2025 Recruiting Thread

[cwerph]

I'm putting this here so I don't get accused of trolling again.

Sure, but in my original statement I was considering "comes from a smaller school" as "something wrong with them". There's a difference between LSU grabbing Joe Burrow or Texas grabbing Ewers from Ohio State because he's buried on the depth chart, and Ohio State grabbing Will Howard, the starter, from Kansas State.

Howard wasn't going to be the starter at KSU this year and had been in an out as a starter during his career. He originally declared for the draft then entered the portal.

I remember the laughter that Ohio State couldn't land a better QB in the portal.

 

[Thiefery]

I'm putting this here so I don't get accused of trolling again.

Sure, but in my original statement I was considering "comes from a smaller school" as "something wrong with them". There's a difference between LSU grabbing Joe Burrow or Texas grabbing Ewers from Ohio State because he's buried on the depth chart, and Ohio State grabbing Will Howard, the starter, from Kansas State.

My point is that it's pretty rare for an elite starter at an elite school (top 20?) to up and bolt to another. There's usually something that's causing them to flee -- coaching change being the primary one.

Which back to the point about Michigan not picking up any elite WR's -- there really weren't any. They're all somewhat throwing a dart against the board hoping something sticks. I think there might have been 1-2 decent WR's in the portal class and that's about it. The three WR's in the portal class combined for 9 total TD's this year. That's 1 less than Ohio State's 2nd best receiver this year.

So to that extent I think adding McCulley was actually a pretty solid get for us. He was injured at the start of the year, coming off a 2023 season where he outscored every single one of the top 3 WR prospects in the portal, and all big ten honorable mention. Gives us good height that we desperately needed (6-5) and pairs nicely with the smaller Anthony Simpson they picked up. Who also had an early injury after a breakout 2023 season where he logged almost 800 yards receiving.

But also, here's hoping Andrew Marsh is as good as advertised. I think we'll have significantly more WR talent next year than we had this year.

you talking about WR in high school or through the portal?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

you talking about WR in high school or through the portal?

We took two WR's in the portal. Both had pretty good 2023 seasons at their schools (UMASS and Indiana) before getting injured early in 2024 and sitting out most the season.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Howard wasn't going to be the starter at KSU this year and had been in an out as a starter during his career. He originally declared for the draft then entered the portal.

I remember the laughter that Ohio State couldn't land a better QB in the portal.

That's kinda my point. Most of the kids in the portal come with red flags.

 

[cwerph]

That's kinda my point. Most of the kids in the portal come with red flags.

If he had red flags, they've pretty much all turned green now.

Maybe Ryan Day and Chip Kelly know more about QB play than many other people?

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

If he had red flags, they've pretty much all turned green now.

Maybe Ryan Day and Chip Kelly know more about QB play than many other people?

That was never really the point. THe point was more targeted at Michigan for not picking up "an elite WR in the portal" by @osubuckeye89. My point is that there typically aren't elite players int he portal and that most players you're typically grabbing from smaller schools hoping they develop into a larger role at an elite school - or - kids who are buried on the depth chart at a larger school but you see value in. To that end, I think Michigan's WR pickups are actually pretty good. I only wish they added 1 more, but we came up against UM's pretty strict transfer rules (most grad transfers at this point wouldn't be able to participate at UM until Summer camp).

 

[osubuckeye89]

That was never really the point. THe point was more targeted at Michigan for not picking up "an elite WR in the portal" by @osubuckeye89. My point is that there typically aren't elite players int he portal and that most players you're typically grabbing from smaller schools hoping they develop into a larger role at an elite school - or - kids who are buried on the depth chart at a larger school but you see value in. To that end, I think Michigan's WR pickups are actually pretty good. I only wish they added 1 more, but we came up against UM's pretty strict transfer rules (most grad transfers at this point wouldn't be able to participate at UM until Summer camp).

Michigan grabbed the #40 and #264 ranked WRs in the portal according to on3

I'm not sure i'd call that "pretty good"

I guess you're starting with a low standard with what you have on the roster to begin with though.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Michigan grabbed the #40 and #264 ranked WRs in the portal according to on3

I'm not sure i'd call that "pretty good"

I guess you're starting with a low standard with what you have on the roster to begin with though.

Considering we beat you with a walk on QB and WR this year, massive upgrade

 

[ericd7633]

That was never really the point. THe point was more targeted at Michigan for not picking up "an elite WR in the portal" by @osubuckeye89. My point is that there typically aren't elite players int he portal and that most players you're typically grabbing from smaller schools hoping they develop into a larger role at an elite school - or - kids who are buried on the depth chart at a larger school but you see value in. To that end, I think Michigan's WR pickups are actually pretty good. I only wish they added 1 more, but we came up against UM's pretty strict transfer rules (most grad transfers at this point wouldn't be able to participate at UM until Summer camp).

I do think picking up elite players, especially at WR, isn't very likely. Although I would say, the most likely to be very good and productive, are the ones you pull up from smaller schools. Tre Harris being a great example going from La Tech to Ole Miss and now might be a 1st rounder.

We got Malachi Fields from UVA and Will Pauling from Wisconsin. They're good pickups, IMO, but they won't have the impact a Tre Harris had.

 

[ericd7633]

Michigan grabbed the #40 and #264 ranked WRs in the portal according to on3

I'm not sure i'd call that "pretty good"

I guess you're starting with a low standard with what you have on the roster to begin with though.

It's interesting because McCulley couldn't see the field last year at IU. He was good in 2023, so it is a high risk move that could be a high reward. The guy they got from UMass would inspire no confidence in me. Wasn't productive at Zona and just put up okay stats in 2023.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I do think picking up elite players, especially at WR, isn't very likely. Although I would say, the most likely to be very good and productive, are the ones you pull up from smaller schools. Tre Harris being a great example going from La Tech to Ole Miss and now might be a 1st rounder.

We got Malachi Fields from UVA and Will Pauling from Wisconsin. They're good pickups, IMO, but they won't have the impact a Tre Harris had.

It's just as likely or even more likely the smaller school players don't adjust though

Look at Dante Cephas from Kent State to Penn State. Went from being one of the more productive WRs to having 246 yards his 1 year at Penn State

CJ Daniels from Liberty to LSU was one of the more sough after portal WRs for this year, Caught had 1,000 yards and 10 TDs at Liberty in 2023, ended up with 0 TDs and under 500 yards at LSU this year

Kris Mitchell had 1,100 yards at FIU in 2023, goes to Notre Dame and puts up 208 yards in 2024

Tre Harris is more of the exception than the rule.

 

[Across The Field]

I'm putting this here so I don't get accused of trolling again.

Sure, but in my original statement I was considering "comes from a smaller school" as "something wrong with them". There's a difference between LSU grabbing Joe Burrow or Texas grabbing Ewers from Ohio State because he's buried on the depth chart, and Ohio State grabbing Will Howard, the starter, from Kansas State.

My point is that it's pretty rare for an elite starter at an elite school (top 20?) to up and bolt to another. There's usually something that's causing them to flee -- coaching change being the primary one.

Which back to the point about Michigan not picking up any elite WR's -- there really weren't any. They're all somewhat throwing a dart against the board hoping something sticks. I think there might have been 1-2 decent WR's in the portal class and that's about it. The three WR's in the portal class combined for 9 total TD's this year. That's 1 less than Ohio State's 2nd best receiver this year.

So to that extent I think adding McCulley was actually a pretty solid get for us. He was injured at the start of the year, coming off a 2023 season where he outscored every single one of the top 3 WR prospects in the portal, and all big ten honorable mention. Gives us good height that we desperately needed (6-5) and pairs nicely with the smaller Anthony Simpson they picked up. Who also had an early injury after a breakout 2023 season where he logged almost 800 yards receiving.

But also, here's hoping Andrew Marsh is as good as advertised. I think we'll have significantly more WR talent next year than we had this year.

Your summation would say the opposite of the players being questionable though. You're pointing out what's moreso the reality - players are going to better situations.

Also, FTR, On3 is retarded. The composite rankings have michigan's class currently at 31st. Also, Anthony Simpson was kicked off the UMass team. Doesn't sounds great.

You can't possibly have worse WR talent next year than you did this season, so there's that. The bigger question is, when will Underwood be ready to play?

 

[osubuckeye89]

Your summation would say the opposite of the players being questionable though. You're pointing out what's moreso the reality - players are going to better situations.

Also, FTR, On3 is retarded. The composite rankings have michigan's class currently at 31st. Also, Anthony Simpson was kicked off the UMass team. Doesn't sounds great.

You can't possibly have worse WR talent next year than you did this season, so there's that. The bigger question is, when will Underwood be ready to play?

They aren't paying Underwood all that money to sit on the bench.

 

[Across The Field]

Considering we beat you with a walk on QB and WR this year, massive upgrade

The most important player on the field for michigan that day was Jayden Fielding.

 

[ericd7633]

It's just as likely or even more likely the smaller school players don't adjust though

Look at Dante Cephas from Kent State to Penn State. Went from being one of the more productive WRs to having 246 yards his 1 year at Penn State

CJ Daniels from Liberty to LSU was one of the more sough after portal WRs for this year, Caught had 1,000 yards and 10 TDs at Liberty in 2023, ended up with 0 TDs and under 500 yards at LSU this year

Kris Mitchell had 1,100 yards at FIU in 2023, goes to Notre Dame and puts up 208 yards in 2024

Tre Harris is more of the exception than the rule.

Oh yeah for sure. I guess my point is that if one is going to hit, it's a guy coming up from a smaller school. Overall, not a lot of WR's have translated to have great success after transferring. Isaiah Bond was okay at Texas. But even his production wasn't all that great and is going to get drafted on potential more than production. Even Stewart was okay at Oregon.

I guess my overall point is Id rather take a chance on a smaller type kid than someone at a P4 program that was just okay, not productive or for some other reason wasn't able to see the field. With that said the kid Michigan got from UMass wasn't very productive, so that doesn't fit my overall preference.

 

[Across The Field]

Oh yeah for sure. I guess my point is that if one is going to hit, it's a guy coming up from a smaller school. Overall, not a lot of WR's have translated to have great success after transferring. Isaiah Bond was okay at Texas. But even his production wasn't all that great and is going to get drafted on potential more than production. Even Stewart was okay at Oregon.

I guess my overall point is Id rather take a chance on a smaller type kid than someone at a P4 program that was just okay, not productive or for some other reason wasn't able to see the field. With that said the kid Michigan got from UMass wasn't very productive, so that doesn't fit my overall preference.

Tez Johnson at Oregon is one of these guys. He had an outstanding last two seasons for them coming from Troy. Elijah Sarratt is another one at Indiana, even though he came with Cignetti. Just casts more doubts on the recruiting stars sometimes. I'm starting to wonder if there will eventually be a portal signing day where guys will announce with the hoopla like they do in recruiting.

 

[ericd7633]

Tez Johnson at Oregon is one of these guys. He had an outstanding last two seasons for them coming from Troy. Elijah Sarratt is another one at Indiana, even though he came with Cignetti. Just casts more doubts on the recruiting stars sometimes. I'm starting to wonder if there will eventually be a portal signing day where guys will announce with the hoopla like they do in recruiting.

Yeah, that's my overall point. ND took a chance on two G5 guys in Mitchell and Harrison and I'd say both were fairly disappointing, but Harrison was the one that returned the kickoff against UGA. That was a big reason in bringing him to ND because he was really good at that at Marshall.

I think depending on these star rankings for transfers is misguided. It's even worse in basketball. I'd look at production, even at a smaller level, over a highly rated HS recruit that wasn't productive or didn't play. As an example, I think GA tech picked up a really good one in Eric Rivers. He was really good at FIU. We'll see if that translates, but pickups like that I think are the way to go.

 

[Deep Creek]

If he had red flags, they've pretty much all turned green now.

Maybe Ryan Day and Chip Kelly know more about QB play than many other people?

Or maybe, just maybe, Howard had a hell of a lot more talent around him at Ohio State than he did at K-State!

 

[Thiefery]

Rivals, 247 and ESPN have already released it's final rankings for the '25 player rankings and team rankings..

Right now On3 is releasing theirs FWIW.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Two of the top 10 OT's in the class? I'll take it!