Mailbag: How do you want the class to finish?
 |
| Stefon Diggs is the top overall player left on Michigan’s radar |
I am an avid reader of your blog and also enjoy most of your comments on MGoBlog. I was hoping you could comment on your site about how you would like to see the recruiting class finish up. It is commonly believed that there are four spots left, and here’s what I’m wondering:
RB – Being held for Dunn, unlikely to take another RB otherwise. Do you think there’s another candidate?
OL – There are several OL still high on Michigan (Banner, Diamond, Garnett, etc.) Could you provide your rankings of those players, which you’d want to see in a M uniform the most, and any thoughts about which makes a better fit based on the rest of the roster?
WR – Now that we have one already in the fold, of the remaining options left who would you most want to see sign with M and why?
Other – This had hoped to be Yuri Wright, but that hasn’t developed much. Who else would you consider here? A TE? Thanks for your insight!
AC1997
Thanks for the e-mail, AC.
Regarding running backs, I don’t think there are any other candidates right now. Drake Johnson is a bit of an insurance policy in case Canton (OH) Glenoak’s Bri’onte Dunn doesn’t come over to the good side, but I don’t know that there’s a pressing need to find an elite running back in this class. There’s an outside shot that Greg Garmon could come to Michigan, but I don’t foresee that coming to fruition. Michigan has Fitzgerald Toussaint for another couple years and the coaches seem to like Thomas Rawls, who’s the heir apparent to Toussaint. I don’t think it would kill Michigan to lose out on Dunn, but they must get an elite running back in 2013 if that happens.
As for the offensive linemen, here are some thoughts about the linemen still high on Michigan:
- Puyallup (WA) Puyallup OG Joshua Garnett is the most athletic and most versatile lineman on the board. His technique isn’t quite as solid as that of Michigan commit Kyle Kalis, but Garnett is the better athlete. Garnett could play tackle as well, but putting Kalis at strongside guard and having Garnett as the pulling guard could be a seriously powerful combination. Aside from Stefon Diggs, Garnett is probably the best player left on Michigan’s board.
- Lakewood (WA) Lakes OT Zach Banner is a potentially dynamic offensive tackle. He’s not the best prospect, but a 6’9″ guy with his athleticism is extremely intriguing. His bloodlines are a positive, too (his father is former NFL offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy). With those long arms, Banner could be an ideal blind-side protector. I think 2012 commit Blake Bars is a future offensive guard, so Michigan could use another tackle in this class.
- Chicago (IL) Simeon OT Jordan Diamond is a notch down from the other two prospects, in my opinion. He has decent size, decent athleticism, and decent technique, but he doesn’t have the All-American potential of the above two players.
- Lakeland (FL) Lakeland OT Evan Goodman has popped up on Michigan’s radar recently. It’s unclear whether the Wolverines have offered Goodman, although he has plenty of other good offers. He’s currently committed to Arizona State, but the coaching uncertainty has caused him to reconsider. I’m not a huge fan of Goodman. He’s certainly athletic – probably the second-most athletic kid in this grouping – but he lacks a punch and is a real project. His technique will have to be overhauled completely before he can play at the next level, and even then, I’m not sure he has the requisite aggression to be successful.