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My Take on Michigan’s Recent Staff Hires

Erik Campbell (right) worked at Iowa with head coach Kirk Ferentz

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When Jim Harbaugh was negotiating for the job at Michigan, he required permission to expand the football staff. Obviously, athletic director Jim Hackett agreed, which has resulted in a hiring binge. These hires have been well publicized in the last several weeks, and I want to take a look at a few of them.

Erik “Soup” Campbell, unidentified administration job: I have talked about Erik Campbell several times on this blog, and devout Michigan fans are probably already familiar with the name. Campbell was a safety and wide receiver at Michigan in the 1980’s, became a GA for the Wolverines in 1988, and then coached the wide receivers for the Wolverines from 1995-2007 under Lloyd Carr. His acolytes include Braylon Edwards, David Terrell, Marquise Walker, Mario Manningham, Tai Streets, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston, among others. When Rich Rodriguez was hired, he somewhat inexplicably fired Campbell, who went to Iowa and coached Marvin McNutt, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, and tight end Tony Moeaki. He has spent the past two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. It’s unclear what Campbell’s job description will be at Michigan, but it’s a possibility that he will replace Jedd Fisch at some point. Fisch was hired on a one-year contract and generally changes jobs every couple seasons. Campbell’s return to coaching the wide receivers would be welcome.

Hit the jump for discussion of three more staff hires.

Rick Finotti, Director of Football Operations: Finotti was the head football coach at Cleveland (OH) St. Edwards from 2009-2014, winning two state championships. One of his players (Kyle Kalis) ended up signing with the Wolverines, although St. Edwards was known more as a pipeline to Ohio State. Players from the state of Ohio aren’t going to accept scholarships to Michigan just because the Wolverines hired Finotti, but he does know the lay of the land and could provide some connections to schools and coaches in the area. A director of football operations does a lot of the dirty work for a football program. He’s in charge of making travel arrangements, prepping facilities for practices, arranging summer camps and clinics, etc. Since high school coaches often have to do these types of things on their own, becoming a college director of football operations is largely doing the same things but on a higher level.

Col. Jim Minnick, Director of Football Operations: It’s unclear how the jobs of Finotti and Minnick will differ, but Minnick was a childhood friend of Jim Harbaugh’s and became a United States Marine Corps recruiter. He was working in Kansas City as the area recruiter for 14 states when Harbaugh got the job in San Francisco, and the two have remained close friends. Here’s an interview of Minnick from 2011 (LINK). With the military connection, it reminds me of how Brady Hoke sent the seniors in 2012 and 2013 to train with the Navy SEALs at Coronado. Anyway, Minnick obviously has some organizational skills since he was in charge of recruiting 14 states for the Marines, and he connects the Marines closely to the game of football in that linked interview. It will be interesting to see how his old job and his new job dovetail, but I expect positive results. Plus, Minnick and Harbaugh teamed up to help at a car accident scene on I-94 a couple weeks ago, which brought some positive publicity their way (LINK).

Chris Partridge, Recruiting Coordinator: Partridge was the head football coach at Paramus (NJ) Catholic for five years, up through 2014. Two of his players (Jabrill Peppers, Juwann Bushell-Beatty) ended up signing with the Wolverines, and a 2016 prospect from Paramus is one of Michigan’s top targets – and one of the top few players in the country – in the form of Rashan Gary. Recruits constantly mention Partridge, who must have one of the most active Twitter accounts around. Partridge reportedly had a deal in place to join the Rutgers program, but the state school of New Jersey received some flak from high school coaches around the state because Partridge had a bit of a bad reputation. It turns out that Paramus, which is a private school, did some recruiting and pulled in some of the state’s top prospects, including Don Bosco’s Peppers. When the agreement with Rutgers fell through, Harbaugh pounced on the opportunity to reel in Partridge. California, Florida, and Texas are some of the most recognized football player-producing states, but New Jersey’s reputation as a football hotbed might surprise some. Getting Partridge on the staff could help Michigan make some inroads where a cultural connection between Ann Arbor/New Jersey has long been apparent.

THE TAKEAWAY
Obviously, it’s too early to tell the results of Jim Harbaugh’s hires. However, one thing seems to be clear – Harbaugh is bringing in people who do their jobs well. They might not be at the highest level of the sport, but these people are all winners who have been go-getters. Reaching the FBS level of coaching is not for followers, so I don’t mean to imply anything negative about Brady Hoke’s staff (Aaron Wellman, Roy Manning, Darrell Funk, Dan Ferrigno, etc.). But the differences are stark between the two staffs.

Finotti and Partridge are young-ish high school coaches with multiple state championships each. Erik Campbell is a college coach who has tutored multiple first round draft picks and All-Big Ten performers. Colonel Jim Minnick is, well, a colonel in the Marines. Greg Jackson is a former All-American and NFL safety. The list goes all the way down to Jay Harbaugh, who at the young age of 25, has been around a Super Bowl team with the Baltimore Ravens. Obviously, he has a lot to prove as a coach, but these guys are all winners on an individual or a team level.

All of these men have succeed, know how to succeed, and come from various backgrounds. While a few have worked together, they are not a group of friends who have meandered through college football by each other’s sides. I won’t pretend to know all the staff members at the football powerhouses around the country, but it’s hard to believe that many staffs – including coaches and administrative guys – have amassed more impressive collective resumes.

Video: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – The NCAA

I don’t have an HBO subscription, but luckily, Youtube is an excellent place to watch some John Oliver commentary. Here’s his takedown of the NCAA:

Site News: Help me redesign the website!

As I mentioned over the weekend, I have started the ball rolling on redesigning the website. I have explored a few avenues, met with a web developer, and chosen a path. Based on the developer’s references, I am confident that the new site will be something of which I can be proud and we can all enjoy.

With that goal in mind, I have placed a Paypal button on the left sidebar in case you would like to contribute to my push for the redesigned website. My goal is to raise $3,000, which covers most (but not all) of the proposed funds required for everything I aim to include. I know this goal might seem ambitious, but I want to grow the website for us all to have a better experience. Some aspects of Blogger have begun or continue to frustrate me. I want to assure you that I will be pocketing $0 of any donations up to the above number, because every single penny – and more –  of that would go toward the redesign. Anything and everything would help, and your contributions are greatly appreciated. You can track the progress of the goal with the thermometer on the right sidebar, which I plan to update on a daily basis (or whenever donations come in).

As always, thanks for reading and for discussing Michigan football with me. Go Blue!

Recruiting Update: March 16, 2015

Long Beach (CA) Poly wide receiver Jack Jones

(NOT QUITE) ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Concord (CA) De La Salle safety Je’Vari Anderson has been rumored to be working toward attending Michigan. Anderson is a 6’1″, 200 lb. prospect who reported offers from Cal, Oregon State, and Utah. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #63 safety, and #902 overall. Anderson has reportedly been held back by the lack of an SAT score (or at least a qualifying SAT score) and needs that to qualify. However, the deadline for signing a National Letter of Intent – which he did not do in early February like most football prospects – is rapidly approaching on April 1, 2015. From my understanding, he can still qualify and join a football program in the fall even if he doesn’t sign by that date, but he will not be able to participate in football practices or receive a scholarship until the first day of classes. Whereas most freshmen arrive in June, start classwork over the summer, and start practicing in early August, he would virtually be forced into redshirting because he could not practice until the first day of the fall semester, which is September 8th. By that time Michigan will have played the game against Utah. Anyway, Anderson is a pretty impressive athlete who has some skills as both a running back, safety, and special teams player. If Michigan is indeed trying to get him to join the program, I think they will be getting a potential starter, not just a late wish-and-prayer gamble, although the academic side could be a concern in the long run. Additionally, Anderson is a teammate of a couple 2016 Michigan offerees in center Boss Tagaloa and tight end Devin Asiasi. If Anderson ends up wearing a winged helmet, that could help with those two players, whom Michigan is pursuing hard.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Washington (DC) St. John’s tight end Devante Brooks was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect who committed to Tennessee in January; he also has offers from Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, and West Virginia, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #10 tight end, and #225 overall. Brooks is pretty solid to the Volunteers but may consider taking some visits.

Houston (TX) Westside defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 305 lb. prospect who committed to Baylor in January and holds offers from Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, and Texas, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #13 defensive tackle, and #137 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 78 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. He’s impressively light on his feet and quick enough to play some defensive end for his high school team. Elliott is very talented and not the type of player one would traditionally associate with Baylor, but this is more proof that the Golden Bears are moving up in the world.

Elberton (GA) Elbert cornerback Mecole Hardman was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #8 cornerback, and #101 overall. Hardman plays quarterback for his high school team and some colleges want him to be a receiver, but Michigan is looking at him as a corner. He is very likely to stay in SEC country and has Georgia and Tennessee as his top two schools, so getting him up north will be very difficult.

Long Beach (CA) Poly wide receiver Jack Jones was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’11”, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and UCLA, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #4 athlete, and #77 overall. Jones could play receiver or corner in college, and with a highlight video titled “The Greatest,” anything’s possible, right? On the same day Michigan offered, he put out a top three that included the three aforementioned schools, so Michigan is playing from behind right now. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren.

Hit the jump for another 2016 offer, some 2017 prospects, a guy who committed elsewhere, and some random bits.

Powder Springs (GA) McEachern tight end Christian Roberson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 230 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Michigan State, and Missouri, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 3-star, the #18 tight end, and #496 overall. He’s a long, lean player who shows some nice hands and an ability to go up and get the ball. Roberson said he is not very familiar with Michigan, and a decently talented player from down there is probably going to wait and see whether more southern powers come calling. McEachern produces a lot of talented players, including offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (USC) in the 2015 class.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2017
La Vergne (TN) LaVergne linebacker Maleik Gray was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 athlete, and #26 overall. Gray plays running back for his high school team, and while he has lots of good traits as a runner, he looks more like an outside linebacker at the next level.

West Union (IA) North Fayette defensive tackle Juan Harris was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 356 lb. prospect with offers from Iowa, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington. He committed to Iowa on December 1, 2014, but the day after the Michigan offer came in, he decommitted from the Hawkeyes. There was another re-commitment and de-commitment in January, so clearly Harris is struggling with the decision process, even though National Signing Day is almost two years away for him. Harris visited Ann Arbor this past weekend. He is a wide-bodied nose tackle type who obviously needs to shed some weight.

Los Angeles (CA) Hawkins running back Greg Johnson was offered by Michigan. Johnson is a 5’10”, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona State, Cal, Utah, and Washington, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 athlete, and #16 overall. Johnson could play a number of positions in college – running back, corner, safety – but he looks pretty darn good running the ball. However, I will say that his highlights should be taken with a huge grain of salt, because he is playing against kids who look like they have no clue how to play the game of football. That may partly explain why he ran for 2,371 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014.

Los Angeles (CA) Hawkins wide receiver Joseph Lewis, a teammate of Johnson’s, was also offered by the Wolverines. He’s a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #6 wide receiver, and #46 overall. Unfortunately, whoever put together the Hudl pages for both Johnson and Lewis spells their year in school as “sopohmore.” Anyway, Lewis is another good physical specimen who shows some nice speed and has good size.

Arvada (CO) Pomona offensive tackle Jake Moretti was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 265 lb. prospect with offers from Colorado, Colorado State, and Miami. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #9 offensive tackle, and #83 overall. Moretti is a nice looking prospect who has some athleticism but really needs to work on technique, as well as getting stronger. Michigan has recruited the area back in 2013 with 6’10” offensive tackle Dan Skipper (Arkansas) and 2012 offensive tackle Paul Thurston (Nebraska), although neither went to Pomona.

Madison (GA) Morgan County defensive tackle M.J. Webb was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #2 strongside end, and #39 overall. Webb plays a little too high and soft for my liking, but he does have a good idea of how to use his hands and he moves pretty well for a big guy. Despite playing defensive end in high school, I think he’s very likely to move inside at the next level, if not within the next year or two for his high school team.

Bellaire (TX) Episcopal defensive tackle Marvin Wilson was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 300 lb. prospect with offers from Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC, among others. He’s a 247 Sports 4-star, the #1 defensive tackle, and #13 overall. As a sophomore in 2014, he made 67 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. Wilson is a massive force in the middle of the defensive line and probably projects as a nose tackle for the next level. He has some decent quickness for the position, though, and can be more than a space eater.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2018
Memphis (TN) Harding offensive tackle Will Lawrence was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas, and USC, among others. One reason he has all those big-time offers is his feet, which are quick and never stop moving. Some outlets are saying that this is Michigan’s first offer in the 2018 class, although Maryland defensive tackle Taron Vincent (the son of Troy Vincent) reported an offer from the previous staff.

OFF THE BOARD
Thousand Oaks (CA) Westlake wide receiver Theo Howard committed to Oregon. Howard may be a sign that Jim Harbaugh’s California connection may not be as productive as we had hoped at one point. Along with quarterback K.J. Costello, wide receiver Dylan Crawford, and cornerback David Long, Jr., Howard was in a group of players interested in at least visiting Michigan and potentially playing together at the next level. A package deal like that would almost certainly not come together, but it might hint that those other pieces will not come to Michigan, either. Costello is close to deciding (likely between Stanford and USC) and Crawford is his teammate. Meanwhile, Michigan is making Long a priority at cornerback, so his case may be the most promising.

Monroe (LA) Wossman safety Cameron Lewis committed to LSU. This was essentially a foregone conclusion, even though TCU was reportedly in the mix.

O’Fallon (IL) O’Fallon running back Kentrail Moran committed to Illinois. Moran had Michigan as his top school for a long time after being offered by Brady Hoke’s staff. At one point he even said he would “probably commit soon” and he was excited about the Jim Harbaugh hire. Unfortunately for Moran, he was told by the new staff that he would have to re-earn his offer from them, something that has not happened until this point. Around the time the news came that he would need to re-earn his offer, I was working up a scouting report on him. Even before he was offered, I actually hoped that Michigan would not offer him because he seemed likely to commit and I was not particularly fond of his abilities. Now hopefully Michigan can reel in a back with some more upside.

MISCELLANEOUS
Check out the visitor list from this past weekend (LINK).

Over in Recruiting Season, I added/updated profiles for:

• Birmingham Groves RB Cedric Boswell
• Muskegon Mona Shores WR Hunter Broersma, who committed to Western Michigan
• Saline QB Joshua Jackson
• Detroit King DE Leon Page
• Farmington LB David Reese, who committed to Louisville

Jack Miller, #60

Jack Miller

HIGH SCHOOL
Coming out of Toledo (OH) St. John’s, Miller was a Rivals 3-star and an unranked weakside defensive end. Yep. That’s how stupid the recruiting sites can be sometimes; they call future centers “weakside ends.” Anyway, Miller chose the Wolverines over offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Pitt, Stanford, West Virginia, and several others. He was one of the last players to commit to Rich Rodriguez (on December 10, 2010) before the coach was fired. Here’s my commitment post from ye olden days (LINK).

COLLEGE
Miller necessarily redshirted as a freshman in 2011 because he was very undersized at 263 lbs. He played sparingly as a backup in 2012. He got a chance to start in 2013, but he was quickly replaced after four games by then-redshirt sophomore guard Graham Glasgow, who had his own share of struggles. Not only was Miller getting pushed around, but he was also completely whiffing on assignments too often. By the beginning of the 2014 season, the redshirt junior had started to figure things out and earned the starting center nod for the Darrell Funk-coached offensive line, holding the job for the entire year. For his accomplishments, he was named the best offensive lineman on the team. The incumbent was expected to hold his position in 2015, but he decided after a few practices in spring ball to hang up his cleats.

CAREER STATISTICS
16 starts

AWARDS
2014: Hugh G. Rader Award (team’s best lineman)

SUMMARY
As you can tell if you look back at that commitment post, I was never a huge fan of Miller’s abilities. He played a little high, was undersized, and wasn’t a great athlete. However, it should at least be considered that he was a guy recruited by Rich Rodriguez to play in mostly a zone system, and then he had to play in a more pro-style offense under Brady Hoke. When Miller actually played, he was somewhere between 288-296 lbs., which isn’t tiny but isn’t huge, either. He was downright bad in 2013, but he was serviceable in 2014. In a year when three other guys held their jobs for the whole year, Miller was named the top lineman and cut down on the mistakes he made as a redshirt sophomore. Some fans held an indelible grudge against Miller for what happened in 2013, but he probably would have been the starter again in 2015 for what should be a solid offensive line. Now it looks like the center job will go to fifth year senior Graham Glasgow, who played guard last year, or redshirt sophomore Patrick Kugler.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR . . .
 . . . his friendly jowls. At no point in his career did he seem like a manly beast of an offensive lineman, but instead looked like an oversized 14-year-old. Maybe like the real-life version of Russell from Up.

PROJECTION
Miller says that he’s furthering his education and pursuing business interests, so it does not look like he’ll be working toward playing professional football of any sort. In any case, he was probably not bound for the NFL and might have been more of an Arena League-caliber guy.