Ten Thoughts on Recruiting
1) Recruiting/player evaluation is not an exact science. There are no guarantees. So try to keep that in proper prospective.
2) De-commits can be painful and disconcerting, but that's better than having unhappy players around. Players coming in for a single season, instead of the long haul, is worse than a kid committing and de-committing to your program before letter-of-intent day. Leaving after single season is a killer on player development, and your program, because of the time and effort the coaches invest on players is wasted. Then additional time and effort has to be expended to recruit a replacement to the position.
3) Losing a player like Beaver is short-term loss. Whether it'll prove to be a long-term loss, we will never know. Beaver would have seen limited time his first year because of his shoulder injury. Coming in the spring would not have helped him to prepare him in the fall, because he probably would have had to wear the "green shirt" (to avoid contact) all spring Through Spring ball, Tate Forcier and Threet, so far healthy, would have had the advantage. Unless you have a good crystal ball, nobody knows, for sure who will develop and who will not, so again, re-read # 1.
2) De-commits can be painful and disconcerting, but that's better than having unhappy players around. Players coming in for a single season, instead of the long haul, is worse than a kid committing and de-committing to your program before letter-of-intent day. Leaving after single season is a killer on player development, and your program, because of the time and effort the coaches invest on players is wasted. Then additional time and effort has to be expended to recruit a replacement to the position.
3) Losing a player like Beaver is short-term loss. Whether it'll prove to be a long-term loss, we will never know. Beaver would have seen limited time his first year because of his shoulder injury. Coming in the spring would not have helped him to prepare him in the fall, because he probably would have had to wear the "green shirt" (to avoid contact) all spring Through Spring ball, Tate Forcier and Threet, so far healthy, would have had the advantage. Unless you have a good crystal ball, nobody knows, for sure who will develop and who will not, so again, re-read # 1.
4) As verbal commits get earlier and earlier (like basketball now), you will see more and more de-commits. This is especially true if you recruit in the South as Michigan is now doing. A lot will depend on the relationship the recruits have with the coaches, along with the players' connections to the particular schools, such as been the case with several of the 2010 recruits/committed kids.
5) As most of you know, I have two friends in the recruiting business. One runs a service, and other is retired from it, but still consults. Both told me same thing this morning: the pressure on these kids is incredible. Some kids are committing prior to the season just to get some pressure off their backs, so that they can concentrate on their senior seasons and studies. In this type of atmosphere, de-commits are going to become more common.
6) Kids de-committing is not a negative mark on this or any sports program. If you noticed, this week Coach Rod and staffwere out trying to find some one to replace Beaver. This is good sign of a proactice staff.
5) As most of you know, I have two friends in the recruiting business. One runs a service, and other is retired from it, but still consults. Both told me same thing this morning: the pressure on these kids is incredible. Some kids are committing prior to the season just to get some pressure off their backs, so that they can concentrate on their senior seasons and studies. In this type of atmosphere, de-commits are going to become more common.
6) Kids de-committing is not a negative mark on this or any sports program. If you noticed, this week Coach Rod and staffwere out trying to find some one to replace Beaver. This is good sign of a proactice staff.
7) Recruiting is long-term venture. It is not about a specific, single, class, but a continuum: how each class fits with the one before, and the one after, and how they all improve the program.
8) We expected the 2009 class to be a tough one for Coach Rod and staff, especially since they got a late start last year. Nonetheless, this is a solid, though not great class, which is very good considering all the factors: a 3-9 season, the negative recruiting, transfers, and everything else Michigan has faced this year.
9) The next recruiting class is a real key for Michigan. Coach Rod and staff have had ample time to lay the groundwork for a stellar 2010 class. Michigan needs to have an excellent class next year, and from the early returns, it looks to be shaping up that way, especially in the South where several kids have a connection to Michigan.
10) Last, but not least, and this has nothing to do with recruiting, tempers and tolerance for diverse opinions is running very low. As we posted before the Ohio State game: People, lets stick together and remember -- we all bleed Maize and Blue!
9) The next recruiting class is a real key for Michigan. Coach Rod and staff have had ample time to lay the groundwork for a stellar 2010 class. Michigan needs to have an excellent class next year, and from the early returns, it looks to be shaping up that way, especially in the South where several kids have a connection to Michigan.
10) Last, but not least, and this has nothing to do with recruiting, tempers and tolerance for diverse opinions is running very low. As we posted before the Ohio State game: People, lets stick together and remember -- we all bleed Maize and Blue!
Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine
Why do Southern kids have a greater chance at de-commiting?
ReplyDeleteChi,
ReplyDeleteMost southern recruiting does not even start till the winter time. Also most coaches say in the south when a kid commits to a school that just shows who the competition really is now.
It has always been tougher keeping southern recruits especially for a northern school.
Proximity is a big factor in recruiting. Being closer to recruit allows for players to visit games and allows coaches to have more access. Coaches will also generally have better contacts clsoer to home. More Michigan and Ohio kids grow up dreamimg of waering the Maize and Blue than players in Mississippi.
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