  But just looking at this quick, short list, Patrick Peterson was a hit, obviously.  Stingley was great, but we only got one real season from him as he stayed hurt after that.  Russell Shepard is a big LOL....he played for us, but never at QB, and he was an extremely meh WR.  Arik Gilbert transferred out before ever seeing the field.  Others include #10 Harold Perkins (hit), #9 Craig Loston (I mean.....pretty decent, but hardly anyone who springs to mind if I were rating the top 10 players of the last 20 years), #8 Kevin Toliver II (again, pretty decent, but same thing.....hardly a CB who springs to mind in the string of DBs we produced for 15+ years), and #1 Leonard Fournette (hit).  My point is, even if Underwood came to LSU and stayed put, that list indicates a decent chance he won't pan out to be the superstar everybody thinks. 

yeah this is all very true. just look at the 5* QB's from the '23 class. Dante Moore lasted not even a year at UCLA and same for Malachi Nelson at USC.

[SuperMario]

Acquiring talent is important. What I think is even more important moving into the future is culture and building one that guys want to stay and build success long term. Teams filled with "free agents" moving around all the time may be powerful, may have winning seasons, but will fall short in title situations in my opinion. There has always been something about closely bonded teams that end up on top. There's certainly exceptions to that, where talent trumps the warm and fuzzy family culture, but the latter is more powerful than a lot of people realize. Michigan has been nowhere near #1 in recruiting and look where it landed. Losing a home state, high ceiling qb isn't ideal, but maybe he's just not the right fit. If there's anywhere that's a bigger red flag to me it's been at WR. 

[MikeDeTiger]

I think you're correct about culture, but I'll point out that Michigan is just on the right side of the 50% blue-chip threshold supposedly required to win an NC, according to the people that calculate these things. 

So if you get 50+% blue chip talent and have the right culture.....well, we saw what happens.  

[utee94]

It's pretty obvious, but going forward, the best teams are going to be the ones where the coaches and administrators can blend and navigate both the team-building chemistry, and the all-star one-and-done types, whether they're new recruits, or portal transfers.  You're not going to be able to get it done, consistently, without balancing both of those.

[847badgerfan]

Wisconsin lands ATH/DB Cody Haddad following junior day (247sports.com)