The State of Michigan Football Recruiting
Brady Hoke's first Michigan signing class of 20, the recruits lost to the coaching change, and the 2012 targets waiting for a staff playing catch-up.
Originally published February 8, 2011, by Matt Hansen.
Written the week Brady Hoke came off a three-week recruiting sprint and settled into Schembechler Hall, this article takes stock of Michigan's 2011 signing class and the position the new staff inherited.
Hoke signed 20 players. The group was lead by defensive end Brennen Beyer, offensive lineman Chris Bryant, running back Justice Hayes, defensive backs Blake Countess and Raymon Taylor, and tight end Chris Barnett. Only three of those six were committed before the coaching change, and Countess on the edge. Barnett had been committed to Arkansas for months and was never on the previous staff's radar, he was one of the more surprising additions.
There were a handful of losers. Five-star running back Demetrius Hart flipped to Alabama and five-star linebacker/receiver Kris Frost flipped to Auburn. The original article argued that Hart was never gettable once Rich Rodriguez was let go, while Frost had been quietly committed until Michigan's coaching indecision pushed him to Auburn. Michigan also lost Florida defensive back Dallas Crawford and Traverse City offensive tackle Jake Fisher. Fisher signed with Oregon, where Chip Kelly called him the best lineman in the country.
The article ranks the class in the top 25 nationally, higher than the author expected given the all that was happening in the coaching world. It flags linebacker Kellen Jones, running back Thomas Rawls, offensive lineman Jack Miller, and kicker Matt Wile as prospects the recruiting services undervalued. Rawls is singled out as a power back with speed who could contribute early.
It closes on 2012, where Michigan was already behind.
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