Mailbag question: Defensive recruiting and comparing Gholston vs. Wilkins

Eroc / CoachBt:

These recruiting services have affected the evaluation of high school recruits across the country assigning them stars. With that said, how would you rate the defensive talent that have verbally committed to Michigan thus far?

I would like for you to evaluate Ken Wilkins vs. William Gholston. On film, Wilkins looks more impressive, but Gholston is a very impressive looking prospect. What are your thoughts on comparing the two high school recruits?

D. Phelps

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Thanks for the question.

Frankly, tough to really compare because the two are different types of players in our opinion.

Gholston is excellent athlete with potential to be top flight edge rusher. The strength of his game is speed and agility.

Wilkins is big, strong, physical player who is tough at the point of attack.

We see Wilkins eventually growing into Ryan Van Bergen's position. If you made us pick one player or another, no disrespect to Wilkins we think he is good player, but would pick Gholston.

In our opinion edge rushers are tougher to find, and have bigger influence on games than strong side defensive ends.

As far as this Michigan defensive class so far? Still need some work to be done in our opinion at critical positions and right now to be a good defensive class they need to fill those last several spots with some talented kids who can come in and contribute soon. It is decent, but a lot of holes to fill in our opinion with not only talented players needed, but depth needed as well.

We might sound like a broken record here, but again in the spring we saw a lot of walk-ons and players that just arrived in the two-deep and to be a great defense that is not good.

Again in our opinion, because teams such as USC goes 1st team vs. 1st team and that makes your players better and also creates competitiveness between the groups not only on offense or defense, but against each side of the ball. That is how you make your team better.

As far as recruiting services and fans we will sound like a broken record again, but when it goes in their favor fans love the rankings and beat on their chest that they got a five star kid and when it does not then fans will always try and find a player that made it and was a lower based "star recruit". The nature of how fans want to portray their team.

At the same time they will laugh at other teams or their rivals when they get the lower rated kids and those fans call them "sleepers".

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If you have any questions please e-mail erocwolverine@gmail.com

Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine